Joy of Yarn Craft Adventures

JOY OF YARN CRAFT ADVENTURES

Invite you to come along on our...

SCOTLAND & SHETLAND ISLANDS KNITTING TOUR

October 4th - 13th, 2026.

Have you ever wanted to visit Scotland and the Shetland Islands, to explore their knitting traditions but didn't know where to start with all the planning? Or were you worried about travelling solo? If that's the case, a guided tour can be a great option for you.

I have enjoyed many a craft adventure while travelling through Scotland and Shetland, both on my own and as part of guided tours. Most of the photos you see here are my own, to prove I've visited and enjoyed these places firsthand. I've put all my experiences together and worked with KnittingTours.com to create a unique, knitting inspired, tour through Scotland and Shetland for October of 2026.

It's amazing just how many New Zealanders have strong links to Scotland and Shetland, yet they have never been able to travel there. I have links to the South-West of Scotland and whenever I visit, I feel a sense of belonging and familiarity... it's so similar, yet different to New Zealand. I'm sure that you will enjoy your time there too.

This tour will provide a mix of touring, sightseeing, workshops, demonstrations, farm visits, shopping and of course knitting. Starting in Glasgow the tour will take you to Stirling and Aberdeen before sailing across to Shetland. Once we return to the Scottish mainland we will head back to Glasgow and then on to Sanquhar and New Lanark.

If you have an adventuring spirit, a love of knitting, and a desire to travel, this could be the tour for you!

Are you tempted yet?

If you're interested in yarn shopping, we have you covered...

In Glasgow we'll go to the yarn stores The Yarn Cake and For the Love of Yarn
On Shetland we'll go to The Silly Sheep Company
In Lerwick we'll go to the Jamieson's of Shetland store and J&S The Wool Brokers
In Sanquhar we'll go to the gift store at A' The Airts
In New Lanark we'll go to the New Lanark Spinning Company gift store

Are you tempted yet?

If you're interested in workshops and demonstrations, we have you covered...

In Glasgow we'll have a yarn dyeing demonstration at For the Love of Yarn
In Stirling we'll have a loom and weaving demonstration with the Radical Weavers
On Shetland we'll visit Garth's Croft which will include a demonstration of dog handling and sheep herding
On Shetland we'll visit The Silly Sheep farm and learn about how Rebecca moved from the Hebrides to Shetland and set up her croft and yarn business
On Shetland we'll visit Burra Bears for a talk about how the business came about and see examples of these beautiful world famous bears
On Shetland we'll visit the Shetland Jewellery Studio for a talk on their history and how they create their beautiful pieces
In Lerwick we will have a workshop with Linda Shearer on Fair Isle knitting
In Lerwick we will also have a workshop with Janette Budge on how to use a Knitting belt
On the way back to Glasgow we'll visit Lunan Bay Farm to see their goats and learn the story of Scottish Cashmere and see a spinning demonstration
In Sanquhar we'll have a demonstration and talk about Sanquhar knitting

Are you tempted yet?

If you're interested in breathtaking scenery, we have you covered...

It's Scotland and Shetland!
Travelling by air-conditioned coach you'll take in the Scottish countryside as we adventure from Glasgow to Stirling and across to Aberdeen.
Travelling by ferry between Aberdeen and Shetland you'll be out in open waters with marine views and birdlife.
Once on Shetland you'll get the sense of Island living in the North Sea with land and sea views.
A day trip over to Bressay Island including a visit to Garth's Croft and the Bressay Lighthouse
The views on the journey South from Aberdeen to Glasgow are beautiful too.

Are you tempted yet?

If you're interested in touristy things, we have you covered...

