Knitting in Yorkshire
In a countryside dotted with sheep, Yorkshire begs for a visit by knitters. We’ll stay in Harrogate, the elegant spa town that was once the favored destination of European high society. Today Harrogate is a vibrant cultural destination with exclusive shops and an abundance of great places to eat and drink, including the famous Betty’s Tea Shop.
The highlight of our trip is the Yarndale Wool Festival, an award-winning festival that “celebrates all things woolly and wonderful.” We will also visit historic castles, abbeys and manor houses, including Hawarth, home of the Bronte family. Additionally, there will be knitting workshops and special presentations. Along the way, we’ll see glorious countryside, picturesque towns and charming villages, and learn about Yorkshire’s rich history and lore.
Dates: September 20 – 28, 2023
Please Note Before Registering we only have these rooms left. • Register Now →
This trip is now full. If you are interested please sign up on the waiting list.
Tentative schedule: We generally schedule one excursion each day so that you still have time to relax, knit and connect.
Wednesday: Arrive and settle in
Thursday: Knitting workshop; explore Harrogate
Friday: Harewood House and Gardens
Saturday: Yarndale
Sunday: Guild presentation; Betty’s Tea Shop
Monday: Felting workshop; Ripley Castle
Tuesday: Haworth, home of the Brontes
Wednesday: Fountains Abbey
Thursday: Depart
Note that the itinerary is subject to change. If an event is cancelled due to weather or other reasons beyond our control, it will be replaced with another. A more detailed itinerary with specific times will be available when you arrive in Yorkshire.
Meals: Breakfast is provided each day by Arden House, lunch will usually be at the various venues of the events, and dinner, unless otherwise stated, will be at a restaurant in Harrogate. The only meal not included is lunch at Yarndale.
Yarndale “celebrates the brilliance of yarn in all its forms.” The festival has an impressive selection of talented and passionate exhibitors and events. Visit the Yarndale website to keep up to date on vendors and plan your visit.
Haworth Village, the home of the Bronte family, has it all: history, scenery, shopping and dining. Walk the cobblestone streets as you step back in time to the village that inspired the world famous novels.
Harewood House, Ripley Castle and Fountains Abbey — each known for lovely gardens and estate, wonderfully preserved for visitors to learn and enjoy — share not only history, but culture of a time before.
A gourmet heaven, Harrogate boasts local and ethnic cuisine at restaurants known for quality and integrity of flavors and style.
Arden House B&B provides the perfect venue to make new knitting friends as we relax, learn, and connect with others.
TIPS FOR TRAVELERS: Participants can see our Tips for Travelers page for registered travelers. Read the Trips for Knitters Responsibility/Disclaimer Statement.
You are responsible for the travel arrangements from your home to Arden House.
Closest airport: Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) or Manchester Airport (MAN) are the closest major airports to Harrogate. If you wish to arrive a few days early to take in sights in London or other cities in the UK and adjust to the time change, you can take the train from other cities to Harrogate.
Airport to lodging: From the airport, you can take a train or bus to Harrogate and then walk or take a cab to Arden House. Arden House is about a 10-minute walk from the train station. You can also take a cab directly from the train station to Arden House.
Arden House provides 4-star guest accommodation in Harrogate. Expect to be spoiled by the exceptional hospitality of the hosts at Arden House, Jan and Mark Holliday. Arden House offers the following types of rooms:
• Single twin (one bed)
• Shared twin (two twin beds)
• Doubles (one European queen bed)
• Ground floor double (upon request only)
• Ground floor four poster (upon request only)
All rooms are en suite with modern bathroom facilities. Wifi is available in all rooms throughout the B&B. There are two rooms on the ground floor, the rest are upstairs on the second and third floors. There is no elevator in Arden House.
Accommodations are included in the Trips for Knitters price. You do not need to register separately with Arden House.
The per-person fee for the Knitting in Yorkshire adventure includes lodging, most meals, local transportation, admission fees, knitting classes and project yarn. The price does not include alcoholic beverages or lunch at Yarndale or admission into Yarndale. You may like to bring money for shopping and personal expenses.
The trip price is based on your room selection:
This trip is now full. If you are interested please sign up on the waiting list.
If we are fully booked, we recommend that you sign up on our Wait List & Early Notification form as we may have cancellations. You can also choose to ensure that you get early notification about this event for the following year.
A $500 per-person non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. Payment in full is due May 30. Questions? Contact us
Read the Trips for Knitters Responsibility/Disclaimer Statement
Registration
Please Note Before Registering we only have these rooms left. • Register Now →
This trip is now full. If you are interested please sign up on the waiting list.
A $500 per-person non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. You will receive a packet via e-mail with a contract for your trip.
Roommates
Balance of payment is due April 30. An invoice will be e-mailed to you two weeks prior to the due date. Payment can be made via PayPal, check or over the phone. Contact us for a mailing address if you wish to pay by check.
If we are fully booked, contact us to be added to the wait list as we may have cancellations. If a space opens up, we will contact you as soon as possible.
Cancellation policy
• All cancellations must be in writing; email is acceptable.
• The $500 per-person deposit is non-refundable.
• Cancellation does not necessarily result in a partial refund.
• Cancellations within 60 days of start date of event may result in a partial refund only if the space is filled.
• There is no refund for cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start date of event.
• If a participant is reimbursed through insurance, Trips for Knitters will not process an additional refund.
