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Expert: Carol Meldrum Carol Meldrum

Knitting in the Scottish Highlands

Join Carol Meldrum in the Scottish Highlands for a week of workshops and excursions with fellow yarn lovers. Staying in Inverness, the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands, enjoy a cruise along legendary Loch Ness, a visit to Knockando Woolmill, an Alpaca Farm and browse colourful wool shops. In the company of like-minded knitters, who share your passion for knitting, enjoy several knitting workshops with Carol Meldrum and a Beaded Dorset button workshop with Tania Ashton Jones.

8 days from £2,135pp Departure Dates

Your Tour Includes

  • 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation with dinner on the first and final evenings
  • 2 and a half days of knitting workshops with Carol Meldrum, kit included
  • Beaded Dorset Buttons workshop with Tania Ashton Jones
  • Entrance fees and excursions
  • The services of an experienced Tour Manager
Experts
Carol Meldrum

Carol Meldrum

Carol Meldrum is a textile designer, workshop tutor and author of many popular knitting and crochet titles. She is also the creative force behind the fashion accessories label Beatknit. She has worked within the textile industry as a designer for many High Street fashion outlets as well as internationally renowned hand knit label Rowan. Carol is also a successful workshop tutor teaching all aspects of knit and crochet on an informal basis to both groups and individuals.

More from Carol Meldrum Read more

Itinerary

Meet your tour manager and Carol in Inverness. This evening's dinner is included at the hotel, so you can meet and get to know your fellow knitters.

Includes Dinner

This morning we will enjoy a walking tour of Inverness with a local guide. Our guide will show us the highlights including Inverness Town House, Inverness Castle and its views over the city, the Victorian Market, home to quaint boutique shops, and St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

You will have the opportunity to either grab some lunch whilst in city or return to the hotel before your afternoon knitting workshop with Carol.

Includes Breakfast

Inverness Castle

Included Highlights

Inverness Castle

A visit to the Scottish Highlands would not be complete without a visit to the famous Loch Ness. We will take a coach to Clansman Harbour where we will board a boat for a cruise along the mysterious waters of Loch Ness. There will be the opportunity to hop ashore for a 1-hour visit to the iconic Urquhart Castle and discover its historic and turbulent past.

Returning to Clansman Harbour, on the return drive to the hotel, there may be the opportunity to stop at a wool shop for a bit of shopping!

Includes Breakfast

Urquhart Castle

Included Highlights

Urquhart Castle

Today you will have a full-day workshop with Carol.

Includes Breakfast

Fair Isle Cowl

Included Highlights

Knitting Workshop

This morning we will meet Tania Ashton Jones, a Dorset Button maker, designer, tutor, podcaster and hand knitter. Now living in the Isle of Skye, her creative business, TJFrog, aims to contribute to keeping alive the traditional skill of the handmade Dorset Button. At the hotel we will enjoy a Beaded Dorset Buttons workshop, this will cover the basic techniques of Dorset Button making and explore different ways in which beads can be incorporated. You will then be able to use these techniques to make your own personal Beaded Dorset Button.

2023 Itinerary: After the workshop, you will have the rest of the afternoon at leisure.  Perhaps wander into Inverness and re-visit the Victorian Market for a spot of shopping or visit the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery. Alternatively, you can relax at the hotel and continue with your projects.

2024 Itinerary: We will also have a visit from Helen Lockhart, owner of Ripplecrafts, on Day 5, a dyer based in the Scottish Highlands. She will be joining us this afternoon to give us a talk about her work, her inspiration and some of her techniques. There will also be the opportunity to purchase some of her yarns!

Includes Breakfast

Dorset Buttons

Included Highlights

Dorset Buttons Workshop

Today we will visit the Alpaca Farm Shop in Moray, the Knockando mill, as well as enjoying some wool shopping in the town of Nairn. Whilst on our visit to the Alpaca Farm shop, we will be taken to see the female Alpacas and their young. Whilst they do not spin their own fleeces into yarn here, they will give us an insight into the processes that are involved.

After some coffee and cake, we will drive to Knockando Woolmill which sits in the Spey Valley. Here you’ll find contemporary designs woven alongside traditional tweeds and classic woollen blankets, all of which are produced with the same traditional skilled craftsmanship. Enjoy an introductory tour, finding out the social history of the Mill and the production and restoration processes. We will stop in the town of Nairn for some shopping before returning to the hotel for the evening.

Includes Breakfast

Moray

Included Highlights

Moray

Today you will have a full day workshop with Carol and enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow knitters this evening.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Fair Isle Cowl

Included Highlights

Knitting Workshop

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out.

Includes Breakfast

Meet your Arena Travel Tour Manager and Carol in Inverness. This evening's dinner is included at the hotel, so you can meet and get to know your fellow knitters.

