Creative and Active Courses

We run various residential courses on Tanera including willow weaving, art, creative writing, and kayaking. These courses – ranging in length from long weekends to a full week – are taught by talented tutors from all over Scotland. We provide comfortable accommodation in our holiday cottages and three delicious meals a day.

The courses offer an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Tanera’s peace and tranquillity, gain expert and friendly tuition in your chosen craft, whilst mixing with like minded people and being looked after by the Tanera team.

Drystone Dyking - with award-winning expert Brian Wilson
2nd - 4th March 2012
A new course for 2012.  Ullapool-based rural craftsman Brian Wilson will provide expert tuition - both practical and theoretical - on this intensive weekend course. The results of your work will stand on Tanera for years to come.
Full board for the weekend, tuition and materials: £200.
 

Maps, Charts and Other Discoveries - with the Travelling Bookbinder, Rachel Hazell
30th March - 3rd April 2012
Another new course for 2012! Expert and enthusiastic book maker Rachel will guide us through the process of making a beautiful book with a mappy theme - a true treasure. Read more about Rachel's work here.
Full board for the three days, tuition and materials: £320 (shared room) - £350 (single room)
Contact Rachel to book.

Basket Weaving - with renowned willow artist Jane Wilkinson.
13th - 15th April 2012
Another wonderful weaving weekend with Jane, suitable for a beginners and experienced weavers. We are likely to be making a lovely traditional shopper basket but if there is something that you would particularly like to make,  let us know and we'll see if Jane can fit that in.

Full board for the weekend, tuition and materials: £210 (we may have to make a small additional charge if you decide to make a large piece of work)
Read about the April 2010 weaving weekend in the news archive.
Contact us to book.

  Sea Kayaking -  fully qualified local guide Julie-Ann Macleod of Norwest Sea Kayaking will be running 2 weeks of courses with us this summer; each week will be split into 2 blocks of 3 days, as follows:

26th - 29th May: Introduction to sea kayaking
30th May - 2nd June: Introduction to sea kayaking
2nd - 5th June: Introduction to sea kayaking
6th - 9th June: 'Intromediate' sea kayaking

Accommodation will be in Fuchsia Cottage, right beside the shore. Restore your strength after a day exploring the Summer Isles with some delicious home cooking!

For further information see: www.norwestseakayaking.com/index.asp?pageid=60828
Contact NorWest Sea Kayaking to make an enquiry or book a place on the course.

Journey to Tanera 1 - with Ullapool based artist and teacher Eleanor White of Bridge House Art
24th - 30th June 2012
Eleanor's Tanera week is now in its eighth year, and is still as hugely popular as ever! Book soon to avoid disappointment.

Full board for the week: £590 (shared room) - £620 (single room). For booking and further information, visit www.bridgehouseart.co.uk.

Journey to Tanera 2 - with Kittie Jones
Due to popular demand we now have a second Bridgehouse Art residential week
1st - 7th July 2012
Kittie is an artist based in Edinburgh who works at the Leith School of Art. In Summer 2011 Kitty ran her first course on Tanera, with great success.

Full board for the week: £590 (shared room) or £620 (single room)

See Kitty's work at www.kittiejones.com, and read more about the course at www.bridgehouseart.co.uk/Tanera2.html.

For booking and further information, visit Bridge House Art.

World Enough and Time ~ Creativity and Slowing Down - with Jan Kilpatrick (Wildtiles) and Christian McEwen (Author of 'World Enough and Time')
28th July - 4th August
Based on Christian's beautiful book (published September 2011), this course is a perfect opportunity to learn how to slow down, access your creativity, and pay attention to the amazing world around you.

Both tutors have extensive experience in helping people to delve into their creativity, and know the Island well.

Full board for the week ranges from £525 to £570.

Please visit the Wildtiles website to read more about the course or to book a place on it.

Writing Retreat - with Mandy Haggith
1st - 7th September
Following a hugely enjoyable week retreat in September 2011, award winning author and poet Mandy Haggith will be back on Tanera to help you make space for your writing, with optional workshops every day and plenty of time for getting on with your own work.

Full board for six nights ranges from £435 to £480.

Contact Lizzie to book a place on this retreat, or read Mandy's blog for some inspiration

Knitting Retreat - with Helen Lockhart
8th - 14th September - FULL!
16th - 22nd September
Helen runs Ripples Crafts in Lochinver, hand-dying beautiful yarns inspired by the landscape and traditions surrounding her home.

Come to Tanera for a perfect opportunity to get on with your knitting masterpiece.

Full board for six nights, including a beautiful bundle of Helen's yarn: £390 to £435.

Stop press! The first week sold out in just two days! So we have organised a second week.

Contact Lizzie to book a place on this retreat, or read Helen's blog for some inspiration.

For further information about a particular course, please do not hesitate to contact either us or the course provider directly. If there is a particular craft or activity that you would be interested in seeing available on Tanera then please let us know; we are always open to new ideas.