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 Day
1: Saturday, 20 August
Departure from Canada and United States on our non-stop flight from
Toronto to Glasgow.
Day 2: Sunday, 21 August
Arrival in Scotland at Glasgow's modern international airport where we will
take a flight on Scotland's national airline, Loganair, to the Orkney
Islands and our first stop in Kirkwall, the capital. Our hotel is centrally
located and you will have time to rest or take a stroll before our informal
reception before dinner. This will be an opportunity to chat with your
fellow tour members and to learn our our plans for a unique visit to
Scotland. British Heritage Passes and maps of Orkney will be distributed at
this time.
Day 3: Monday, 22 August
Our Scottish Blue Badge Guide will take us on a memorable day tour, starting
with the archaeological sites of Skara Brae, a Stone Age village dating from
3,000 B.C., and Maeshowe, reputed to be the finest chambered tomb in
western Europe and built before 2700 B.C. We will also visit the harbour at
Scapa Flow, the Churchill Barriers and the Italian Chapel, and our guide
will give us the historical perspective of these important sites.
Craftspeople have not been forgotten, and we will stop at a craft
cooperative in the tiny village of St. Margaret's Hope. Before returning to
our hotel, we will visit Corrigall Farm, a 19th Century farm with peat fires
and even some North Ronaldsay sheep.
Day 4: Tuesday, 23 August
 This is your free day on Orkney--there are
many choices available and you will have no problem filling your day.
Ferries operate to several Orcadian islands with their distinctive attractions.
Some initial suggestions:
Shapinsay - The residents of Balfour Castle
offer a tour of the gardens and a meal in the castle. The island is
small and there are many sites of interest which you can easily see
by walking;
Sanday - the largest of the islands in the
North Isles chain, with many sweeping beaches and bays and archaeological
sites. There is much to see and do on Sanday-- you may want to take
a ride on the Sanday Light Railway, Britain’s
most northerly passenger-carrying miniature railway; visit the Orkney
Angora Craft Shop, which sells items made from the angora rabbits on
their farm; stop for tea at the Bressigarth Tea Room
before catching the ferry for the return journey to Kirkwall.
Westray - the route from Kirkwall follows the
old Viking sea route, and the Orkneying Sagas (tales of the Viking occupation
of Orkney) paint a picture of Westray during the early 12th century.
Ruins
 of buildings erected hundreds of years ago give one an idea of
the rich history of the area, plus the Heritage Centre, and walks to
see the many wildflowers and sites of interest for birdwatchers.If you prefer to stay on the mainland: visit the shops in Kirkwall;
the stunning St. Magnus Cathedral, founded in 1137; Tankerness Museum;
the informative tourist office. In past years there has been an exhibition
and sale of Orkney crafts.
Another suggestion is to visit nearby Stromness
(available by public bus or rental car) the historic port and former
port of call for the Hudson Bay Company ships during the 18th and 19th
centuries.
Day 5: Wednesday, 24 August
After breakfast our coach will take us to the nearby Kirwall airport and our
short Loganair flight to the Shetland Islands, 'crossroads of the northern
seas'. En route, we fly over the tiny island of Fair
 Isle before landing at Sumburgh Airport, at the southern tip of Shetland. Located between mainland
Scotland and Scandinavia, these islands share the character of both.
Friendly people, archaeological sites, stunning scenery all make this area a
special place.
Before arriving at our hotel in Lerwick, Shetland's capital, we will stop
for lunch at a small restaurant overlooking St. Ninian's Isle, where a
collection of Pictish silver was discovered by a local schoolboy in the
1950's.
After checking into our hotel in Lerwick, we will visit the shop of Jamieson
& Smith (the Shetland Wool Brokers). Oliver Henry, known as 'the wool man'
will give us an introduction to the fleece of the Shetland sheep breeds, and
the handling of the wool from fleece to yarn. The friendly, knowledgeable
staff will be ready to give suggestions to start knitting the Fair Isle and
Shetland lace patterns.
In the evening you may wish to visit Isleburgh House for an evening of
traditional crafts and live fiddle music.
 Day 6: Thursday, 25 August
Your morning will be free. No doubt you will wish to explore the pleasant
shopping area of Lerwick, with its numerous small shops and well-stocked
bookstore. Lerwick is little changed from photos of a hundred years ago and
is picturesquely located on the busy harbour.
After lunch in town (where there are many restaurants to choose from) our
coach will be wating to take us to the the studio of Wilma Malcolmson,
acknowledged as one of the best sources of machine and hand-knitted garments
on Shetland. Wilma's choice of colours is unparalleled and we will be
privileged to have a private workshop with her.
Before returning to our hotel, we will visit the home of Jimmy Work. Mr.
Work's talents are widely recognized and he has promised to have a supply of
his baskets on hand for purchase. His unique knitting baskets are in high
demand.
Day 7: Friday, 26 August
Our first stop today is at the workshop of the Shetland Jewellery to see
their distinctive silver and gold jewellery, based on traditional Shetland
and Nordic designs.
Our next visit is to Weisdale Mill, home of the Shetland Guild of Spinners,
Weavers & Dyers, for a private viewing of this year's exhibition "Home Front
Recall: Shetland Women in Wartime". There will be time to view their
extensive collection of Shetland knitting and to meet members of the Guild.
