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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh, Dovecot Studio and the Scottish Textiles Showcase

Our tour begins in the lobby of the hotel where we introduce you to our experienced tour guide and your new travelling companions! We visit Dovecot Studio which is a centre dedicated to contemporary art, craft and design and has a long association with beautiful handwoven tapestries and rugs!

After lunch (included), we take a short journey to the Scottish Textiles Showcase, specialising in Scottish provenance and craftsmanship. There will be time for you to refresh and relax before your welcome dinner in your Edinburgh hotel this evening.

Overnight Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, Edinburgh - Lunch and Dinner included

High Street and church spire
Museum on the water
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Day 2: Dundee and Overnight Ferry to Shetland

Today, we leave Edinburgh and travel towards Aberdeen to catch an overnight ferry to Shetland. Stop in Dundee to visit The V&A Dundee and the RRS Discovery on the way! The V&A Design Museum is the first dedicated design attraction in Scotland. Situated overlooking Dundee’s waterfront, you can learn all about design from the past, present and future through the stunning displays on exhibit.

After lunch (included), we visit the RRS Discovery and Discovery Point Museum. This museum explores one of the most heroic voyages of exploration, that of Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

Arrive in Aberdeen where we board the overnight ferry to Shetland. Once on board, we have comfortable cabin accommodation as well as a bar, lounge, restaurant and gift shop. Breakfast is available the following morning before disembarking.

Overnight Northlink Ferries, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

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Day 3: Shetland – Silly Sheep and Shetland Museum and Archives

On arrival in Shetland, we disembark the ferry at Lerwick and after dropping our bags at the nearby hotel, set off to explore the island. Our first stop is to the Silly Sheep Fibre Company which creates beautiful fibre and knitting yarns from their own flock and those of their friends and neighbours

Enjoy lunch with scenic views (included), and we will have a special Archive Textile Talk and Tour at the Shetland Museum and Archives, leaving the remainder of the day free for you to explore town of Lerwick. Enjoy a meet and greet with one of our Shetland knitting instructors before dinner.

Overnight Shetland Hotel, Lerwick - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Ferry on the sea
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Day 4: Fair Isle Knitting Workshop, Shetland Ponies and Burra Bears

No visit to Shetland is complete without getting up close and personal with the friendly Shetland ponies for a once in a lifetime opportunity at The Shetland Pony Experience! It is then on to Burra Bears, nestled in a tranquil landscape where each individual Burra Bear is created using a specially designed Fair Isle fabric, knitted locally using 100% Shetland wool and filled with re-cycled wool scraps. Every bear is given his or her very own unique name!

Enjoy lunch (included), before we meet with Linda Shearer who is an expert on Fair Isle knitting as well as being a former patron of Shetland Wool Week! Her half day workshop will explore colour and technique as you go on to knit your own gorgeous Fair Isle headband. This evening relax in the hotel with a Knitting Circle hosted by Janette Budge or one of our other talented instructors.

Overnight Shetland Hotel, Lerwick - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

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Day 5: Knitting Belt Workshop with Janette Budge, Jarlshof and Shetland Textile Museum

This morning enjoy a knitting class with the famous Shetland Knitting Belt! Receive your own special needles and leather belt, handmade on Shetland. Janette Budge will teach us to work with a knitting belt – an essential tool for generations of knitters who had the task of hand knitting for their families down through the years.

After lunch (included), we take a short trip to the Shetland Textile Museum, which is run by the community. It is the only one of its kind completely dedicated to the heritage of Shetland textiles and knitting. It features examples from the historic to the contemporary, all embracing Shetland skills. We then journey to the very southern tip of the island to see some stunning views at the ancient settlement of Jarlshof. Staying around Sumburgh Head in the south, enjoy some free time exploring the nature reserve, with incredible wildlife, flora and fauna. If we are lucky, we may get to meet the puffins! Return to the hotel for relaxation and dinner.

Overnight Shetland Hotel, Lerwick - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Hands knitting
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Day 6: Shetland Lace with Elizabeth Johnston and Nielanell Studio

After breakfast, we meet Elizabeth Johnston for a class on Shetland Lace. Elizabeth will teach you the skills required to plan your own Shetland-inspired lace design. Our next stop will be at Nielanell Studio, where we will meet Niela Kalra, a textile designer who specializes in contemporary knitwear, homeware and accessories.

Finally, after some lunch (included), spend some free time in Lerwick for last minute shopping and yarn buying! Board the overnight ferry with an evening sail from Shetland and a return to Aberdeen.

Overnight Northlink Ferries, Breakfast and Dinner included.

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Day 7: Stonehaven, BAA! and Lunan Bay Farm!

Enjoy breakfast on the ferry before disembarking at Aberdeen. Our first stop today will be Stonehaven where you can stroll through this pretty fishing town, view the many stores, and perhaps partake in a spot of yarn shopping at BAA!

Next we have fun at the only cashmere goat farm in the United Kingdom, Lunan Bay Farm! Here you will get a tour, feed and pet the goats and kids, and also enjoy a hand spinning demo. Finally, we arrive in Dundee where we check in and relax before we dine as a group at the hotel’s restaurant.

Overnight Hotel Indigo, Dundee, Breakfast and Dinner included

Goats on pasture with sea
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Day 8: Glamis Castle, Kilt Making Demonstration

Our first stop of the day will be at Glamis Castle which is the ancestral seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. This castle was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and was also the childhood home of H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The gardens surrounding Glamis Castle are beautiful all year round.

We continue on towards Perth to Askival of Strathearn for a Kilt Making Demonstration! Discover how traditional kilts are made and the history of this famous Highland attire! Learn about the different family tartans how it all comes together for the perfect tailored kilt! Continue to Edinburgh where there is time to relax or explore before dinner.

Overnight Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, Edinburgh - Breakfast and Dinner

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Day 9: Kathy’s Knits, Lucy Hague, Scotch Whisky Experience and Amber Restaurant Farewell Dinner

This morning we visit Kathy’s Knits, a small independent yarn and knitting store, where we meet with Lucy Hague. Lucy is a well-known pattern designer and author of Celtic Cable Shawls and Illuminated Knits. Take some time to browse through an array of yarns, patterns and accessories in stock at Kathy’s Knits.

This afternoon enjoy free time to sightsee, shop or just relax and knit! We all get together for the Scotch Whisky Experience and a wee dram, before a Farewell Dinner in the Amber Restaurant, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

Overnight Dalmahoy Hotel & Golf Club, Edinburgh - Breakfast and Dinner included

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Day 10: Farewell!

It's time to leave Bonnie Scotland - be sure to pack your amazing memories of Scotland and Shetland along with your yarn! We will get you to Edinburgh Airport in plenty of time to check in and some last minute duty free shopping.

See you soon for another great knitting adventure!

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