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Important Note: Attractions, workshops and demonstrations may change according to availability and

scheduling.

Day 1: Welcome to 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! Begin your tour today and meet with your experienced tour guide along with your knitting

tour host, acclaimed knitwear designer Tanis Gray! After a brief orientation, 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 Edinburgh area, Lunch and Dinner included

Day 2: Dundee and Overnight Ferry to Shetland

Today, leave Edinburgh and travel towards Aberdeen to catch an overnight ferry to Shetland. En route, we stop

in Dundee to visit The V&A Dundee and the RRS Discovery. The V&A Design Museum first opened in 2018,

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. We then continue our journey to 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

Day 3: Shetland – Burra Bears and Shetland Pony Experience

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 at 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! No visit to Shetland is complete

without getting up close and personal with the friendly Shetland ponies for a once in a lifetime opportunity in The

Shetland Pony Experience! Enjoy lunch with scenic views (included), leaving the remainder of the day free for

Page | 1you to explore town of Lerwick. Enjoy a meet and greet with one of our Shetland knitting instructors before

dinner.

Overnight Shetland, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Day 4: Fair Isle Knitting Workshop, Silly Sheep Fibre Company, Shetland Jewellery

Today, enjoy a morning Fair Isle workshop with Tanis. In this class, you will cover basic Fair Isle knitting

techniques for English, Continental, and Combination knitters, chart reading, tackle common issues, proper

technique, how to trap floats, Fair Isle history, all while creating a trip-exclusive hat and cowl set (knit one or

both—your choice!). After class and lunch at a nearby restaurant (included), visit the Silly Sheep Fibre Company

who create beautiful fibre and knitting yarns from their own flock and those of their friends and neighbours. Travel

to Shetland Jewellery studio, where they make stunning Shetland, Nordic and Celtic influenced jewellery by

hand, with the most amazing view! This evening relax in the hotel with a Knitting Circle hosted by Janette Budge

or one of our other talented instructors.

Overnight Shetland, Breakfast Lunch and Dinner included

Day 5: Knitting Belt Workshop with Janette Budge and Jarlshof

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 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, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Day 6: Shetland Lace with Elizabeth Johnston, Nielanell Studio and Shetland Textile Museum

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), 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.

Overnight Shetland, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Page | 2Day 7: Shetland Museum & Archives and Ferry to Aberdeen

This morning after checkout, we will enjoy a special Archive Textile Talk and Tour at the Shetland Museum

and Archives. Spend some free time in Lerwick enjoying lunch (not included) and 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.

Day 8: Glamis Castle, Kilt Making Demonstration

Enjoy breakfast on the ferry before disembarking at Aberdeen. 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! Here we can experience the process of traditional tailored kilt

making, hear all about the history of the kilt and Highland attire, the tartans and the construction of the kilt.

Discover the difference between good and bad kilts, how to tell a well-made tailored kilt and how it should fit!

Continue to Edinburgh where there is time to relax or explore before dinner.

Overnight Edinburgh, Breakfast and Dinner included

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 Edinburgh, Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 10: End of Tour

shopping.

After breakfast, transfer to Edinburgh airport in plenty of time to check in and some last minute duty-free

Page | 3Included in This Tour:

 Transfers on day of tour start (April 28th

of tour start) and tour finish (7th May)

- no later than 9:00AM arrival into Edinburgh Airport on day

 Luxury coach with experienced driver

 Experienced guide/tour manager

 All your knitting and craft workshops including materials, yarn AND your own knitting belt!

 Hotel accommodation, all ensuite with breakfast included

 Welcome Dinner on Day 1

 Return Northlink Ferry with your own cabin, dinner and breakfast included

 5 x 3 course hotel dinners

 Farewell Dinner at Amber Restaurant

 Entrance to the following attractions: V & A Dundee, RRS Discovery and Discovery Point Museum,

Shetland Textile Museum, Shetland Museum and Archives, Jarlshof Settlement, Jamieson & Smith

Wool Brokers, Glamis Castle

 Lucy Hague Knitwear Designer Talk

 Burra Bears

 Shetland Jewellery Studio – watch them at work

 Neilanell Studio visit

 Shetland Ponies Experience

 Fun with The Silly Sheep Fibre Company

 Askival of Strathearn Kilt Making Demonstration

 The Scottish Textiles Showcase, Edinburgh

 The Scotch Whisky Experience

 All local taxes and charges

Workshops Included:

 Fair Isle Workshop with your tour host, Tanis Gray

 Shetland Lace Class

 Shetland Knitting Belt Workshop (includes Shetland Knitting Belt).

 Evening Knitting Circle with local knitting instructor and Tanis Gray