Includes Dinner

This morning we will enjoy our first knitting workshop with Carol, starting on your fair isle and lace techniques in the round project. This afternoon a walking tour of Inverness with a local guide is planned. Our guide will show us the highlights including Inverness Town House, Inverness Castle and its views over the city, the Victorian Market, home to quaint boutique shops, and St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

Includes Breakfast

St Andrews Cathedral

Included Highlights

Inverness Walking Tour

A visit to the Scottish Highlands would not be complete without a visit to the famous Loch Ness. We will take a coach to Clansman Harbour where we will board a boat for a cruise along the mysterious waters of Loch Ness. There will be the opportunity to hop ashore for a 1-hour visit to the iconic Urquhart Castle and discover its historic and turbulent past. Returning to Clansman Harbour, on the return drive to the hotel there may be the opportunity to stop at a wool shop for a bit of shopping!

Includes Breakfast

Urquhart Castle

Included Highlights

Urquhart Castle

Today you will have a full-day workshop with Carol.

Includes Breakfast

Fair Isle Lace Gloves

Included Highlights

Fair Isle Lace Gloves Workshop

This morning we will meet Tania Ashton Jones, a Dorset Button Maker, designer, tutor, podcaster and hand knitter. Now living in the Isle of Skye, her creative business TJFrog aims to contribute to keeping alive the traditional skill of the handmade Dorset Button. At the hotel enjoy a Dorset Button – a variety of stiches workshop. This workshop will cover the basic techniques of Dorset Button making and explore how to include a variety of stitches such as chain stitch and French knots using different weight yarns. You will then be able to use these techniques to make your own personal Dorset Buttons and Dorset Button brooches.

We will also have a visit from Helen Lockhart, owner of Ripplecrafts, a dyer based in the Scottish Highlands. She will be joining us this afternoon to give us a talk about her work, her inspiration and some of her techniques. There will also be the opportunity to purchase some of her yarns!

Includes Breakfast

Dorset Buttons

Included Highlights

Dorset Buttons Workshop

Today we will visit the Alpaca Farm Shop in Moray, the Knockando mill and enjoy some wool shopping in the town of Nairn. Whilst on our visit to the Alpaca Farm shop, we will be taken to see the female Alpacas and their young. Whilst they do not spin their own fleeces into yarn here, they will give us an insight into the processes that are involved.

After some coffee and cake, we will drive to Knockando Woolmill which sits in the Spey Valley. Here you’ll find contemporary designs woven alongside traditional tweeds and classic woollen blankets, all of which are produced with the same traditional skilled craftsmanship. Enjoy an introductory tour here finding out the social history of the Mill and the production and restoration processes. Before returning to the hotel for the evening we will stop in the town of Nairn for some shopping.

Includes Breakfast

Alpaca Farm

Included Highlights

Alpaca Farm

Today you will have a full day workshop with Carol and enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow knitters this evening.

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Fair Isle Lace Gloves

Included Highlights

Fair Isle Lace Gloves

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out.

Includes Breakfast

Workshop Details: With Carol Meldrum dip into fair isle and lace techniques in the round with these versatile gloves. They are fun to make and can be easily tweaked to make the design your own. Over the week you will look at how to work in the round with either circular or double pointed needles - which ever you prefer using. You will look at working with two colours at the same time without getting in a tangle, then move onto working a lace design, topping things off with a picot cast off edge. You will have a choice of Fair Isle and lace patterns to choose from and learn how to place an afterthought thumb if you fancy.

2024 Workshop: With Carol Meldrum dip into fair isle and lace techniques in the round with these versatile gloves. They are fun to make and can be easily tweaked to make the design your own. Over the week you will look at how to work in the round with either circular or double pointed needles - which ever you prefer using. You will look at working with two colours at the same time without getting in a tangle, then move onto working a lace design, topping things off with a picot cast off edge. You will have a choice of Fair Isle and lace patterns to choose from and learn how to place an afterthought thumb if you fancy.

Tour Notes: You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to get the most out of this holiday. On excursion days you will need to walk a short distance from the hotel to the coach and you should be able to board the coach unaided. On arrival at the excursion destination, you should be able to alight the coach unaided and there may be a walk between the coach drop off point and the excursion venue. By their nature, walking tours, museum visits etc involve being on your feet for a significant amount of time. Whilst our excursions are taken at a leisurely pace, for the enjoyment of everyone in the group you should be able to keep up with your fellow travellers.





Single Room Supplement from £769.00 (8 days).

Knitting Holidays

Knitting Holidays

Specially designed for knitters, this Stitchtopia knitting holiday is the ideal opportunity to meet like-minded knitters and indulge in your favourite hobby. Our talented knitting expert will be on hand throughout the holiday and host inspirational workshops with a beautifully designed project to get those needles clicking!

Accommodation

You will stay for seven nights at the Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa.
Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa
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Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa

The Inverness Palace Hotel dates back to the 1890s. It is now Inverness’ newest 4-star hotel and offers a contemporary style with elegant interiors.

Hotel Facilities

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General
  • 4 Star
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Indoor Swimming Pool
  • Sauna or Steam Room
Room
  • TV
  • Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
  • Hairdryer
  • Telephone
  • Free Wifi
  • Iron or Trouser Press
Service
  • Gym
Hotel
  • Swimming Pool
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • WiFi Available
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