We strongly urge participants to purchase travel insurance to cover airfare and event expense in the event of cancellation. Please read our Tips for Travel Insurance.
Expect to walk in the historic city center of Harrogate, just a few blocks from our lodging. There’s also walking at the historical sites we’ll visit. Bring comfortable shoes and get in shape before the trip to optimize your enjoyment. You’ll want to be able to explore all that Yorkshire has to offer.
While we use private transportation to get to many locations, upon arrival you will want to be able to walk for an hour or more to obtain the most out of the experience. On tours, there may be benches on which to seek relief, but count on standing on your feet for long periods of time.
Arden House is located on historic Franklin Street, and while it’s all downhill to go shopping or out to eat, expect to climb a slight incline on the return trip. Add hills to your routine to prep if you need to.
A few reminders:
• Pack/wear comfortable shoes that have been broken in prior to the trip.
• Bring Band-Aids as a precaution.
• Build stamina by walking more and more the weeks prior to the trip.
• Add stairs!
We make every effort to ensure Trips for Knitters are accessible to as many people as possible. Please read the TFK Health & Fitness Tip.
How much does this trip cost?
Pricing is based on room choice (except for Block Island and Buffalo WY) and whether you choose private or shared. All prices are per person. See Pricing. We recommend reserving your space with the non-refundable deposit as soon as possible as the spaces will go quickly.
When is payment due?
After making your non-refundable deposit,balance of payment is due April 30.
What will my expenses be?
The cost does not include airfare, transportation to/from airport or from another city, alcohol, personal items, and any optional activities. For Buffalo WY, lodging is arranged directly with the hotel and is at the participant’s expense.
I’m not a really experienced knitter. Will I be able to do the project?
We plan projects that are accessible by knitters at various levels of experience, complexity in knitting, and interest. For those not as confident in their knitting, this can be a great time to move past some of your apprehension with experts to help you along. We also believe that it’s your knitting and if you choose not to do the project or to do it a different way, that’s fine. We want you to make the most of your knitting in your way, and it’s different for all of us. You still get the project yarn, whether you knit it or not!
What is the schedule like?
At Trips for Knitters, we provide a balance of activities, knitting time, workshops and special events. Count on time during each day for relaxation as well as social time, great meals, and interesting local exploration. We never leave our lodging early in the morning and we never miss a meal! Specific trip schedules are listed in the Itinerary.
How do I get specific questions answered?
How do I register?
View the types of rooms in Lodging and contact us to ensure we can accommodate your room preference. Contact Trips for Knitters by email or phone to check availability and to register for the event.
Can I bring my husband, friend, family member who is not a knitter?
For these events, we charge everyone the same, so that person sharing your room will pay the same amount as you, but you will each pay the shared room rate, which is less than the private room rate. Please read our Notes for Non-Knitters, which pertains to any non-knitters traveling with you. Non-knitters participate in all activities as they choose, including day trips, meals and tours.
How do I connect with other participating knitters?
We’ll put everyone in touch electronically, facilitating email communication.
What should I bring?
We recommend traveling light. Once you have registered, you’ll have access to Tips for Travelers, which includes a packing list.
I am on a specific diet. Can my dietary needs be met?
Most likely, but contact us to discuss. We can accommodate most diet issues with advance notice. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets are generally not a problem.
Do we have to assist in meal preparation or clean up?
You do not have to prepare meals or clean up. You do not have to make your bed! It really is a relaxation trip with a light schedule and lots of time for knitting, connecting with others, learning and doing what you want.
What are the physical requirements of the trip?
We want every knitter to enjoy their trip and make every effort to ensure Trips for Knitters are accessible to as many people as possible. For specific trip details, see The Experience, above.
Some of the trips are more physically demanding and may not be suitable for everyone. Contact us if you have questions or wish to discuss the amount of walking, stair climbing or other physical demands, especially if you have back, knee, or hip issues.
To gauge your level of fitness, we suggest you honestly assess your ability to walk 1–5 miles at a reasonable pace. If you become short of breath, experience cramping or spasms, or find that this exacerbates a medical condition, you may not want to register for the trip. Contact us if you have questions about the physical demands of any trip.
While age is just a number, we need to screen participants over 75 years old to discuss the physical and mental demands of the trip. Send an email and a good time to call and discuss. We hope you’ll qualify without hesitation, but we want to be sure you are up to the trip before you register, pay, and embark on travel.
Please let us know if you have any mobility or medical issues which may affect your ability to fully undertake the event as described. We accept no liability for mobility or medical issues that we are not told about prior to the trip. Advise us of any changes after registering and before the trip takes place.
Any questions or concerns, we’re here to discuss in confidentiality. We want the best outcome and enjoyment for every participant of Trips for Knitters events.
I have physical limitations and wonder if I’ll be able to manage this trip?
Feel free to contact us to discuss whether this trip is appropriate for your limitations.
What if I need to cancel for some reason?
• The $500 per person non-refundable deposit is just that: non-refundable.
• All cancellations must be in writing. Email is acceptable.
• Cancellation does not necessarily result in a partial refund.
• Cancellations within 60 days of start date of event may result in a partial refund only if the space is filled.
• There is no refund for cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start date of event.
• If a participant is reimbursed through insurance, Trips for Knitters will not process an additional refund.
• We strongly urge participants to purchase travel insurance to cover airfare and event expense in the event of cancellation. Please read our Travel Insurance Tip.
Read the Trips for Knitters Responsibility/Disclaimer Statement