Uncover the unique knitting culture of the Shetland Islands world-famous for the annual Shetland Woolweek Festival!
Tour Departures:
26th April 2020 - £2899 pp, Single Supp - £899
30th August 2020 - £2999 pp, Single Supp - £949
4th October 2020 - £2799 pp, Single Supp - £819
Discover Shetland Islands – home of the famous Shetland Wool Week! During your five days in Shetland, we will travel all over the island from Jamieson & Smith in Sandness to the far West Coast to the heritage site of Jarlshof on the most southerly tip! You will visit Jamieson Wool Brokers, The Shetland Textile Museum, Shetland Museum and Archives to name but a few. We will have knitting workshops with Hazel Tindall (Worlds’ fastest knitter!), Janette Budge and Elizabeth Johnston. Other tour highlights include the vibrant city of Edinburgh, the historic city of Dundee & the V&A Dundee.
What’s Included?
- Transfers on arrival and departure by private coach
- Sightseeing as per itinerary in a luxury coach with an experienced driver and accredited guide, entrance fees included if applicable.
- Accommodation in rooms with private facilities for 9 nights
- Return ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick, Cabin Accommodation, Meals Included
- Breakfast daily
- 7 hotel table d’hote dinners
- 5 lunches and 1 Farewell Meal
- Askival of Strathearn Kilt Making Demonstration
- Knitting Workshop with Hazel Tindall, Elizabeth Johnston, & Janette Budge (Shetland Knitting Belt worth £50 included!)
- Entrance to the following attractions: V&A Dundee, RRS Discovery and Discovery Point Museum, Shetland Textile Museum, Shetland Museum, Jamieson & Smith Wool Brokers, Glamis Castle, Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum
- Uradale Farm Tour & Visit Burra Bears Studio
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 Edinburgh Tour; Kathy’s Knits & Dovecot Studios
The tour starts with a panoramic guided tour of Edinburgh City & a visit to Dovecot Studios, an innovative centre of modern art, craft and design. After lunch, you will visit Kathy’s Knits – a knitting shop selling a great range of Scottish yarn and a chance to meet Lucy Hague – author of Celtic Cable Shawls and Illuminated Knits. Overnight in Edinburgh, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 2: Travel to Aberdeen via Dundee
After breakfast, the tour will head towards the Shetland Islands via the city of Dundee where you will visit The V&A Dundee (Scotland’s first dedicated design museum) and the RRS Discovery a prize-winning visitor attraction.
From here it is onwards to Aberdeen for an overnight ferry to the Shetland Islands. Overnight Northlink Ferries, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 3: Shetland Welcome & Shetland Textile Museum
Today is your first day on the Shetland Islands. Arrive early to Lerwick and after having a relaxing breakfast, it will be time to explore the island. Visit Shetland Textile Museum, run by people involved in Shetland Woolweek and Shetland Museum and Archives to learn about the Islands history. Overnight Shetland Islands, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 4: Fair Isle Knitting Workshop with Hazel Tindall
Hazel Tindal will give a half-day workshop on “Fair Isle Yoke Construction”. There will be a chance to learn about knitting in the Fair Isle style. After lunch head to Jamieson & Smith Wool Brokers in Lerwick. They purchase wool from 700 of Shetland’s crofters and farmers and transform it into high-quality Shetland wool products. Overnight Shetland Islands, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 5: Knitting Belt Workshop with Janette Budge
Another day in the Shetland Islands will take in a knitting workshop with Janette Budge with a traditional ‘Shetland Knitting Belt’ (a belt is included for you to take home with you). Next, it's on to Uradale Farm to learn about its Organic Shetland Knitting Yarns. The day ends with a visit to Burra Bears who make beautiful handmade fair isle teddy bears. Overnight Shetland Islands, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 6: Shetland Lace Knitting with Elizabeth Johnston
The day starts with a Shetland Lace Knitting Class with Elizabeth Johnston. Next head to Neilanell who is a textile designer specialising in contemporary knitwear, homeware and accessories. Visit Jarlshof on the very south of the island which is the best known prehistoric archaeological site in Shetland. Overnight Shetland Islands, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 7: Last day in Shetland; Jamieson’s of Shetland Mill
This is the last day on the Shetland Islands where there will be time to take in some sightseeing before an evening ferry. The first stop is a tour of Jamieson’s of Shetland Mill. Jamieson’s is a family-owned business. Before we return to Lerwick we will visit a Local Design Studio where we will gain an insight into the design development and see the creative process first hand. Overnight Northlink Ferries, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 8: Arrival in Aberdeen – Glamis Castle & Perth
Breakfast will be had on the ferry and afterwards, the tour will head towards for the famous Glamis Castle for a tour of the location that was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Continue to Perth to Askival of Strathearn for a Kilt Making Demonstration which will go through the origins of tartan and how it is immersed in Scottish heritage. Overnight in Perth, Bed & Breakfast Included
Day 9: Travel to Edinburgh via Dunfermline
Today we make our way to Edinburgh stopping along the way at Dunfermline. Dunfermline is a large town in Fife and was at one stage the capital of Scotland. We also pay a visit to the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum.
Continue to Edinburgh where the remainder of your day is free for personal sightseeing or shopping. Overnight in Edinburgh, Bed & Breakfast Included
Important Note: Attractions, Workshops and Demonstrations May Change According to Availability and Scheduling