This special six night Fair Isle knitting workshop and walking holiday will be held at the wonderful Simonstone Hall in beautiful Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The knitting workshop days will be held at Simonstone Hall and during our stay we will enjoy the following: visits to the Wensleydale Creamery, Hardraw Force, Focus on Felt and Askrigg Ropemakers. An evening talk and full day guided walk with Alison O’Neill.  A half day farm tour of Alison’s Shacklabank Farm. A visit to Farfield Mill. Lunches on the days out will be at the Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw, the Middle House, Askrigg and the Black Bull, Sedbergh.

Sunday 8th to Saturday 14th November 2026.

Sunday 22nd to Saturday 28th November 2026.

The prices stated below include dinner, bed and breakfast based on single occupancy, workshops, all lunches, guided walk and visits. The prices are for each type of room available at Simonstone Hall. They have 4 categories of rooms (all are lovely…I’ve seen them!), the new Annex Suite, Principal, Estate and Cosy:

ANNEX SUITE - This is a new suite underneath the clock spire at the hall. It is a large room with a feature roll top bath and a small kitchen and sitting area. We have no photographs at the moment as it is still under decoration! I can assure you it will be very lovely! 

PRINCIPAL – these beautiful Principal Rooms and suites offer characterful country house style, in abundance. Each room varies in style, size and position, most offering superb views. Super king beds, comfy armchairs and sofas, freestanding baths and walk-in showers. These rooms can be made up as a twin option.There are 9 of these rooms available.2 of the rooms are on the ground floor and are considered ‘accessible’, with level access showers, ramp options available and comfort height amenities.

ESTATE – these lovely rooms are located throughout the Hall, with varying views. Each are characterful and comfortable, with country house interiors and features. A selection of these rooms is available as a ‘twin’ option, King size, or super king beds, great showers and baths, and some great little touches for your Simonstone stay.There are 7 of these rooms available.

COSY– these snug cosy rooms are pretty and are available as twin rooms too. What they lack in view, they certainly make up for in comfort and amenity. Bath, walk-in shower, wall-mounted TVs and other nice little touches to make it a great Simonstone stay. There are 3 of these rooms available.

TOTAL COST

All prices are based on single occupancy.

ANNEX SUITE - £4122,a deposit of £1000 is payable on booking, the balance of £3122 is payable in July 2026. The price includes VAT at 20%.

PRINCIPAL - £3690, a deposit of £1000 is payable on booking, the balance of £2690 is payable in July 2026. The price includes VAT at 20%.

ESTATE - £3546, a deposit of £1000 is payable on booking, the balance of £2546 is payable in July 2026. The price includes VAT at 20%.

COSY - £3414, a deposit of £1000 is payable on booking, the balance of £2414 is payable in July 2026. The price includes VAT at 20%.

If you wish to bring a knitting partner to share your room, including dinner, lunches and breakfast, participating in all walks and visits, the extra cost is £1518. The price includes VAT at 20%.

If you wish to bring a non-knitting partner to share your room, including dinner, lunch  and breakfast, participating in all non-knitting walks and visits, the extra cost is £1434. The price includes VAT at 20%.

Let me know by email if you wish to bring a knitting or non-knitting partner once you have placed your booking.

24 balls of MARIE WALLIN BRITISH BREEDS yarn and the pattern for new Fair Isle single size garment design

A Marie Wallin goody bag

Workshop and walking holiday hosted and taught by Marie Wallin, assisted by Gwynneth Allen.

3 course gourmet dinner each evening at Simonstone Hall

Breakfast each morning at Simonstone Hall

2 x full day knitting workshops at Simonstone Hall.

Tea and coffee on workshop days

1 x lunch at Simonstone Hall

1 x afternoon tea at Simonstone Hall

1 x morning visit to the Wensleydale Creamery, Hawes

1 x lunch at The Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw.

1 x afternoon visit to Hardraw Force.

1 x visit to Focus on Felt, the studio of felt artist, Andrea Hunter.

1 x evening talk with Alison O'Neill.

1 x full day guided walk with Alison O’Neill. 

1 x lunch at the Middle House, Askrigg.

1 x morning farm tour of Shacklabank Farm with tea and scones

1 x lunch at the Black Bull, Sedbergh.

1 x visit to Farfield Mill

1 x welcome drink

1 x half bottle of red or white wine on the last evening.

All travel by small coach as listed in the itinerary.

Additional food and drinks other than specified

Travel to and from Simonstone Hall on day of arrival and departure

Airport transfers are not included

Medical and travel insurance

Knitting needles and any notions required for the project.

Sunday 8th and 22nd November 2026

Arrival after 3pm. We will settle into our rooms at the lovely Simonstone Hall. Anyone arriving earlier will not be able to check into their room, but can take advantage of the hall, relaxing in the lounge, bar area or conservatory. We will meet at reception at 6.00pm for a welcome drink and an introduction to the workshop and walking holiday with an 'any questions' session. We will have dinner at 7.00pm at Simonstone Hall.

Monday 9th and 23rd November 2026

After breakfast, we will start the knitting workshop at 10am in the ‘Hunt Room’ at Simonstone Hall. The project will be a new Fair Isle 'one size only' garment design. My assistant Gwynneth and I will be on hand all day to guide you through the technique of Fair Isle knitting. We will break for lunch at 1pm and then continue the workshop until 6pm. Tea and coffee will be served throughout the day, and dinner will be at 7.00pm at Simonstone Hall.

