Itinerary Scotland and the Shetland Islands

June 8 - 18, 2027

with

Birdhouse Yarns

Tuesday June 8, 2027 Overnight flight

Wednesday June 9, 2027

Welcome to Edinburgh- meet your fellow yarn lovers. We start our tour with a visit to the Chocolatarium, or better known as a taste of heaven. The Chocolatarium has earned Tripadvisor’s Choice Award for Best of the Best. We take a private tour and discover the magic of how chocolate is made along with a hands on chocolate experience. We visit Kathy’s Knits, a knitters haven in the heart of Edinburgh, surrounded by unique boutique shops, coffee shops, and restaurants. Enjoy some time shopping before returning to the hotel for an evening to relax and knit. ‍ ‍

Thursday June 10, 2027

Visit Di Gilpin, knitwear designer located on a quaint farm in the countryside, for a workshop on Gansey knitting. Di gives a presentation on the fascinating history of Gansey knitting and design before we work through our own Gansey design. After lunch we visit Ginger Twist Studio for a private shopping experience and a dying demonstration. Ginger Twist Studio is a popular yarn shop known for its wide selection of yarns including its own hand-dyed ‘Ginger’s Hand Dyed’ and its vibrant rainbow wall of yarn. Meals - B, D

Friday June 11, 2027

Visit Lindsay at Bonnytoun Farm in Linlithgow, home to Bonnytoun Flock, and the pedigree Shetlands that are processed into textiles. See the sheep and how knitwear is created. We will experience sheep to yarn to finished knitwear. Enjoy the Scottish countryside and a stop at Be Inspired Fibres boutique yarn shop, a charming treasure trove packed from floor to ceiling, before finishing the evening with a group knit at the hotel. Meals B

Saturday June 12, 2027

We leave Edinburgh and travel to Aberdeen to meet the ferry on which we will voyage to the Shetland Islands. We stop in Dundee to visit Verdant Works, a restored mill showcasing the Scotland textile heritage. Witness the machines at work and step back in time to the heart of Dundee’s industrial era to discover more about the city’s fascinating history. We have some time to explore the area and have lunch before boarding the Northlink Ferry for the overnight trip to Lerwick. Meals - B, D

Sunday June 13, 2027

After arriving in Lerwick, the northernmost major town in the UK with a main thoroughfare lined with Victorian-era shops, cafes and pubs, we leave our luggage at the hotel. Our morning adventure is Shetland's stunning scenery as we journey from Lerwick to the island's southernmost tip on a narrated guide tour. The afternoon includes a knitting class which is a fascinating demonstration of how to knit with a knitting belt, a method which has been passed down through generations. Meals included - B, D

Monday June 14, 2027

Visit to the Shetland Museum and Archives, a showcase of world famous textiles, the history of the textile industry and Shetland community heritage and culture. The museum is also home to spectacular displays of delicate Shetland lace. We have a guided tour of both the lower and upper galleries to view the story of Shetland knitting history. The Museum is home to a recognized collection of national significance, and we will learn about the lace and Fair Isle knitwear on display and the importance of the textile industry to Shetland. Your guided tour will focus on knitting related history and its importance to Shetland including world famous textiles.

The afternoon includes Jamieson & Smith wool and yarn shop. Jamieson’s of Shetland is the only business in the world that takes Shetland wool from fleece to finished knitwear entirely in the Shetland Isles. Shetland wool itself is a natural and sustainable fibre shaped by the islands’ wild landscape. The sheep graze the heather-covered hills and seaweed-strewn shores, producing a fleece known for its fineness, warmth and surprising strength. It is a fibre deeply linked to Shetland’s knitting heritage, perfectly suited to both lace and color work, and valued worldwide. Jamieson and Smith has five generations of expertise, it produces 100% pure Shetland yarn and authentic Fair Isle knitwear, all crafted with traditional techniques and vibrant colors. After a tour there will be plenty of time to shop. Meals B,

Tuesday June 15, 2027

Today we visit the Shetland Textile Museum, a community museum in Shetland and the only one of its kind dedicated to the islands’ textile heritage, especially knitting, both historical and contemporary. The Collection comprises over seven hundred items, including Fair-Isle and lace knitting, knitwear, Taatit rugs, tools, tweed, and items by contemporary Shetland makers. We will have some leisure time before boarding the Northlink Ferry for the overnight trip to Aberdeen. Meals - B, D

Wednesday June 16, 2027

We arrive in Aberdeen and start our day with a visit to Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland before visiting Radical Weavers. At Radical Weavers we have the chance to connect with local traditions, witnessing the art of weaving in action and gaining insight into its historical and cultural importance. Guided by skilled artisans, visitors can actively participate, weaving their own creations and gain a deeper appreciation for the craft’s intricacies. At the studio we will attend a weaving workshop and have individual mini looms to design and create our own Scottish tartan to take home while enjoying a snack of finger sandwiches. Meals B, L

Thursday June 17, 2027

Today we explore Edinburgh. Some of the earliest mills were in Scotland, and this area became a center for production of high quality woolen cloth. At the Scottish Textile Showcase, you will hear about the makers, the craft, how wool gets made, what inspires designs, and a tour of the showroom. We visit Edinburgh Castle, a historic fortress built on volcanic rock that dominates the Edinburgh skyline. The remainder of the day is spent shopping in the cobblestone streets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with its artists and designers selling unique goods. Meals included - B, D

Friday June 18, 2027 - Flight home departing Scotland

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