Celtic Quilt Journeys, LLC
Worldwide Quilt & Textile Tours
Highlights of Scotland Quilt & Textile Tour
Co-Host: Patience Griffin – author - Kilts & Quilts® novels & Sweet Home, Alaska series
September 4 – 16, 2025
Worldwide Quilt & Textile Tours
Highlights of Scotland Quilt & Textile Tour
Co-Host: Patience Griffin – author - Kilts & Quilts® novels & Sweet Home, Alaska series
September 4 – 16, 2025
Tour Begins and Ends in Edinburgh, Scotland
Breakfast daily at your hotel each morning
Breakfast daily at your hotel each morning
Tuesday & Wednesday, September 2 & 3, 2025 – Edinburgh:
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner (oyo) = on your own
Please note: Depending on weather conditions and circumstances beyond our control, the itinerary is subject to change. We will make every effort to adhere to the itinerary as listed, but your flexibility, if alternative choices are made to enhance the schedule, is appreciated.
- Pre-tour hotel accommodations are available and can be arranged through Celtic Quilt Journeys / Journeys Connect. Upon your arrival you will make your own way to your pre-tour hotel in Edinburgh.
- This evening, welcome dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Edinburgh. (D)
- Today meet your tour guide and coach driver as you board your luxury coach and travel to Kelso to visit Beirhope Alpaca. Get up close and personal with the alpacas and learn all about your new woolly friends with a knowledgeable talk from the resident alpaca expert. Afterwards, travel to Lochcarron of Scotland for a tour in one of the best woollen weaving houses in the world. While there, take time to enjoy a quick lunch (oyo) at the café and a bit of shopping. Your last stop of the day will be a visit to the Great Tapestries of Scotland. The Tapestries are one of the largest community arts projects in the world, hand stitched by 1,000 people from across Scotland. It is made up of 160 linen panels. The tapestry itself tells the story of Scotland's history, heritage and culture – from the country's land formation millions of years B.C. up to 2013 when the last panel was complete. Evening at your leisure. Overnight in Edinburgh. (B)
- This morning board your coach and travel to the seaside village of Crail, inspiration for Patience Griffin’s Kilts & Quilts® novels. Patience will offer a walking tour and a seaside stroll. Your day continues with a visit and tour to Verdant Works, a restored mill housing interactive displays and telling the story of local 19th - 20th century jute production. There will be time to have lunch (oyo) in their cafeteria. The last stop of the day will be at the V&A Museum in Dundee. Travel on to your hotel in Aberdeen and enjoy a group dinner. Overnight in Aberdeen. (B/D)
- This morning you will meet your Scottish tutor and enjoy a hands-on applique class at your hotel. A group lunch will be available during the class. Additional information on the class will be in the Celtic Quilt Journeys bi-monthly newsletter. Afterwards, a local guide will take you on a walking tour of Footdee Village. This unique and historical old fishing village, built in 1809, is just bursting with character and maritime charm. The residents take great pride artistically, and sometimes humorously, decorating their “tarry sheds,” house fronts and gardens. Overnight in Aberdeen. (B/L)
- Your first stop this morning is the Knockando Woollen Mill. This historic woolmill is located in Moray, Scotland. Wool production has taken place at the site since at least the eighteenth century, and the surviving buildings house a number of pieces of historic machinery which are still in operation. Afterwards travel to Elgin where you will have several hours of free time to visit Veronique’s Quilt Shop and wander this small town. Take a walk to the Elgin Cathedral ruins, one of Scotland’s most beautiful medieval cathedrals, that dates back to the 13th century. There are plenty of restaurants to have lunch (oyo) and shops to enjoy here. Later head to Inverness where you will enjoy a group dinner. Overnight in Inverness (B/D)
- This morning be sure to eat a hearty breakfast, as your first stop is a tour and tasting at the Glen Ord Distillery, home of Singleton Whisky. Your next stop on your travels through the Highlands is Dunrobin Castle. The Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Dunrobin is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland. Enjoy a tour of the castle and grounds, with time for lunch in the café. Afterwards continue onto Thurso, located on the North Sea. Check into your hotel and tonight enjoy a group dinner. Overnight in Thurso. (B/D)
- Today travel the short distance to Scrabster to catch the ferry to Stormness on the Orkney Island. You will explore Orkney with a local guide. Later return to Thurso where the balance of the day/evening is free for you to explore the area. Overnight in Thurso (B)
- Today head back to Inverness with a stop at the Timespan Cultural Centre in the remote Scottish village of Helmsdale. The picturesque harbor village of Helmsdale sits in the rural Scottish Highlands – Timespan provides an integral service to this small community, documenting the history of the area. The museum is also home to a geology and herb garden, bakery, cafe and museum shop. Afterwards travel to Inverness where the rest of the day / evening is free for you to explore. Overnight in Inverness. (B)
- Today travel towards Pitlochry with a stop at Karelia House quilt shop, which is unlike any other. Here you will find wonderful fabrics and wools, along with some of the best baked goods from their in-house bakery. Continue to the Blair Atholl Watermill. This is a working water mill dating back to the 1590s where stoneground oatmeal and flours are milled and sold. In the tearoom, the fresh baking includes cakes, scones, a variety of breads, bagels and rolls. They also serve homemade soup and light lunches. Everything is made fresh and from local produce when possible. The baking is made from their own flour and is available to buy in the shop. After a short drive, check into your hotel in Pitlochry and enjoy the rest of the day and evening exploring this small town. Overnight in Pitlochry. (B)
- Today, enjoy a full day at the Pitlochry Highland Games. The games will occur rain or shine, so be prepared. There will be a parade down Atholl Road at about ~11:30 am. There will be plenty of food stalls, Highland Dancing competitions, Piping competitions, Pipe Bands, plus the heavy events - Tossing the Caber, Throwing the Hammer, etc. All events will take place throughout the day. The massed bands march will begin around 5 pm. Tonight, you are free to explore the Pitlochry restaurants and pubs, where you may find traditional music and celebrations. Overnight in Pitlochry (B)
- Enjoy The Falkirk Wheel--the world's one and only rotating boat lift--by sailing through the sky on a 60-minute boat trip over the canal. Stop by the world-famous Kelpies for a photo stop. Travel to South Queensferry where you will have time to enjoy the town and grab lunch (oyo) in one of the many cafes and restaurants. Arrive in Edinburgh late afternoon where the remainder of the day and evening is free for you to enjoy. Overnight in Edinburgh. (B)
- Enjoy breakfast followed by a full day at leisure in Edinburgh. This evening, enjoy a Farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (B/D)
- This morning there will be an early morning group transfer to Edinburgh airport.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner (oyo) = on your own
Please note: Depending on weather conditions and circumstances beyond our control, the itinerary is subject to change. We will make every effort to adhere to the itinerary as listed, but your flexibility, if alternative choices are made to enhance the schedule, is appreciated.
