We were travellers from Australia driving all over Britain for a fabulous 5 weeks. I was reporting on our family Facebook and my cousin said Wigtown. Amazingly we were nereby. We could so easily have missed it. Loved it
The talk given by Merryn Glover must have been so interesting. I have Nan Shepard's book the Living Mountain which is very special. Merryn's book will be worth a read. I think I read about her following in Nan's footsteps in an article fairly recently. Thanks Molly!
I just downloaded a sample onto my Kindle and think it will be a good read. Molly describing her as eloquent is always a good recommendation. I do always enjoy attending talks with authors.
I have just had a read from a sample from her book on Amazon. It really does look interesting. It is amazing to think that Nan Shepard would walk out in hob nail boots and a tweed skirt! she must have been incredibly hardy as the wind chill factor is a big thing when stomping around the Cairngorms!
That is quite amazing but that generation did. My Irish Grandma worked on their farm, and it was hard grind from the moment she got up, and she was always in a skirt and stockings. Incredibly hardy and valiant women, they all deserve our attention and focus on what they did, in their 'ordinary' lives. I will let you know how the book goes.
I love Wigtown , quite often used to go when we lived nearby and always make a literary pilgrimage there when in the area. And as we are staying near Sanquhar Wednesday to Friday I see a visit in my near future.
Thank you for the information and the little glimpses into the joy of being in such a wonderful place. I will add it to my list for when we are back in Scotland and as I have a pen friend who lives in your neck of the woods, the book about the Cairngorms interests me a great deal. I am off to check it out. I am enjoying "Great Expectations" by the way but might need to stop reading my vintage copy and borrow it from the local library, as the print is too small!
One of my favourite places! I'd love to visit during the festival. Is The Open Book still there? I think that's the bookshop you can stay above (and run as a shop while you stay if you want to) - such a great idea!
Oh Molly, as an avid bookworm who is currently working out how to create my ideal life reading loads of books & writing, I feel Wigtown is calling me! What a wonderful adventure 🧡
Molly, this was such an immersive read! I’d never heard of Wigtown before, but since bookshops and cosy cafes are my absolute favourite places to be, it is now firmly on my bucket list of places I need to visit. Thank you for sharing!
I watched your lovely YouTube video and it triggered a memory of reading a couple of books by an owner of The Bookshop in Wigtown a couple of years ago. His books are hilarious..
Shaun Bythell runs The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town. He has written two books, The Diary of a Bookseller and Confessions of a Bookseller.
His third book, Seven Kinds of People - I am still to read.
Lovely read Molly. We were only saying last week that we need to explore Dumfries and Galloway as that’s a part of Scotland we haven’t been to yet. The call to the Highlands is normally stronger 😊. Watching your video about your visit to the Scottish Book Town re-enforced our interest as we both love old book shops. It’s now firmly on our bucket list.
What a great writeup of your visit. I love Wigtown. I'm half way through Nan Shepherd's book and also have Merryn Glover's book which I bought on a visit to Hay on Wye earlier this year. Both bought as I was going to be spending some time in the Cairngorms over the summer. They hold a special place in my heart, they were my Uncle's favourite place and his ashes were scattered there earlier this year, so I'm really looking forward to reading Merryn's book now.
Lovely writing Molly. I’m just back in South Wales from the Trossachs. Wish that I’d read your piece earlier as I could have made a detour to The Scottish Book Town. I live near Hay-on-Wye but avoid it during the festival as feel overwhelmed by the numbers of people. Maybe, like you, I should choose just one event and go and enjoy. Thank you
We were travellers from Australia driving all over Britain for a fabulous 5 weeks. I was reporting on our family Facebook and my cousin said Wigtown. Amazingly we were nereby. We could so easily have missed it. Loved it
Aw it really is wonderful! :)
I love your writing so much! It’s like I am here in the town with you. I hope one day I could visit it 😊
Thank you for your kind comment! :)
The talk given by Merryn Glover must have been so interesting. I have Nan Shepard's book the Living Mountain which is very special. Merryn's book will be worth a read. I think I read about her following in Nan's footsteps in an article fairly recently. Thanks Molly!
