The Kyleside Wool Fest: celebrating Scottish wool
Coming up on Saturday, 19th September (11am-3pm) at Ardgay Public Hall and hosted by Highland Wool CIC, this event offers opportunities to shop for Scottish wool products, sign up for classes and workshops, and meet the people working to preserve wool-working skills, art, and knowledge.
By Donna Gillies
As part of this year’s Highlands & Islands Climate festival you are warmly invited to come along to Ardgay Hall on 19th September for a celebration of Scottish Wool.
In the Main Hall you can meet the makers, take part in a “Wool Swish” to trade and swap your woollen goods, learn to repair your woollen jumpers with Marieke de Jong, see demonstrations from the Highland Guild of Weaving and Dyeing, and have a go at pom pom making and yarn art (all materials provided!) with Lairg & District Learning Centre.
In addition to the market and information stalls, the Kyleside Wool Fest will feature:
Robert Aitken's short film Threads from the Deep
11:10 am
We will be screening Robert Aitken’s Threads from the Deep, a portrait of internationally renowned tapestry artist Joan Baxter from her home in East Sutherland. This short film will be screened at 11:10am and throughout the day in-between speaker sessions and is subtitled. In partnership with Lairg & District Learning Centre
Gabriele Brown, Hackland Wool Shed Talk
11:30
Gabriele will give a talk about her Orkney farm and wool business Hackland Wool Shed, and why they are inextricably linked.
Samantha Farmer, Highland Magic Fibre Arts Talk
12:00
Samantha Farmer's work spans the wool chain from raw fleece and fibre selection through to yarn development, weaving, dyeing, and finished products. Alongside her creative practice, Samantha is passionate about connecting people with the story behind the materials they use and exploring the cultural and economic value of regional wool production. Samantha will be talking about her research and process. You can see some of her work here
Scotland's Micro-Mill Movement - a panel discussion
1:30pm
In the journey to sustainability, 'local' is key - and that's true of the wool industry too. Reversing the trend toward centralization and the 'bigger is better' outlook, the micro mill movement works with local farmers and crafters to ensure traceability, quality, fair returns to producers, and lower transport miles on the finished product.
During this panel discussion, you'll meet representatives of micro-mills that have started processing local wool to carded product since 2022: Mill of Kintyre, Creation Mill Langholm, and Highland Wool. The moderator will be: Susan Anderson, from The Journal of Scottish Yarns
Share your thoughts!
In addition to offering carded batts from local farms, Highland Wool will offer you the opportunity to tell us what you think is needed to support a sustainable wool industry in Scotland. How can Highland Wool and the new Scottish Wool Alliance help make that that a reality? You’ll be able to share your thoughts at the Highland Wool table, and we’ll make sure your ideas are put in front of our elected representatives.
The entry is free, and the Hall café will be open during the event, run by and benefitting the Oversteps Care Home, Dornoch.
This event is brought to you by Highland Wool CIC, the Lairg & District Learning Centre, Seed to Supper CIC, The Ardgay Public Hall Committee, Kyle of Sutherland Hub, and the Highland Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers, and is sponsored by the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub.
Come along to The Kyleside Wool Fest!
Ardgay, 19 September 2026, 11am – 3pm - Free entry
Highland Wool CIC was formed in 2022 to support a sustainable wool industry in Scotland. Since then, the company has made its home in a collection of repurposed outbuildings at The Hirsel farm in Ardgay. Renovating a collection of used and heritage equipment, and combining low water and energy usage with hands-on processing, Highland Wool produces carded wool from Scottish farms, selling at festivals, farm shows, and shops from Edinburgh to Latheron. Alongside these activities, the company has led workshops, tours, and social crafting session. Our full mission statement can be found here
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