UK 2025 - Terroir Knitting Retreat

We met up in Bath late morning and took our coach to the Natural Fibre Co where we enjoyed a mill tour. Next we shopped at neighboring Blacker Yarns, specialists in yarn from sheep raised in the local area. With snacks and drinks provided during the day we arrived late afternoon at the Moult. We enjoyed local cheeses and aperitifs while our bags were taken to our rooms before settling down to a 3 course dinner prepared by us by our incredible chef Kate.

Our first full knitting day at the manor house got off to a flying start with Julie and Tracy much in demand helping people get started on their Cocoknits sweaters and familiarizing them with the top-down seamless knitting method. With a backdrop of sweeping views over the estuary, our group settled into comfy sofas to knit and got to know one another, breaking only to indulge in Kate’s delicious and healthy meals.

We had a relaxing and productive day of knitting and lunch at The Winking Prawn beachside café - used as the filming location for The Roses with Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Early that evening, over drinks, we were enthralled by a talk and slideshow from Rupert Kirkwood, who described encounters with whales, sharks and other wildlife as he paddled around the Devon coast in his one-man kayak. The passionate presentation whetted our appetites perfectly for Kate’s incredible three course dinner - the baked gooseberry, ginger and creme fraiche cheesecake was divine.

A quiet day spent knitting, chatting, daydreaming, and eating of course! With friendships developing and knitting projects taking shape, some people placed another order with Blacker Yarns, so impressed were they with the quality and feel of the yarn. Butternut squash velouté, Puttanesca salmon and chocolate mocha torte on the menu tonight - delish!

A fun day out to Salcombe! Some of us walked the coastal path to the town while others climbed aboard the sea tractor which trundles out in shallow water from South Sands bay to meet the ferry. A must-try and very entertaining experience! The group returned home (plenty of shopping bags spotted!) in time for a presentation from local artist Jill Mottram of the Seawood Studio who demonstrated the unique art she makes from seaweed found on the beaches of Devon and Cornwall. Everyone received a gift of one of Jill’s printed artworks and the mood over dinner was very jolly and lively.

With a lovely day of solid knitting ahead, some people chose to sit outside on the terrace, others around the dining table and some upstairs in the beautiful sitting room with the grand piano. The heated swimming pool beckoned and a few of our knitters took a dip. Others took breaks to stroll in the Moult’s exotic garden, explore the summer house and orangery, and even collect shells and seaweed on the local beaches. Blackberry and apple crumble with double cream for dessert that night!

A short walk around the headland from the Moult lies Overbeck’s, a well-maintained subtropical garden filled with exotic plants thanks to its sheltered south-facing position. The group happily wiled away a few hours amongst the palm gardens, banana terraces, woodland walks and parterre gardens before returning to the Moult for lunch and a productive afternoon of knitting. A pear and endive salad, roast rump of lamb, and salted caramel tartlet brought our perfect day to an end.

The time arrived to pack our bags and say goodbye to the Moult and journey north towards Bath. We stopped for a lunch of soup, salad and local cheeses at Fernhill Farm, an eco-farm in the Mendip hills where owners Jen and Andy gave us a fascinating demonstration of hand blade sheep shearing. After a quick visit to their little shop to buy yet more yarn we traveled to the Hotel Indigo in Bath for the final night of the retreat.

With new friends made and knitted garments well on their way to completion, we said our goodbyes - pledging to meet up again for more knitting adventures. Then our 18 Devon Cocoknitters went their separate ways, some homeward bound and others to explore the historic and beautiful city of Bath.