Tuesday 10th and 24th  November 2026

After breakfast we will we travel by small coach to visit to the Wensleydale Creamery to see the famous Wensleydale cheese being made. There is also a gift shop and cheese shop! There will be about one hour after the creamery visit to have a walk around the small market town of Hawes, with its lovely antique and gift shops.Lunch will be at the 13th century Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw, followed by an afternoon visit to Hardraw Force, England’s longest single drop waterfall, made famous by Kevin Cosner in Robin Hood Price of Thieves! This is an easy, assessable, short circular walk on a metalled track. We will then visit the studio of renown felt artist, Andrea Hunter in Hardraw. On return to Simonstone Hall, we will continue the knitting workshop until 6pm. My good friend Alison O'Neill, will give an evening talk in the 'Drawing Room' about her life as a sheep farmer in the Dales. A buffet dinner will be served afterwards in the 'Hunt Room' at Simonstone Hall.

Wednesday 11th and 25th November 2026

After breakfast we will we travel by small coach to meet Alison O’Neill and Swift (her gorgeous young sheep dog) outside the church in Askrigg, where she will guide us on a beautiful circular walk from Askrigg to Nappa via Newbiggin and then back to Askrigg, there will be lots of breathtaking views of upper Wensleydale on the way. On return to Askrigg, we will do the short walk through the woods to see Mill Gill Force.Total distance approx. 5 miles.We will be walking on old farm tracks with uneven ground with some steep uphill and downhill stretches. 
Sturdy and waterproof walking boots are essential, as well as waterproof and warm walking clothing. A good level of walking fitness required. A late and warming lunch at the very comfortable Middle House in Askrigg (my local pub!).
For those who do not want to walk, there is an option to stay at Simonstone Hall and thenjoin us for lunch at the Middle House. After lunch, we will visit the Askrigg Ropemakers! There will also be a chance to walk around and take photographs off the lovely village of Askrigg, which was 'Darrowby' in the original TV series, All Creatures Great and Small. Have your photo taken outside Skegill House and the Kings Arms (the fictional Drovers Arms in the TV series)!
Dinner will be at 7.00pm at Simonstone Hall.

Thursday 12th and 26th November 2026

All day knitting workshop at 10am in the ‘Hunt Room’ at Simonstone Hall. Afternoon tea will be served at 2pm and then we will continue the workshop until 6pm. Dinner will be at 7.00pm at Simonstone Hall.

Friday 13th and 27th November 2026

After breakfast we will we travel by small coach to Shacklabank Farm, home to Alison and her glorious flock of Rough Fell sheep. Tea and homemade cake will be served after the tour. Waterproof walking footwear and clothing required. There will also be a chance to buy some of Alison's tweed!
The coach will then collect us and take us to the lovely Black Bull Inn in the pretty small town of Sedbergh. Afterlunch we will travel to Farfield Mill, just outside Sedbergh. The mill is home to my weekend workshops and is a great place to visit as there is so much to see! There will be exhibitions on display including the history of textiles in the dales, and to opportunity to see and talk to the artisans who use the mill as a base for their work. There is also a large retail shopping area too!Dinner will be at 7.00pm at Simonstone. A half bottle of red or white wine is included.

Saturday 14th and 28th November 2026

After breakfast, you will check out of your room, and we will say our goodbyes.

Travelling by train - Nearest train station - Oxenholme (taxi/cab transfer from Oxenholme to Simonstone Hall approx. 50 mins). 

Oxenholme is on the main line from London Euston (approx. 2.40 hours). 

Trains also run direct from Manchester Airport to Oxenholme (approx. 1.5 hours).
Trains run direct from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Oxenholme (approx. 2 Hours).
Travelling by air - there are regular flights to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester from all around the world.

Travelling by car – Simonstone Hall is easily accessible via the A1 followed by the A684 to Leyburn, then Hawes, then Simonstone. Alternatively, it is also easily accessible from the M6 followed by the A684 to Sedbergh, then Hawes, then Simonstone (approx. 1 hour travel time after the motorway network).

A deposit of £1000 per room must be paid at time of booking to secure your place, with the balance being payable on the 1st July 2026. Please note that £600 of the deposit is non-refundable (this is a hotel policy).

In the event of your cancellation the following fees will apply:

From date of booking to 30th June 2026, £600 of the £1000 deposit is non-refundable, afterthe 1st July, 100% of full price must be paid. However, I will try and fill your place and if successful, the full amount will be refunded including the deposit. In the unlikely event that the holiday must be cancelled by Marie Wallin Designs Ltd, then you will receive your deposit or total payment in full.

Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from Simonstone Hall on arrival and departure days.

Any additional items, including food or drink required in addition to that specified, must be paid for by guests separately.

Guests are responsible for their own medical and travel insurance. It is recommended that you have both.

All activities specified are included in the price. If you choose not to participate in any of the activities no refund is available. Activities may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.

If a guest requires any special assistance or has any special physical or dietary needs, this must be made clear at the time of booking by email. We will do our best to accommodate all dietary needs, but we must be given this information at the time of booking.

Guests are strongly recommended to bring waterproof hiking shoes and wet weather walking clothing for the guided walk and farm tour.