Picture yourself spending twelve unforgettable days exploring the wild beauty of eastern Scotland and the magical Orkney Islands—all while diving deep into the fiber arts traditions that have flourished in these ancient lands for centuries. This isn't just a tour; it's a hands-on adventure where you'll learn traditional Gansey techniques with renowned instructor Di Gilpin in her cozy Fife studio, meet author Jane Cooper and her rare Orkney Boreray sheep on her island farm, and try your hand at everything from block printing to tapestry making. Plus, we'll shop with local indie dyers, visit Judith Glue's famous design studio and café, and fill our suitcases with gorgeous Scottish yarn to inspire projects for years to come.

Between workshops, we'll feast our eyes on Scotland's most dramatic scenery—from the towering cliffs and standing stones of Orkney to the misty Cairngorms, from Highland distilleries to neolithic tombs. We'll cross the windswept Pentland Firth by ferry, stand at the northernmost point of mainland Britain, wander through living history at the Highland Folk Museum, and toast our adventures over group dinners and the occasional wee dram. Whether you're an experienced knitter eager to master new techniques or simply love the idea of combining gorgeous landscapes with creative workshops and fellow fiber enthusiasts, this trip promises to weave together culture, craft, and coastal magic into one incredible Scottish journey.

Mary Jeanne Packer, the founder of Battenkill Textile Tours LLC, has been leading groups of knitters and fiber enthusiasts on trips around the world (and around the corner) since 2006 when she put a small ad in the national knitting magazines to see if anyone might want to come and spend a few days knitting, wine tasting, and visiting fiber farms in the Finger Lakes; and 20 people signed up! Those first 20 said they would "like to go to Ireland sometime"; and the rest is history. Mary Jeanne is the founder and co-owner of Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill in Greenwich, NY. 

Sep 13, 2026, Sunday

Day 1 – Welcome to Scotland’s East Coast Charm

You arrive today at Edinburgh Airport, where you’re warmly greeted by your driver-guide. After collecting your bags and getting settled, you’re transferred north through the scenic Kingdom of Fife, a region rich in coastal beauty, craft traditions, and centuries of history.

Your destination is Dundee, a dynamic and creative city on Scotland’s east coast, celebrated for its rich industrial heritage, vibrant cultural scene, and striking waterfront views over the River Tay. As you travel, catch your first glimpses of Scotland’s rolling countryside, stone-built villages, and perhaps even the glimmer of the Tay Bridge in the distance.

Once you arrive and check in to your cozy accommodation, you’ll have time to unwind after your travels. Take a gentle stroll along the redeveloped waterfront, visit the V&A Dundee and Discovery Point, or simply relax by the river and enjoy the fresh sea air.

We will have a group welcome dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Dundee.

Sep 14, 2026 Monday

Day 2 – Knitting by the Sea in the East Neuk of Fife

Today marks the beginning of our three-day knitting retreat with Di Gilpin at her lovely rural studio. We will settle in for classes and inspiration; and select a project or technique to concentrate on. We will explore traditional Scottish techniques, including Gansey that Di is so well known for and we will work with locally spun yarn.

After our workshop we will have time with the coach each afternoon  to explore the local area. The exact programme for the day is to be decided but includes castles, farms, markets, and more.

Overnight in Dundee.

Sep 15, 2026 Tuesday

Day 3 – Knitting by the Sea in the East Neuk of Fife

Today is the second of our three-day knitting retreat with Di Gilpin at her lovely rural studio.

After our workshop we will have time with the coach each afternoon  to explore the local area. The exact programme for the day is to be decided but includes castles, farms, markets, and more.

Overnight in Dundee.

Sep 16, 2026 Wednesday

Day 4 – Knitting by the Sea in the East Neuk of Fife

Today is the final day of our three-day knitting retreat with DiGilpin at her lovely rural studio. We will finish up our exploration of  traditional Scottish techniques, including Gansey that Di is so well known for and have time to shop for some of Di’s  locally spun yarn.