It was such an interesting talk! I can't wait to read her book :)
I just downloaded a sample onto my Kindle and think it will be a good read. Molly describing her as eloquent is always a good recommendation. I do always enjoy attending talks with authors.
I have just had a read from a sample from her book on Amazon. It really does look interesting. It is amazing to think that Nan Shepard would walk out in hob nail boots and a tweed skirt! she must have been incredibly hardy as the wind chill factor is a big thing when stomping around the Cairngorms!
That is quite amazing but that generation did. My Irish Grandma worked on their farm, and it was hard grind from the moment she got up, and she was always in a skirt and stockings. Incredibly hardy and valiant women, they all deserve our attention and focus on what they did, in their 'ordinary' lives. I will let you know how the book goes.
They were indeed hardy folk back then. Enjoy the book and let us know how you liked it Catherine!
I love Wigtown , quite often used to go when we lived nearby and always make a literary pilgrimage there when in the area. And as we are staying near Sanquhar Wednesday to Friday I see a visit in my near future.
Its such a lovely place :)
Thank you for the information and the little glimpses into the joy of being in such a wonderful place. I will add it to my list for when we are back in Scotland and as I have a pen friend who lives in your neck of the woods, the book about the Cairngorms interests me a great deal. I am off to check it out. I am enjoying "Great Expectations" by the way but might need to stop reading my vintage copy and borrow it from the local library, as the print is too small!
That can be a problem with old books! I hope you manage to visit Wigtown :)
One of my favourite places! I'd love to visit during the festival. Is The Open Book still there? I think that's the bookshop you can stay above (and run as a shop while you stay if you want to) - such a great idea!
Yes it is! Such a lovely wee town :)
So happy to see Wood of Cree get a mention in your YouTube video too - such a magical place!
It was so beautiful! :)
Twenty bookstores in a town of 880? The small city to my south has 260 thousand people and only has around 15.
That's simply amazing and now I want to go to this booktown in Scotland.
It truly is! I hope you are able to visit :)
Ooh I’ve been wanting to go but it feels like a bit of a trek from East Lothian.
I get that! :)
Oh Molly, as an avid bookworm who is currently working out how to create my ideal life reading loads of books & writing, I feel Wigtown is calling me! What a wonderful adventure 🧡
I hope you manage to visit! :)
Now on my list of places to go one day, Molly. Thank you sharing this book hamlet adventure!
Amazing, I hope you manage to go! :)
Molly, this was such an immersive read! I’d never heard of Wigtown before, but since bookshops and cosy cafes are my absolute favourite places to be, it is now firmly on my bucket list of places I need to visit. Thank you for sharing!
I'm glad you enjoyed! :)
I watched your lovely YouTube video and it triggered a memory of reading a couple of books by an owner of The Bookshop in Wigtown a couple of years ago. His books are hilarious..
Shaun Bythell runs The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town. He has written two books, The Diary of a Bookseller and Confessions of a Bookseller.
His third book, Seven Kinds of People - I am still to read.
Lovely read Molly. We were only saying last week that we need to explore Dumfries and Galloway as that’s a part of Scotland we haven’t been to yet. The call to the Highlands is normally stronger 😊. Watching your video about your visit to the Scottish Book Town re-enforced our interest as we both love old book shops. It’s now firmly on our bucket list.
Amazing! I hope you manage to visit soon :)
What a great writeup of your visit. I love Wigtown. I'm half way through Nan Shepherd's book and also have Merryn Glover's book which I bought on a visit to Hay on Wye earlier this year. Both bought as I was going to be spending some time in the Cairngorms over the summer. They hold a special place in my heart, they were my Uncle's favourite place and his ashes were scattered there earlier this year, so I'm really looking forward to reading Merryn's book now.
I hope you enjoy Merryn's book, I can't wait to read it! :)
Lovely writing Molly. I’m just back in South Wales from the Trossachs. Wish that I’d read your piece earlier as I could have made a detour to The Scottish Book Town. I live near Hay-on-Wye but avoid it during the festival as feel overwhelmed by the numbers of people. Maybe, like you, I should choose just one event and go and enjoy. Thank you
Another one to add to my "places to visit" list when I plan my next trip to Scotland!