In Glasgow we'll have lunch at The Willow Tea Rooms (A must do for any Mackintosh fans)
On Shetland we will visit some Shetland ponies
In Lerwick we'll visit the Shetland Textile Museum as well as the Shetland Museum and Archives
In Lerwick we'll have time to explore the shops of Commercial St and pop over to Bains Beach to see the house occupied by DI Jimmy Perez in the Shetland TV series
On the way back to Glasgow we will visit Glamis Castle, the childhood home of Elizabeth, King Charles' Grandmother.
After Glamis Castle we will make out way to the remarkable equine statues called The Kelpies
In Sanquhar (if time allows) we will visit the Tollboth Museum which has a knitting collection
We will visit New Lanark which is a UNESCO World Heritage site

Are you tempted yet?

If you're interested in good quality accommodations, we have you covered...

In Glasgow we'll be staying at the 4 Star Radisson Blu Hotel
On the sea voyage to and from Shetland we'll be in cabins aboard one of the Northlink Ferries. (The cabins are the best accommodation option on the ferry)
In Lerwick we'll be staying at the 3 star Shetland Hotel for three nights

Are you tempted yet?

To book your place on the tour or if you have any questions...

Click here to send James a message

DAY 1

Sunday, October 4th.

ITINERARY - DAY BY DAY

FAILTE - WELCOME TO SCOTLAND

Arrival - Transfer from Glasgow International Airport to your hotel (You must arrive no later than 9.30am).
Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby for a brief introduction to your tour activities.
Visit The Yarn Cake, Glasgow's award winning knitting cafe.
Lunch at The Willow Tea Rooms (A must do for any Mackintosh enthusiasts), followed by time to browse the Mackintosh gift shop.
Enjoy a private shopping experience and yarn dyeing demonstration at the funky and colourful yarn store For the Love of Yarn.
Welcome dinner and drink at the hotel with your fellow craft adventurers.

Overnight 4 star Radison Blu Hotel- Lunch, Welcome dinner and drink included.

DAY 2

Monday, October 5th.

STIRLING, RADICAL WEAVERS AND FERRY TO SHETLAND ISLANDS

Breakfast.
Check out and travel towards Aberdeen to catch an overnight ferry to Shetland. On the way stop in Stirling city, known for its historic attractions and spectacular scenery.
Join Weaving and Loom workshop hosted by Radical Weavers.
Free time to explore Stirling and enjoy lunch (not included).
Continue our adventure to Aberdeen where we board the overnight ferry to Shetland.
Join the overnight ferry to Lerwick. On board you will find comfortable cabin accommodation as well as a bar, lounge, restaurant, cinema and gift shop.

Overnight Northlink Ferries - Breakfast and Dinner included.

DAY 3

Tuesday, October 6th.

DAY TRIP TO BRESSAY ISLAND AND VISIT TO GARTHS CROFT

Breakfast on the ferry.
Disembark the ferry at Lerwick and drop our bags at the Shetland Hotel.
Take a ferry to Bressay Island.
Enjoy a full day island tour with a local guide and the owner of Garths Croft, Chris Dyer, who also knits! After welcome refreshments, enjoy a tour of native Shetland sheep, ewes and lambs bred for colour and fibre, view the shearing shed, examples of knitwear made with own yarn, croft horticulture, drystone fencing and sheep dog demonstration.
Leave Garths Croft for tour of the nineteenth century Bressay Lighthouse complex and dramatic seabird cliffs at the southern point of the island.
After lunch at a local cafe, explore Noss Sound and Culliesbrough.
Return Ferry to Lerwick.
Relax and knit while enjoying dinner at your hotel.

Overnight 3 Star Shetland Hotel - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

DAY 4

Wednesday, October 7th.

FAIR ISLE KNITTING WORKSHOP AND SHETLAND MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

Breakfast at the hotel.
Join Linda Shearer, a former patron of Shetland Wool Week, for a Fair Isle knitting workshop. Explore colour and technique as you go on to knit your own Fair Isle headband.
After the class and lunch take a tour of the Shetland Museum and Archives, displaying Shetland community heritage and culture. The galleries contain wonderful examples of delicate Shetland lace and Fair isle knitting. Your guided tour will focus on knitting related history and its importance to Shetland.
Visit Jamieson and Smith for a spot of yarn shopping!
Dinner will be served at your hotel.