After our workshop we will continue  to explore the local area. The exact programme for the day is to be decided but includes castles, farms, markets, and more.

Overnight in Dundee.

Sep 17, 2026 Thursday

Day 5 – From Coastal Calm to Highland Heights

After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to St Andrews as you begin your journey north into the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Today offers a perfect blend of gentle activity, natural beauty, and classic Highland flavour, bringing a change of scenery and pace that marks a new chapter in your adventure.

Your first stop is at the Hermitage, a peaceful forest sanctuary filled with towering Douglas firs, some of the tallest trees in Britain. You’ll enjoy a short and gentle woodland walk along the banks of the River Braan, leading to Ossian’s Hall, a romantic 18th-century folly with a dramatic view of Black Linn Falls. The path is well-maintained and easygoing, perfect for stretching your legs and breathing in the fresh, pine-scented air.

Continuing north, you arrive in the Victorian spa town of Pitlochry, nestled in the shadow of the Highlands. Here, you’ll stop for lunch, with time to choose from a variety of cafés or traditional inns offering hearty Highland fare.

In the afternoon, the landscape becomes more dramatic as you climb into the Cairngorms National Park, where rolling moors and mountain peaks surround you. Your next stop is the Dalwhinnie Distillery, one of the highest and most scenic distilleries in Scotland. Enjoy a guided tour and tasting, where you’ll learn how whisky is crafted in this remote and windswept location, and perhaps warm your palate with a dram or two paired with artisan chocolate.

As the afternoon turns to evening, you continue northward to the Highland capital of Inverness, where you’ll check in to your hotel. After a full and varied day, the evening is yours to relax, dine at leisure, or take a quiet stroll along the banks of the River Ness.

Overnight in Inverness.

Sep 18, 2026 Friday

Day 6 – Coastal Castles & the Journey to Orkney

After a relaxed breakfast in Inverness, your Highland adventure continues as you head ever further north, following the curve of the northeast coast of Scotland, a route rich with dramatic scenery, seafaring history, and elegant architecture.

Your journey starts along the North Coast 500 route, offering countless scenic viewpoints and photo opportunities. There will be time for comfortable rest and scenic stops, including a break in the town of Wick, once a hub of the herring trade, and a stop at Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of mainland Britain. Here, you can gaze across the Pentland Firth and catch your first distant glimpse of the Orkney Islands, your destination for the evening.

By early afternoon, you arrive at the port of Scrabster, where you board an early afternoon ferry bound for Stromness, Orkney’s charming harbour town. The crossing is about 90 minutes and includes spectacular views of sea cliffs, seabirds, and possibly seals or porpoises if you're lucky. Be sure to have your camera ready as you pass the towering sea stack known as the Old Man of Hoy.

Upon arrival in Stromness, you continue by road to Kirkwall, Orkney’s capital and your home base for the next couple of nights. Settle in and enjoy a quiet evening as you've crossed into a land of ancient stones, island traditions, and boundless skies.

Overnight in Kirkwall.

Sep 19, 2026 Saturday

Day 7 – Threads of Tradition in the Heart of Orkney

Today is all about experiencing the unique rhythm and rich heritage of the Orkney Islands, with a full day based around Kirkwall, a town that blends Norse history, coastal charm, and a deep-rooted creative community. Possible walking tour of village of Kirkwall with a local guide.

After lunch, we travel the short distance north to Finstown to visit with  The Lost Flock author, Jane Cooper, who offers farm tours and workshops on her farm in Orkney, Scotland, where she raises the rare Orkney Boreray sheep. Visitors can learn about the breed's history and see her work to preserve them.  

On our return to town we will stop into a distillery for a quick tour and a wee dram.

Overnight in Kirkwall.

Sep 20, 2026 Sunday

Day 8 – Threads of Tradition in the Heart of Orkney

Today we take the short drive back up the coast to Finstown for a block printing wall hanging workshop in the studio of Rosalind Johansson, called Shorelines.

