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I don’t normally take organized tours, but decided to try this as it focused on my interest in knitting and textiles. The tour also went to areas I was interested in seeing (the NW coast of Ireland and Northern Ireland) and didn’t try to cover too large an area in one trip.

The tour was amazing…well organized, with plenty of free time to explore destinations and not feel overly regimented. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and charming, and she made an effort to direct each of us to particular sites or shops of interest, depending on our own preferences. Even our bus driver contributed to the experience, joking and chatting with us, and sharing his own memories of growing up in Belfast, which was a remarkably personal and meaningful experience.

We had opportunities to meet local people throughout the trip, and delighted in hearing native Irish speakers and learning about traditional crafts.

I would gladly travel with this company again. Irish Knitting Tours delivered on its promises, and gave me a most memorable experience.

This tour was a great experience. It was my first time with a tour and I loved all of it. Our guide and our driver were knowledgeable, very helpful, and friendly. The classes were fun as well as educational. The accommodations were very good and the staff was friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend Irish Tourism.

The hotels, tourist attractions and classes were excellent. The tour guide, driver, and food was also very good. The concerns I have are regarding the management of Covid when a participant became sick.
1. There seemed so much confusion as to what the guide should do. I would think there would be a protocol to follow.
2. Nothing was done to mitigate the spread of Covid. It would make sense to have everyone mask up on the bus, socially distance at supper and sadly cancel the last class on the Aran islands
3. Were the class instructors notified that they were exposed to Covid? The Fibre Center notified?
I would think that Irish Tourism would have a very succinct protocol; it was not apparent. This issue impacted all of us and I was REALLY disappointed to the extent that I’m not sure I would tour with them again.

Scotland & Shetland tour in May. Our guide was terrific considering it was the first one in 2 years and much if the itinerary needed to be rearranged. All the places we visited were wonderful. I traveled to and from Scotland on my own and quickly felt included by everyone else in the tour group. The trip was a lifetime bucket list thing for me and I loved it all.

I loved every minute of this tour. The accommodations were excellent, even the rocky ride on the ferry from Shetland. The workshops were fantastic and I learned so much. Sandra is a wonderful tour guide, this was my second tour with her. Brian, the coach driver was an excellent driver and a great person. This tour was worth the 2 year wait.

I loved everything about this tour. The people I dealt with only via email prior to the tour were always helpful and responded quickly. I had to rebook my trip two years later due to Covid, and that process worked smoothly. Once I arrived, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and the events that were planned were great. My only complaint was that we didn’t get an advance copy of a detailed itinerary that included times to meet. But when our guide realized that we didn’t have one, she typed one herself and gave it to us the next day. The food was delicious and plentiful. We were given many opportunities to shop, both for yarn and souvenirs. There was a good balance of knitting classes and tourist sites, along with time on our own. All the people we encountered in Ireland were so friendly, even the knitting instructors. I highly recommend this tour!

My recent trip to Scotland, and eventually the Shetland Islands, was more than what I expected. An immersion into the Shetland culture, its people, the historical threads that informed the preservation and ingenuity of its inhabitants to keep the Shetland fiber and artistry of its knitters was inspiring. That it was lambing season on the island was an added bonus as we viewed the landscapes and its bouncing newborns graced our views. The tour guide was informative and made every effort to accommodate our needs. Our driver took great care to keep us safe, delivering us to our various destinations with obvious experience and professionalism. The workshops were informative and on point. Most importantly, the people of Scotland and Shetland were all gracious and sincere, and finding my way was easily achieved after a travel hiatus due to covid. Every added visit, Dovecote Studios in Edinburgh, the museum in Dundee, the kilt presentation, Urdale Farm, the various yarn shops, and the lovely lunches, some tucked away in “wee” villages, were all delightful.I’ve only highlighted a few of the visits, the itinerary was full and informative. The experience of the Shetlands makes it a destination I would like to return to.

My sister and I had a wonderful time on our recent knitting tour. We especially appreciated:
several two-night stays in hotels, which allowed some needed down time
excellent teachers of the classes
opportunities to do some shopping as well as do classes
pace of the days - some structure balanced with free time
our excellent guide
the mix of the modern with the historical
small group - i think about twenty people-which allowed for better group interaction
the flexibility of tour company personnel when the unexpected struck
the frequent pit stops for those of us who are ladies of a certain age
the optional activities for the two men in the group
We're trying to think of a way to do it again!

I had the best time on the knitting tour to the Shetland Islands. We had a small group which made it very pleasant for us to get to know each other. the hotel rooms were very comfortable and food was delicious and wonderful. the museum tours were very informative and interesting. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun to be with. the bus driver was also a knowledgeable tour guide and quite happy to join us. the knitting stores and classes were of the best. I would be happy to go again.

This was a fabulous trip and everything was taken care of. Our driver and guide were wonderful, helpful, knowledgeable. The classes and teachers were great and lots of fun. I would highly recommend the trip to the Shetland Isles is beautiful and a great adventure. I had such a great time I have booked a trip to Ireland.

I went on my second knitting adventure with Knitting Tours in April-May 2022. This time we headed to Scotland and the Shetland Islands. The entire trip was a delight! The itinerary was fabulous, diverse, and interesting. The guide and bus driver were top notch. The best part was being some of the very first tourists back on Shetland. Not one complaint !

The tour as a whole was better than expected for the most part.
Our guide, driver and coach were excellent as were most of the workshops and attractions we visited.
Only one glitch, arrived before 5 a.m. in Dublin and was supposed to be picked up and brought to hotel. No driver arrived even after over an hour. We had nobody to contact to find out what to do. We wound up taking a cab, for which we were reimbursed. Otherwise all was great.

Great tour! Great way to see Ireland

What a great tour for knitters! I wanted to go to the Aran Islands for 40 years as I have a love for the cabled sweaters from that region - what a dream come true. My tour of Dublin, Connemara, Galway, Aran Islands, and the South of Ireland was perfect. Wonderful hotels, food, history, with a nice variety of tours of Irish crafts, sheep herding, woolen mills, and knitting workshops. Our tour guide, Mary, was a delight who took great care of us and driver, Billy, a safe driver and very friendly. I definitely am looking forward to a future tour with knittingtours.com!

I was extremely impressed with the knitting tour. It was
an excellent way to see Ireland, learn some new knitting techniques, and enjoy the company of other knitters. The accommodations were fantastic and the meals exceeded my expectations. I would definitely do another tour with KnittingTours! My only suggestions is to make sure the tour guide has everyone introduce themselves at the start of the tour. Most of the group had friends that came with them, yet there were four of us who traveled alone. I did not know until towards the end of the tour who were the singles of the group. This would have made the trip more enjoyable if I knew others were on there own as well.

This is a great tour for both knitting and sightseeing! Throughly enjoyed it. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. All the instructors were very good and I learned a lot. You will definitely not go hungry on this tour! The scones were amazing! I will definitely take this tour again.

From the planning of the trip with the Irish Tourism Group to the final wrap-up meal of the tour, the Best of Scotland Knitting tour was an awesome experience. The tour guide and driver(s) were professional, personable and knowledgable. The presentations and classes were educational and informative. The hotels and food were comfortable and tasty. And, Scotland is an absolutely beautiful country. I highly recommend this tour for those interested in everything about wool, from the sheep to the knitting needles to spending time with like-minded individuals. And, there is an additional bonus of learning about Scottish history. If you've considered touring Scotland with needles in hand, this is the tour for you!

Wonderful tour - excellent knowledgeable guide , good drivers on some windy roads. Hotels very good and meals excellent. Enjoyed every day.

Terrific itinerary, guide, accommodations, and food. Loved it.