Overnight 3 Star Shetland Hotel, Lerwick - Breakfast and Dinner included.

DAY 5

Thursday, October 8th.

SHETLAND PONY EXPERIENCE AND BURRA BEARS

Breakfast at our Hotel
No visit to Shetland is complete without getting up and close with the friendly Shetland ponies for a once in a lifetime opportunity at The Shetland Pony Experience.
Visit Burra Bears, nestles in a tranquil landscape where each individual Burra Bear is created using a specially designed Fair Isle fabric, knitted locally using 100% Shetland wooland filled with recycled wool scraps. Every bear is given their own unique name.
Finish the day with a pop-up shopping and Talk experience with Hazel Tindall (subject to availability).
Dinner at our Hotel.

Overnight 3 Star Shetland Hotel, Lerwick – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

DAY 6

Friday, October 9th

SHETLAND KNITTING BELT WORKSHOP AND SHETLAND TEXTILE MUSEUM

Breakfast at our Hotel.
Join Janette Budge for a Shetland Knitting Belt workshop followed by lunch.
After lunch visit the Shetland Textile Museum which is a community run initiative. 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 the Shetland aesthetic.
Remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure for relaxing, knitting or a spot of shopping on Commercial Street in Lerwick.
Relax and knit while enjoying dinner at your hotel.

Overnight 3 Star Shetland Hotel, Lerwick - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

DAY 7

Saturday, October 10th

SILLY SHEEP FIBRE COMPANY, SHETLAND JEWELLERY, AND FERRY TO ABERDEEN

Breakfast at our Hotel and check out.
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 the Shetland Jewellery Studio where they make stunning Shetland, Nordic and Celtic influenced jewellery by hand, with the most amazing views out their windows.
The remainder of the afternoon will be free for you to enjoy lunch (not included) and visit the shops on Commercial Street. It's only a short walk to see the most photographed building in Lerwick... the building used as the home of DI Jimmy Perez in the Shetland TV series.
Board your ferry to the mainland and have dinner on-board before setting sail.

Overnight Northlink Ferries - Breakfast and Dinner included.

DAY 8

Sunday, October 11th.

LUNAN BAY CASHMERE GOAT FARM, GLAMIS CASTLE, AND THE KELPIES

Enjoy breakfast on your ferry before disembarking at Aberdeen.
Hands-on tour of Lunan Bay Farm, the UK’s only Cashmere Goat Farm, nestled along the beautiful coast of Lunan Bay. Farmer Jillian and her team are pioneering Scottish regenerative cashmere production from goat to coat. After interacting with the adorable cashmere goats, join fibre spinning demonstration. Do not forget to visit the cashmere gift shop!
Visit Glamis Castle, 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 Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (Grandmother of King Charles). The gardens around Glamis castle are designed to be of interest all year round.
Final stop before arriving at your hotel in Glasgow is at The Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures.
Arrive to your hotel in Glasgow in time for dinner.

Overnight 4 star Radisson Blu Hotel - Breakfast and Dinner included.

DAY 9

Monday, October 12th.

SANQUHAR EXPERIENCE, NEW LANARK MILL, AND FAREWELL DINNER

Breakfast at your hotel
Travel to the small market town of Sanquhar, surrounded by stunning scenery, to discover the history and technique behind the Sanquhar knitting style.
Lunch (if time permits a quick visit to the Tollbooth museum to view their knitting collection)
After lunch visit New Lanark, a unique 18th century woollen mill and UNESCO heritage site.
Returning to the hotel in Glasgow for a Farewell Dinner and drink with your fellow travellers.

Overnight 4 Star Radisson Blu Hotel - Breakfast, Lunch and Farewell Dinner included.

DAY 10

Tuesday, October 13th

MAR SIN LEAT - FAREWELL SCOTLAND!

