Norway Knitting Retreat
This very special tour has been Inspired by our head of Craft Holidays, Alison White’s own travels around Norway –designed to take you on a discovery of a rich textile heritage and unique culture.Recently the Norwegian Tourist Board invited me to discover the history and traditions of the knitting industry in Norway. This tour includes all the highlights of my trip, which will take you on a journey from the remote heathlands north of Bergen. On route we’ll discover just how important the textile industry was to Norway and some of the steps that are being taken torecover and preserve these traditions for the future. Finally, we’ve combined all this with workshops with Frederica to create the perfect balance of discovery and relaxation, Norwegian style! –Alison White, Head of Craft Holidays.
Your Tour Includes
- Return flights London to Bergen including 1 piece of checked luggage
- 2 full day and two half day knitting workshops with Frederica Patmore
- Knitting Industry, lunch and guided tours included
- Guided walking tour of Bergen
- The services of an experienced Tour manager who will accompany the tour throughout
- 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation at the 4-star Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret. You are free to dine outside the hotel if you wish. When we are in the hotel in the afternoon, we will be able to enjoy ‘Fika’, afternoon coffee and tea with pastries or waffles.
Itinerary
To use our NEW itinerary, simply click a day below and a detailed overview will appear.
Overview
Meet Frederica and your Arena Travel Tour Manager at a London airport for your flight to Bergen. Upon arrival, meet our driver who will transfer us to our hotel for check-in.
Includes Dinner
Overview
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is surrounded by mountains, hence its name ‘city of seven mountains’. Bergan was the largest city in Norway until the 1830s when it was overtaken by the capital, Christiania (now known as Oslo). What remains of the quays, Bryggen is now a World Heritage Site.This morning we will take a guided walking tour of the city with a local guide.In the afternoon we’ll enjoy our first workshop back at the hotel with Frederica.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
We’ll spend today at the Heathland Centre, located about 30 miles north of Bergen. The centre is beautifully located with Lurefjorden on one side and the main sea route to and from Bergen on the other. The 5000-year-old heathland surrounding the centre is still maintained by local farmers. Here we’ll learn about how the coastal heathlands are managed and enjoy the amazing views over the fjord and mountains whilst we enjoy a lunch made with locally sourced ingredients. In the afternoon we’ll enjoy a second workshop with Frederica.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Overview
Full day workshop with Frederica at our hotel.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Overview
First stop on our excursion today is the Hillesvåg Wool Spinning Mill. This family-owned mill was founded in 1898 and has been in the same family for four generations, making it one of Norway’s most long-established wool and yarn producers. Our guided tour will take us through the entire process, from when the wool enters the mill to the finished product. The shop offers yarn for hand machine knitting, hand weaving and crochet and carded wool for felt making.This afternoon we’ll visitthe Museum of Norwegian Knitting Industry. Through our guided tour of the former Salhaus Knitting Factory (1858 –1989) we’ll learn about the history and importance of the textile industry in Norway. We’ll be taken step-by-step through the different production processes from carding and spinning to winding, knitting, and sewing and, from a film about the history of Salhaus, learn about working life in the factory town. Lunch at the knitting museum is included today.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Lunch
Includes Dinner
Overview
Full day workshop with Frederica at our hotel.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Overview
Our excursion today takes us first to Osteroy, an inland island surrounded by beautiful fjords. The island has a strong history of craftsmanship that is still alive today. Our guided tour of the open-air museum, which has afocus on preserving traditional crafts, will take us around the 17th-century buildings and introduce us to some of the crafts and costumes.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
Say farewell to our fellow knitters and transfer to Bergen airport for our return flight to London.
Includes Breakfast
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
Newly renovated in 2019, this 4-star hotel occupies a fantastic location in the middle of Bryggen in Bergen. With its grand architecture, full of Baroque and Rococo designs, the hotels address on Slottgaten has been considered one of Bergen’s most exclusive streets since the eighteenth century.
Travel Options
When it comes to getting you to your destination. Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you to choose from
Meet us at the ship
For complete flexibility, make your own transport arrangements to and from the ship. We will provide you with times and locations as well as some useful information for you to make your own arrangements to join your cruise.
If you require any further information to assist with your travel plans, please contact our Holiday Advisors who will be happy to help.
Meet your Coach at Dover
Travel down to Dover and jump onboard your coach for your ferry crossing.
Alternatively, travel the day before your departure and enjoy an overnight stay, with complimentary parking for the duration of your cruise, before being collected after breakfast the following morning.
Travel by Eurostar
Step aboard Eurostar at London St Pancras for a fast and comfortable journey to mainland Europe. You can even upgrade your reserved seat to Standard Premier – speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information. On arrival in Paris, Lille or Brussels, you will then join connecting services for your onward journey.
Travel by Air
Return flights from London Heathrow with transfers to and from the ship are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates. We also include one item of checked in luggage per person.
If our included flights are not suitable, alternative flights may also be available from other airports on our arrival and departure dates. These may have an additional supplement and are subject to availability at the time of booking.
More flexible travel options
Travelling by Eurostar?
Why not stay overnight in London?
For those travelling from further afield, you can also book overnight accommodation in London, before and after your holiday. Speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information.
Stay overnight near the port
For an even more relaxed start to your European holiday, why not stay overnight in Dover or nearby Ashford the night before your cruise from only £65pp? All our quoted prices include car parking for one vehicle for the duration of your cruise and cooked breakfast the following morning. Our coach will collect you and return you to the hotel on its way to/from the port of Dover. And if you don’t want that holiday feeling to end, why not do the same on your return journey?