Scottish Arts, Crafts and Textiles

Scottish Arts, Crafts and Textiles

Scotland is famous for lots of things, and one of these things is all things crafty. Supporting local businesses and crafts men and women has become more popular and therefore aids this industry further. There are so many workshops and studios to visit in Scotland it can be a lovely way to spend a day when you are on your Scottish Tourer holiday in 2025. 

Many of Scottish Tourers customers arrive in Edinburgh and if you choose to spend some time here before heading to us then we highly recommend the Paddywax Candle Bar in Edinburgh. Here you can design and make your very our candle, from choosing the vessel to the pouring process its a lovely unique experience. You can bring your own bottle for just £5 and after pouring your candle it can be collected after 3 hours or posted to you for a small addition. Children from the age of 5 can join in so it can be a lovely whole family activity and you leave with a great memory at the end of the day. Paddywax Candle Bar – thecandlebar.co

If your over on the Outer Hebrides why not try your hand at drawing the land. With guidance from local artist Ellis O’Connor you work with paper, paints, charcoal, inks and pastels to capture the environment. You can attend an art holiday here if you are wishing to spend a few nights on the Hebrides and you enjoy a longer activity. 

The Braemar Highland Games Centre explores an entire living tradition and opens on the 15th of March. Just in time for our Scottish Tourer season beginning. The village of Braemar is picturesque, home of the highland games and you will find lots of lovely arts and crafts in the gift shop here. If you wish to purchase rather than make yourself this makes for an excellent option. 

Handmade in Orkney you will find Castaway Crafts, it is on route to many tourist attractions on the island. You can see the owner Fiona at work while you browse locally handmade products. You can pick your own fabric and have your own products made. Castaway Crafts | Creative Orkney Trail | Orkney.com gives you a sneak peek into what you can purchase or have made by Fiona. 

Again, in Orkney Sheila Fleet Jewellery offers an incredible experience as it is a renovated former church and is now a jewellery haven. Here you can take home a real masterpiece and a memory of the island as the items are truly wonderful. You can stop in at the cafe which caters for everyone and retains many of the original features of the church so gives it a real unique atmosphere. Below is a picture of one of Sheila’s masterpieces, just look at those colours and precision. 

 
Hopping over to Shetland, you will find craft workshops, open studios and even a craft trail booklet at the visitor's centre to guide you round some of the most unique quaint businesses Scotland has to offer. Craft Trail – Shetland Arts & Crafts gives you lots of information about what there is on offer. A few of our favourites to visit included the Fair Isle Textile Workshop, The Fairy Hut and the Shetland Gallery. There are so many to choose from though Shetland really does spoil you with crafting. 

Down in the Borders at the Textile Towerhouse you can discover the history of knitwear and tweed. There are lots of displays of fashions, historical pieces and information about the woollen industries. The tower itself has a story to tell, and it is a focal point of the Hawicks annual common riding. There is a wonderful cafe and gift shop to browse through some of the local arts, crafts and textiles of this part of the country. 

Scotland is home to so many talented people, when you’re on your next holiday we would encourage you to look at that smaller shops, look for the local, handmade product over the mass produced and be proud of the garment and the workmanship that went into producing it. Those who produce them will appreciate it and you keep those small businesses alive and maintain the strong Scottish heritage we are all so proud of.