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PRICING

INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR

Private transfers on arrival and departure
Experienced tour guide/manager throughout
24/7 helpline straight to members of the Knitting Tours team
Luxury, spacious coach with experienced driver
All hotels listed in the itinerary with en suite bath/step in shower or walk in shower
Porterage from hotel reception to your room and back
Return Northlink Ferry with your own cabin, dinner and breakfast included
Scottish Breakfast Daily
9 x hotel dinners, including Welcome and Farewell dinners & Drink
6 x lunches
Return Ferry to Bressay Island
Visit to Garths Croft and Bressay Island Guided Tour
Shetland Jewellery Studio – watch them at work
Fun with The Silly Sheep Fibre Company
The Shetland Pony experience
All activities, workshops and attractions listed in the itinerary
All materials for the workshops (you just bring your favourite needles!)
Knitting tours gift bag including tote bag, notebook and pen, lanyard, luggage tag and rain poncho

NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR

Travel to and from Scotland
Gratuities/Tips
Room Service
Additional beverages and alcoholic drinks
Personal items such as phone calls, additional meals, snacks or drinks not included in the itinerary
Yarn, patterns and materials not included in the itinerary

PRICING

GBP 4,600.00 per person sharing in a Twin/ double room
GBP 766.00 additional supplement if a single room is required
All pricing is in GBP - passengers may choose to be charged in POUND STERLING/ GBP or their own local currency
If you have friends or family that want to join you but do not knit, we offer a special non-knitter discount of GBP 200.00

PRE-TOUR ARRANGEMENTS

1 x Pre-Night at Raddison Blu Glasgow Hotel (subject to availability)

3rd October 2026 x 1 night Bed and Breakfast - GBP 100.00 per person sharing in a Twin/ double room
3rs October 2026 x 1 night Bed and Breakfast - GBP 185.00 Single occupancy room per night

BOOKING REQUIREMENTS AND CANCELLATION INFORMATION

A deposit of 20% of the total tour price is required to hold your booking. The balance of the tour is due 60 days before arrival and can be made in instalment payments on request.

Cancellation Penalties:

Cancellation 90 days or more prior to itinerary start date – Full deposit is forfeit.
Cancellation 89 days to 31 days prior to itinerary start date – 50% of total paid is forfeit
Cancellation 30 days or less prior to itinerary start date – 100% of total paid is forfeit

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We urge you to purchase cancellation insurance & supplemental medical coverage (which covers pre-existing conditions). This is a smart way to safeguard against life’s surprises. It is important to note that a certain amount of walking is encouraged on our tours. All tour members must be able to mount steps into the coach and walk unaided at a reasonable pace from coach to hotel and coach to visitor attractions/events on possibly uneven ground. Passengers must be able to handle their own luggage. Coach driver’s and guides that are employed by The Irish Tourism Group cannot provide individualized help for walking, getting on and off motor coaches, ferries or other personal needs.

MISCELLANEOUS

Baggage - When porterage of baggage is included in a programme, it is based upon a maximum of 1 piece of standard airline baggage per person. Passengers bringing baggage in excess of this amount may incur a surcharge. For the sake of passenger comfort, it is recommended that passengers limit baggage to 1 suitcase per person plus 1 carry on.
Items Not Included - These tours do not include items of a personal nature such as laundry, room service, telephone charges or other hotel extras. All passengers are responsible for settling any such costs incurred before checking out of each hotel.
Gratuities - These are not included to the coach driver and tour guide, as well as, hotels, attractions or any catering venues. These are at the participant’s discretion.
Safety - It is the responsibility of each individual client to ensure that they do not behave in such a way as to cause offence or danger to themselves or others, or which risks damage to property. Each client shall be responsible for any injury or damage caused by their failure to behave in a safe and proper manner.
Occupancy - The tour will not proceed with less than twenty participants, in addition to Kirsty our tour guide and James. It is advised not to book airfares until you receive confirmation that there are twenty participants. Our maximum number of participants is twenty-six.