Knitting at Birkhill Castle in Scotland

20-27 October 2026

Join us in bonnie Scotland for an exclusive 7-night knitting retreat at Birkhill Castle, a historic country estate dating from the 16th century located on the banks of the River Tay in the beautiful Kingdom of Fife. Owned by the 12th Earl of Dundee and the Countess of Dundee Birkhill Castle has been the family’s ancestral seat for almost 300 years and is both a private residence and a luxury venue welcoming guests.

Birkhill Castle has been expanded and remodelled over time and today offers the perfect blend of historic grandeur and modern comfort. The bedrooms are individually and tastefully styled with elegant decor and scenic views over the estate and River Tay. Cozy up in front of an open fire with a book from the library, enjoy a game of snooker, work out in the gym, catch a film in the home cinema or play a tune on the grand piano - you don’t have to go far to find indoor entertainment and on the 1500 acre private estate comprising gardens, woodland and farmland you’ll also find a swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, driving range, table tennis table and croquet lawn together a private beach and easy access to the Fife coastal path, 117 miles of trails following the spectacular coastline.

Our retreat begins in Edinburgh when we transfer by coach to Birkhill Castle where welcome drinks and cake await us before we settle in and enjoy a welcome dinner. After breakfast the following day we visit Tribe Yarns, a retail space which focusses on great yarns and inspiring makers headed by expert knitter Milli Abrams. After an optional colour consultation from Milli you’ll browse the yarns available in the well-stocked space. We break for lunch at the award-winning traditional fish and chip restaurant the Wee Chippy before heading to nearby Bowbridge Alpacas to meet Simon and his fluffy, friendly herd of 60 alpacas. After hand-feeding the Mums and clicker-training the boys you’ll herd the alpacas into a pen and accompany them on an obstacle course. You’ll hear from Simon how the venture came about and have the chance to buy 100% alpaca yarn and alpaca products.

Milli Abrams from Tribe Yarns will be on site at the Castle for three full days of knitting instruction. The group will decide beforehand whether to work on single projects, a selection of multiple projects or specific skills. These will be discussed with Milli and the group after she returns from participating in the World’s Toughest Atlantic Row.

A visit to Scotland is not complete without a visit to a whisky distillery and nearby Lindores Abbey Distillery boasts the earliest recorded mention of whisky distillation in Scotland dating from 1494. The distillery was revived and relaunched in 2017 after a break of 523 years and their first single malt whisky was released in 2021. After a tour of their well-managed distillery we taste their flagship single malt as well a selection of special limited edition whiskies and we’ll enjoy a sharing platter lunch of cheeses and chutneys, charcuterie, salads and crusty breads.

Our final excursion of the week is to Falkland Palace, a Renaissance royal residence favoured by Stewart kings and queens particularly James IV and Mary, Queen of Scots. Built and expanded in the 15th and 16th centuries, you can see the King and Queen’s chambers with period interiors and furnishings and the magnificent Chapel Royal. The Royal Tennis court, the oldest real tennis court in Britain and still in use today, offers a glimpse into the recreational life of James V and other royals.

While the knitters knit there’s plenty to occupy our non-knitters. With themed tours (whisky, Outlander film locations, golf courses to name but some) readily available from local company Starfish Travel and additional bookable activities at Birkhill such as deer stalking, clay pigeon shooting and fishing everyone will be royally entertained and with over 20 world-class golf courses within an hours’ drive, including the Old Course at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, Birkhill Castle is the perfect base for Scotland’s golf.

Please note that there will be a maximum of 14 knitters on this retreat. We are operating a sliding scale for the pricing which means that the more people who attend the less expensive it will be for everyone. If we have a full house of 18 guests (14 knitters and 4 non-knitters) then the price for a knitter will be £3900-£4900 per person (approx $5150-$6470) depending on the room.. The price per person for a group size of 13 guests (9 knitters and 4 non-knitters) will be £6100-£6500 ($8000-$10635) depending on the room. Please refer to the pricing under Essential Information for more details.

Essential information

* 14 luxury bedrooms with ensuite, private or shared bathrooms for one or two occupants

* Minimum 13 guests (9 knitters and 4 non-knitters). Maximum 18 guests (14 knitters and 4 non-knitters)