Our afternoon concludes with a visit to Sandness and the home of Jamieson's
Spinning Mill--an ideal chance to choose from their extensive line of
knitting yarns.
Fair Isle: As an option today, take the short flight to Fair Isle--depending
on weather availability of air seats. Lunch will be arranged at the Fair
Isle Observatory and you can take a walk with a local ranger. In addition,
you will be able to visit the small museum of knitting.
 Day 8: Saturday, 27 August
A free day and the choice is yours: visit the shops; knit at the hotel; take
a bird cruise with Shetland Wildlife Tours; a day trip to the most northerly
British islands of Unst and Yell.
Day 9: Sunday, 28 August
Today we'll have a full-day workshop with the members of the Shetland
Guild. They will guide us through a small tour project and demonstrate
how they knit with their knitting belts and long, double-ended 'pins'.
They will bring their spinning wheels and will give instruction. You
will be welcome to give it a try.
This is always a memorable occasion when Shetlanders and North Americans
share a relaxed, congenial time, and at the request of former participants,
has been expanded to a full-day visit. Please bring your knitted projects to
show the patterns and yarn we are using.
A homemade lunch and tea will be served.
Day 10: Monday, 29 August
 We regretfully leave Lerwick in the late morning and before taking our
Loganair flight, will stop at the archaeological site of the dig at Scatness
near the airport.
Ceud
Mille Failte...A Hundred Thousand Welcomes to the Outer Hebrides, also
known as the Western Isles.
Day 11: Tuesday, 30 August
Scheduled for today is a coach trip to the Isle of Harris, actually not
a separate island but connected to Lewis by a narrow peninsula. Joan
Morrison, our popular Blue Badge Guide from previous tours, will
accompany us and will enrich our travels, providing an interesting
commentary on the Hebrides with their strong Gaelic traditions.
Visits we will make:
Weaving shed of Katie Campbell, traditional Harris tweed weaver. Katie
will give us a demonstration, and you can purchase lengths of her woven
goods and yarn;
Margaret MacKay, of Soay Studio, in Tarbert. Margaret will show us her
dye pots and explain the mysteries of the local plants she uses to
produce the remarkable range of colours in her yarns;
Chris and Bill Lawson at the visitor centre called Seallam!, home of the
exhibition, Co Leis Thus? Gaelic for Who Do you Belong To?--a common
phrase in the Hebrides. The Lawsons are welcoming and informative hosts,
and have written books about the genealogy and history of the Hebrides.
 Day 12: Wednesday, 31 August
This is our day to explore Lewis and Joan Morrison will rejoin us to
enhance our travels on Lewis:
-most northerly point of the Hebrides, the Butt of Lewis, and an
opportunity for stunning photos;
- Calanais Standing Stones, a prehistoric site of lunar significance,
older than Stonehenge, and the most visited site in the Western Isles;
- Borgh Pottery (pronounced Borve) and its selection of quality items
made by local craftspeople;
- Morven Gallery which features paintings by local artists and a
selection of Alice Starmore’s sweaters and designs;
- Blackhouse Museum. A traditional Lewis thatched house;
- Studio of weaver Donald John MacKay, designer of the Isle of Skye
tartan.
-A special evening has been organized for dinner and a Celididh--a
memorable ending to our stay in the Western Isles.
Day 13: Thursday, 01 September
Before leaving for the airport will visit Shawbost Mill, with its wide
choice of woven yard goods; the Coast Guard Station, responsible for
marine rescues over a wide area; and Calanais a stunning setting of
Neolithic Standing Stones, with a lunar significance.
Our nonstop Loganair flight takes us to Edinburgh, where we arrive at our
centrally-located hotel. After evening dinner at the hotel, we'll have a
short get-together to discuss the many activities in the city, especially
since this is the final weekend of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Calum Macnee of Rabbie's Tours will join us to give advice and details about
options for your stay both in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. Calum's
cordial, informed presence has become something of a 'tradition' and he will
be pleased to answer your questions about Scottish history, daily life and
geography of the area.
Day 14: Friday, 02 September
Today is free to explore this historic, beautiful city--either on your
own or as part of a tour. Your tour escort will be available if you
would like company on your exploration of the city. In past years, Calum
has taken those who are interested to gardens, castles and general touring,
especially designed for the interests of our group.
Your British Heritage Pass will still be in effect while we're in Edinburgh.
 Day 15: Saturday, 03 September
Another free day in Edinburgh. Don't miss the stunning Museum of Scotland;
walk down Victoria Street (which is little changed from Victorian times);
Bill Baber's knitwear store in the Grassmarket area; a local shop, HK
Edinburgh, described as a "shop devoted to handknitting and knitted
textiles." Another suggestion is to go to Glasgow, just one hour
away by train.
Day 16: Sunday, 04 September
Our last full day in Scotland--either revisit previous sites or explore
new ones.
Day 17: Monday, 05 September
Our coach takes us to Glasgow International Airport for our non-stop
Air Canada flight to Toronto and connecting flights to our home cities. |
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