Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

Eva Stacey reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"Having never ventured on a week spent together with complete strangers before, I’m happy to say that Rosie made the whole experience really relaxed, calm and very enjoyable indeed. I learnt so much about both dyeing and spinning, and within such a lovely and peaceful environment. Everything was well organised but never felt too disciplined or restricted and we could all work and develop our skills at our own pace. Ele’s singing brought something extra to the experience and it is a credit to her that we all joined in! Thank you so much for a lovely time spent in a beautiful part of the world!"

Wild Rose Escapes responded:

" I'm so glad you enjoyed your time with us Eva- it was lovely to have met you, i'm so glad you found it relaxing and enjoyable. Many thanks! Rosie"

Nicky Lambert reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"I loved spending time with Rosie and her team! Everthing was well organised from our pick up, to our departure - I woudnt have changed a thing! The accommodation was spacious and the surroundings lovely. The food was delicious and our activities were varied, interesting and well-chosen. Most of all though, Rosie is calm, patient, endlessly helpful and a joy to be around. I found my time on the course incredibly relaxing and came home rejuvenated. I have since bought a spinning wheel!"

Wild Rose Escapes responded:

" Thank-you for your review Nicky, -that's great you have bought yourself a wheel- just let us know if you need any advice. Happy Spinning- lovely to have met you. Yours Rosie"

Jacqueline hutton reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"From the time I was picked up from Inverness I was looked after. Rosie and her family welcomed us with warmth and kindness. Rosie is the most gentlest person sharing her amazing skills in a very relaxed calm and patient way, amongst this amazing scenery. I felt that the week was very balanced, giving time for sightseeing as well as learning about preparation, drying and then spinning. Rosie's home-cooked meals were very tasty and left me very contented. Nothing was too much trouble, the week was amazing I came home buzzing. Can’t wait to return."

hazel mackenzie reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"What a fantastic week we had on the dye to spin course with the amazing Rosie. Great company, great surroundings as well as learning new skills The week was made by Rosie. She is really an exceptionally gifted facilitator who worked so well with the group and made it fun...even the hard bits It is the fourth course I have done with her ....fortunately I am not a gifted crafter and so no doubt will come back again to sample the special magic that Rosie weaves!!"

Anne Fernweh reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"I enjoyed every minute of this course. Each day was beautifully balanced between hands-on learning activities and leisure time to walk the stunning landscape, knit, read or just enjoy the company of others on the course. It had something for everyone of all levels and Rosie was an extremely patient, accommodating teacher. It was wonderful to look back at the end of the week on all that we had accomplished and covered in such a short time. It was very hard to leave!"

Ros reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"Highly recommended whether you are a beginner in fibre crafts or already experienced. All the activities were well organised and fascinating, with brilliant end products for the participants to share. Most importantly, Rosie organised it really well and took everyone's needs into consideration – nothing was too much trouble for her. Accommodation in the Old Stables was excellent and very comfortable. Rosie worked hard all day and all evening, not just organising the activities, but also cooking wonderful wholesome, mainly organic meals, including home-made bread every day."

Natural Dyeing and Spinning Retreat reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"This was an awesome natural wool retreat! From the foraging for plants to use for dyes, to dyeing over fires, to Eco printing on silk, to spinning, it was the most fun fiber learning experience ever. Everything was accomplished at a seamless and easy pace. The accommodations in the refurbished "Old Stables" (in the rural pastoral countryside) were comfortable, spacious, and homelike. It was next to a bird sanctuary and offered lots of places to walk. The accommodations provided for both privacy and a place for the group to visit, eat meals, and get to know each other. The meals were delicious and nutritious. Loved the day of hiking in Glen Affric too. Rosie is an amazing facilitator, instructor, and cook who pulls everything together with ease!"

Wild Rose Escapes reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"Rosie, so friendly and knowledgeable, full of energy and fun! Good, simple, wholesome food and plenty of it! The dyeing was really good, but the spinning defeated me (but not the others), I probably gave up too quickly. Lovely tutors for the knitting and spinning. Good accommodation. Well organised. All really good. I'd love to go back."

Rosemary reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"Had a marvellous time very friendly group and the instructions where spot on. Would recommend to anyone who likes something different"

Jennifer Cawdron reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"Relaxed and informative. Great food and scenery. Thoroughly enjoyable experience."

jodi buckley reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"I don't even know where to start! Rosie's Dye to Spin adventure in the beautiful highlands was a dream come true. Rosie and Alex are welcoming hosts and their farm is beautiful, filled with sheep, chickens, goats, a rabbit, Otto the dog, Lavendar the lamb, and two adorable children. The house accommodations were nice and comfortable. There was plenty of space to spread out and knit until the wee hours. The woods and pastures surrounding the property were breathtaking. During our week on the farm, we learned the techniques of the process to turn a newly shorn fleece into eco dyed yarn. It was fascinating to see what colors we could create from the local flora around us. Bridie is a wonderfully patient spinning instructor. We were taught the basic skills to allow us to pursue spinning, should we desire. We also had a needle felting tutorial, we got to participate in a "waulking wool" song tradition with Ele, and had a nice introduction to fair isle knitting by Catherine. What I didn't expect, were the amazing meals cooked for us daily! What a treat. The food was healthy, delicious and plentiful. I can't say enough about my week in highlands. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and more!!"

Mary Keen reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"I spent a week last July on a Dye to Spin course, staying in the Beaters' wing of a beautiful Lodge on the River Glass. There were six of us, an American couple who divided between walking (him) and very expert spinning and weaving (her) but she had not dyed before. The rest of us were Brits and Rosie made us all feel so welcome and we forged a happy, coherent group. It was so positive and the extra helpers and tutors were amazing as well. I was not destined to master spinning in the course of the week, but somehow I came away feeling that I might have potential if I persisted. My results are the sort of thing you tie up your Christmas parcels with -interesting but definitely unusual. But when it came to making a dyed square, collecting plants and arranging them and rolling up the silk square and watching it being steamed and then (patience required) left for 24 hours before being unrolled and admired I was as good as anybody and got so much pleasure out of it all. I loved handling the fleeces and separating them ready for dying, then hanging over the iron pots to watch the process unfold. It was a lovely hillside to stand on, and a magical barn to eat in round a big table as the stewing and brewing went on. Back at the Lodge the food was very good and the evenings spent with chat, demonstrations and trying to order our project books, if so minded. The rooms were pretty and beds truly comfortable and lashings of hot water. The day when the dyed fleeces were drying we spent walking and picnicking and being awestruck by Plodda Falls. I hope to return another year, and recommend it thoroughly."