WELCOME TO SHETLAND!

We leave our Aberdeen hotel for the short flight to Shetland this morning. On arrival, we will have lunch together at a local hotel over looking the sea before heading out to stretch our legs. We'll look out for the puffins that make their nests in the dramatic cliffs of the south of Shetland Mainland and take time to explore a 200 year old lighthouse. Then we're on our way north to our home for the week: 16th century Busta House Hotel.

LERWICK & HOSWICK

A drive into town through rugged peat bog landscapes, populated only by sheep and their new born lambs, brings us to the world famous Jamieson & Smith wool shop. We will hear how sheep fleece is is sorted and graded before being spun into yarn. There'll be time to marvel at the vast array of colored wool and maybe even treat ourselves to one or two balls!

After lunch, we'll experiment with some of that colored wool in our workshop with Shetland designer Janette Budge. Janette will let us into her secrets of how to blend color to create the intricate Fair Isle patterns. Once equipped, we'll combine our chosen colours to knit a peerie (that means small in the Shetland language) Fair Isle yoke. You could even try knitting with a traditional makkin belt.

ORGANIC CROFT & KNITWEAR DESIGN

Hear tales of Shetland's ancient people as we drive through yet more breath-taking landscapes to Scalloway, home to Uradale Organic Croft. We'll see how working dogs gently round up the sheep and hear crofter Ronnie tell us about the native Shetland breed. And yes, he even has his own range of organic knitting wool spun from the fleece of the Uradale Croft sheep. It's just possible you may not leave empty-handed!

Next we'll visit contemporary knitwear designer Joanna Hunter who will show us her fascinating collection of family knitwear dating back almost one hundred years. Whilst we are in Scalloway, we will have a look in the local museum, which houses a display telling of Shetland's undercover rescue mission with Norway in WW2.

ESHANESS & LERWICK

A drive north today to see the volcanic cliffs and spectacular rock formations of north Shetland Mainland. If you are a fan of the Shetland TV crime drama series, you'll be familiar with Shetland's Honesty Cake Fridges. If you're not, today's your chance to try one out as we stop for lunch on our way back into Lerwick where we will explore Shetland Museum's textile collection.

After dinner tonight, consider taking a dram and finding a comfy seat to sink into whilst we listen to some traditional Shetland music.

LERWICK & NOSS

If the weather is fine, we will take a small boat from Lerwick around the islands of Noss and Bressay to experience the awe-inspiring bird colonies and seals. We'll have free time to explore Lerwick and visit The Shetland Textile museum. Make sure you look out for the famous knitted lace fence on the way in!

BURRA, SCALLOWAY & BRINDISTER

Our day begins with a trip to the island of Burra, where weaver Debbie Briggs will get us thinking about the relationship between color and fiber. Then it's a short drive to Burra Bears where Wendy will welcome us into her studio to tell us how she uses vintage knitwear to create memory bears.

After lunch, we will feel like we've stepped back in time when we visit another croft. This time we will get to sit by the peat fire listening to stories of Shetland life. Make sure to bring your knitting!

THE NORTHERN MOST ISLAND OF BRITAIN

We're off to the islands of Yell and Unst today via two ferry journeys. The Old Haa museum is housed within a merchant's house dating back to 1672 and is a great place to learn more about the island of Yell. Once we reach Unst, Britain's most northerly island, we'll head to the replica Viking Longhouse and the longship, Skidbladner, and learn how textiles were produced more than 1200 years ago. After a delicious lunch in the community hall, we will head to the Heritage Centre. Not only does it house a wealth of information and artefacts relating to, among other things, the world-reknowned Shetland lace knitting, but we will also spend time with local knitters and talk about their work.

OUR LAST DAY IN SHETLAND!

Before we head to the airport, we'll visit the archaeological site of Jarlshof. Uncovered by a great storm in 1897, this small area has the remains of housing from people who lived in the area dating back over 5,000 years, from the neolithic period right up until the 1600s. After this, our early afternoon flight will take us back to Aberdeen for the night where we will have our farewell dinner and compare who bought the most yarn!

Parting is such sweet sorrow. Bursting with new friendships, project ideas, and a deeper understanding of Shetland, its wool and its people, we will each wend our way onwards. Farewell, my friends!

Helen lives on a croft in the Shetland Islands. With a flock of native Shetland sheep in every natural colour imaginable, she’s never short of inspiration … or fleece.

On any given day you might catch Helen spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, crocheting, or roaming Shetland’s rugged moorland and wild coastal paths. She’s equally passionate about the Viking period and ancient textile skills, especially nalbinding, which she teaches at Shetland Wool Week.

Anna is an avid knitter and fledgling spinner with a general passion for all things fiber and textile. After being intimidated early in her crafting, Anna feels strongly about creating a welcoming environment within the fiber community for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. She enjoys knitting and fiber traveling, test and service knitting, a good challenge (knitting or otherwise), and is likely to have at least 3 WIPs at any one time. She lives with her husband and fur babies (dogs) in Minnesota.

🌟 "Our RTT trip to Shetland Islands was beyond my expectations - and this was my 4th RTT trip. We got to experience local culture and history in ways that are not otherwise accessible. Accommodations and food were wonderful and local. Could not find this anywhere else but RTT." -Darcy P

✨ "This tour satisfied my curiosity about the Shetland Islands with a variety of cultural and historical activities with local knowledgeable guides. The knitting was fun, but so was meeting local knitters, seeing LOTS of Fair Isle knitting and of course shopping the incredible iconic Shetland wool. The accommodations and food were excellent. We even met some wonderful local musicians. Couldn’t ask for more." -Janice P

💫 "I’ve traveled with different companies over twenty times some costing more some about the same. The focus on fiber while incorporating the culture and geography of the area is outstanding and has gotten better with each Rowan Tree adventure. Some companies remain good but this one seems to grow in sophistication while maintaining individual connections." -Sharron N