Scottish Islands Yarn Cruise

Enjoy two full days cruising at sea as we make our way north to Scotland. Whilst sailing, join Anna for workshops and enjoy the wonderful programme of events and activities on board the ship.

Located at the head of Cromarty Firth in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, Invergordon serves as a starting point for exploring Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield and the Whyte & Mackay whisky distillery. Close by is the imposing Cawdor Castle, often linked with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Dunrobin Castle, which dates back to the 13th century. As well as the infamous ‘Nessie’ said to be lurking in the lochs, the surrounding coastline is also home to many species of seal, porpoise, dolphin and whale.

Lerwick, the northernmost town in the United Kingdom, is the friendly capital of over 100 islands and islets of the Shetland Isles. It is located roughly 160 km off the northeastern coast of mainland Scotland, known for its picturesque harbour, historic waterfront and unique blend of Scottish and Norse heritage.  During our exclusive excursion, we’ll spend time learning about the importance of textiles and knitwear to the islands’ commerce with visits to the Shetland Textile Museum and Shetland Museum & Archives, as well as enjoying opportunities for yarn shopping!

Our exclusive excursion today will take us to some of the craft and sightseeing highlights of the Orkney Islands, such as the beautiful Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war during the Second World War. We also visit the family-run Hoxa Tapestry Gallery, whose work is inspired by the rhythm of life and the landscape of Orkney, and the Loft Gallery, a crafters co-operative.

We’ll return to Kirkwall for some free time for lunch and shopping before visiting one of the many sheep-breeders and yarn producers on the island.

Our tour will culminate with a walk around the Ring of Brodgar stone circle and a photo stop at the Neolithic Standing Stones of Stenness, before returning to the ship.

Our first stop will be Skyeskyns Tannery, where we’ll be transported back in time to witness how sheepskins are made using the time-honoured methods of leather making – one of the oldest crafts known to man. We continue to Island at the Edge, a croft that breeds Hebridean and Black Cheviot sheep and produces top-quality yarns with their fleece. Our final visit will be to Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan Macleod for 800 years and the longest continually inhabited castle in Scotland.

Please note: this excursion involves long periods of standing and approximately 90 minutes of walking at the castle, with stairs to negotiate. The excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users or for those with mobility issues.

From time immemorial, the inhabitants of the Outer Hebrides have woven the beautiful and intricate cloth we know as Harris Tweed. The islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist, and Barra were long recognised for the excellence of their weaving, yet until the mid-nineteenth century the cloth was used only on their crofts or sold at local markets. In 1846, Lady Dunmore, widow of the landowner of Harris, commissioned local weavers to replicate her clan tartan in tweed. The results were so successful that she devoted significant time and effort to promoting it among her wealthy friends further afield. Soon, sales of the island cloth were established with merchants across the country.

This morning, the Harris Tweed story comes to life on our exclusive excursion to the Harris Tweed Story Room guided exhibition, followed by a meeting with Gordon MacDonald, a Harris Tweed weaver. After free time for lunch and shopping in Stornoway, we continue with a West Side Tour alongside our local guide, visiting the Callanish Standing Stones and Dun Carloway Broch, a well-preserved 1st-century fort. At the Arnol Blackhouse Museum, we gain a unique insight into island life while exploring a traditional thatched home that once sheltered both family and animals under the same roof.

Today’s sailing takes us past Bac Mòr and Fingal’s Cave en route to Southampton. Bac Mòr, also known as Dutchman’s Cap for its distinctive mushroom-like shape, is one of the most iconic of the Scottish Treshnish Isles. Designated a Special Area of Conservation, it is home to an abundance of wildflowers and provides nesting grounds for puffins, guillemots, fulmars, and razorbills. Fingal’s Cave is another highlight, its striking basalt columns rising dramatically from the sea in perfect symmetry.

While enjoying these views, there is also the opportunity to join Anna for workshops, alongside the varied programme of events and activities on board.

Whilst sailing, join Anna for workshops as well as making the most of the wonderful programme of events and activities onboard ship.