OR (maybe do this on Monday instead)

Head south to the Hoxa Tapestry Gallery in Hoxa where we hope to arrange for a workshop in tapestry making. We will also have time on South Ronaldsay to see a neolithic site known as Tomb of Eagles and the World War II Churchill Barrier.

Another alternative is a scarf weaving workshop in the Loom Room in Kirkwall

Overnight in Kirkwall.

Sep 21, 2026 Monday

Day 9 – Threads of Tradition in the Heart of Orkney

Today we begin our day with a visit with Judith Glue who is one of Orkney’s best-known entrepreneurs, with her famous shop and Real Food Cafe in Orkney and another in Inverness. She champions the best local produce from Orkney and the rest of the Highlands and Islands. She and her husband David also opened The Storehouse Restaurant with Rooms in Kirkwall in 2018. We will hear about her design and production process, have a chance to shop, and enjoy a light lunch.

We also hope to include a visit to Hilary Grant’s knitting studio in Houth, Houton Bay just west of Kirkwall. Tonight we will have a popup in our hotel with local indie dyer Knit Orkney.

Overnight in Kirkwall.

Day 10 – Farewell to Orkney & the North Coast Journey South

Today we say goodbye to the Orkney Islands, head west to Stromness to board the late morning ferry to Scrabster, we will make a stop along the way at the neolithic Standing Stones of Stenness.

Then we will be gliding once more across the Pentland Firth. Keep your eyes on the horizon as you may catch another glimpse of seabirds circling the cliffs or the dramatic Old Man of Hoy standing sentinel over the sea.

Back on the mainland, your scenic return south begins. The route hugs Scotland’s northern coastline, one of the most breathtaking stretches of road in the country. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a series of comfort and scenic stops, starting with the iconic John o’ Groats. Snap a photo by the famous signpost and take in the vast views across the water to the Orkney Islands you've just left behind.

Continue down the coast to the charming Dunbeath Harbour, where white cottages, rugged cliffs, and the sea’s ever-changing mood offer a peaceful pause and a perfect spot to stretch your legs. This area is also closely associated with author Neil M. Gunn, whose novels captured the spirit of the Highlands.

By evening, you arrive back in Inverness, the Highland capital, where you’ll check in for your overnight stay. Whether you choose to relax at the hotel or venture into town for dinner, it’s a wonderful moment to reflect on your journey from islands and castles to lochs and quiet harbours.

Overnight in Inverness.

Sep 23, 2026 Wednesday

Day 11 – Echoes of the Past & Highland Traditions

This morning, after breakfast in Inverness, you begin your final journey south with a day rich in storytelling and cultural discovery.

You leave the city and travel through the Cairngorms National Park to the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, a living history site that brings centuries of Highland life to life. Set across a beautiful open-air landscape, the museum features traditional buildings from the 1700s through to the 20th century. You’ll walk through a recreated 1700s Highland township, see period interiors, and learn how crafts, crofting, and daily life shaped generations in these rugged hills. It’s an engaging and often nostalgic experience that connects the past to the present in a tangible way.

Later today, enjoy a comfort stop in Dunkeld, a picturesque riverside village known for its historic cathedral, charming streets, and scenic setting on the banks of the River Tay. It's the perfect place to stretch your legs, enjoy a warm drink, and take in one last breath of Highland air.

As the day winds down, you continue south to Edinburgh, where you’ll arrive in mid afternoon and check in for your final night in Scotland’s capital. Whether you choose to relax at the hotel or enjoy a visit to the Scottish National Museum, it’s a fitting close to a rich and varied journey. We will all say farewell at a final group dinner.

Overnight in Edinburgh.

Sep 24, 2026 Thursday

Day 12 – Farewell to Scotland

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to the landscapes, stories, and textures of Scotland that have accompanied you over the past days. You’ll make your way to Edinburgh Airport for your departure flight, carrying with you not just luggage, but a rich tapestry of memories of windswept coasts, warm wool, ancient stones, and new friendships stitched together along the way.

Safe travels and haste ye back!