Here we are, back again, rested and ready to seize the year. Well, maybe at a more measured pace than last year, though, yeah?

I hope all of you were able to enjoy the holidays, and to get some rest after what was an incredibly challenging year for many of us. At Highland Wool, we were able to use our downtime to catch up on some housekeeping, and to get some much-needed rest.

We’re happy to report that, after some time off to reflect on the past year, we’re just as dedicated to Highland Wool’s mission as ever, and are looking forward to 2026 with renewed energy. Some of our plans we can share with you now, check back for updates on some others…

Events

Our Knit & Natter evenings will return to Ardgay Hall on 4 February. They take place every Wednesday through June, 7-9pm, and all levels are welcome. Tea, coffee and chat are provided. If you’re at all interested, don’t be shy, it’s a wonderfully supportive group, and you will be very welcome. If you have any questions, give me a shout.

We’ll be attending fewer outside events this year – it was good to hit every event we could last year, as we needed to get the word out, but it led to a lot of tired folk by the end of the year. However, we will do a few of our favorite events: we’ll be at the Dornoch Fibre Fest on 14-15 March, and The Scottish Wool Producers Showcase in Perth on 21 March. And we’re looking into attending the Lairg Crofters Show and the Sutherland Show again this year too, as part of an intensified push to reach out to the farming community.

We’re also working with a partner organization on a very special event and series of workshops kicking off in September – stay tuned for more information about that.

Going Batty!

Meanwhile, we’ll be bringing sales online soon – probably after the March festivals - and will send out a notice when we’re ready to start taking orders. Until then, look for our batts at Caledonian Wool Co. in Ft. William, and Ginger Twist in Edinburgh.

Bookings for consignment processing

…will open in February for the 2026 harvest. We’re able to return it to you as fluff, or as carded batts, with an upward limit of 25kg. Read up on our processing guidelines, and look for an announcement in early February.

We buy wool

We’ll be buying more wool from local farms this year. Bringing more value to farmers for their wool harvest is a core part of our mission, and last year we were able to purchase some Black Cheviot and Dutch Spotted fleeces from two of our neighbours. We think it worked out really well for both sides, so we’ll be doing more of that this year. If you’re interested in selling: we’re looking for clean white or coloured wool from farms local to Ardgay/Bonar Bridge, and we especially love native/heritage breeds. Drop me an email (info@highlandwool.scot), if you want more info or a callback. Or if you have a favourite breed you’d like us to try to source.

That’s all for now. Remember, you can write for more information, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Emails are better than calls, as I’m often out in the field or in the mill, where it’s harder to answer the phone.

Thanks for hanging in there with us – and see you soon!

All the best for a fantastic year,

xdonnagillies