25th-29th June 2026
Following a wonderful Weave, Gather & Make in May 2025, Laurie King and basket makers from All About Willow, Catherine Davies and Pascal Carr, are doing it all again in 2026! From Thursday to Monday, this all-inclusive retreat will give you the opportunity to weave a basket from sustainably Eigg-grown willow, and take it for its very first foraging walk, all while exploring a beautiful Scottish island. You will be invited to make prints from leaves you gather on the foraging walk – make a foraging guide or a beautiful set of homemade cards.
What’s included
- Four nights of accommodation in a peaceful setting.
- Basketry tuition, suitable for all levels. Complete your very own gathering basket.
- Mindfulness session, guided walks and foraging guidance.
- Botanical printmaking workshop.
- Fully catered – delicious meals, teas and snacks, prepared by a local chef. We can accommodate all dietary requirements, to be confirmed when booking.
You’ll leave the retreat with a gathering basket of your own creation, a set of homemade cards, inspired by plants gathered on the island, and a renewed sense of connection to nature.
Meet Catherine & Pascal
Catherine Davies and Pascal Carr are basket makers who live and work on the Isle of Eigg. Their willow baskets are hand made with different coloured varieties of willow grown organically on their croft.
“Our inspiration comes from the transformation of natural materials into forms that capture and preserve the innate qualities of the living plants, their strength, beauty and resilience. Our work allows us to express our passion and commitment to traditional craftmanship. Our baskets are our purpose”
Visit their website.
What laurie brings
Laurie is a qualified Wilderness Therapeutic Practitioner and artist, who makes botanical prints and inks from plants she finds near her home on the Isle of Eigg. She has a PhD specialising in foraging and conservation.
Read more about her on the About page.
Itinerary*:
Thursday – Arrival & Welcome
- Arrive on the island, meet your hosts and settle into your accommodation.
Friday – Introduction to basketry
- Tour of Catherine and Pascal’s willow croft and workshop.
- The rest of the day is spent making your willow basket, with tuition and support from Pascal.
- Time to relax and reset, and/or explore the island’s many wonders before a delicious dinner.
Saturday – Basket weaving & guided walk
- Finishing off your basket at Catherine and Pascal’s workshop.
- Guided walk to the beautiful Singing Sands beach when your basket is finished.
Sunday – Exploring & Botanical printmaking
- Mindfulness meditation and walk, gathering materials for printmaking with Laurie. Foraging guidance.
- Botanical printmaking and card making with our foraged materials.
- Closing group dinner and celebration. Share your completed pieces and reflect on the journey with the group.
Monday – Farewell
- Farewell breakfast and group reflection.
- Depart from the retreat, carrying creative inspiration and handmade crafts.
*This itinerary may change slightly to adapt to wild island weather conditions!
BOOKING
£555 bunk room; £755 single room; bring a friend and share a twin for £655 each. Booking open until 25th May 2026.
Crafting and crofting on the isle of Eigg 