Wigtown is a quaint little village located in the Scottish countryside that has the impressive reputation of being ‘Scotland’s National Book Town’. For a small village with a population of around 1,000 people, it has some of the highest concentrations of second hand bookstores in the entire country.
So any travellers looking for a little getaway to Wigtown can opt for a unique experience befitting of the town – you get to stay above a bookshop and run the business during your stay!
The Open Book is bookshop where you can rent a small apartment during your stay and have access to the bookshop below. Found on travel website Airbnb, guests can rent the room for only £28/ $39 a night, which includes the opportunity to run the Open Books as well.
“The first ever bookshop holiday/residency experience, Scotland’s National Book Town welcomes you to play-bookshop for a week or two. We’ll give you your very own bookshop, and apartment above, supported by a team of friendly volunteers and bookshop sellers to make your trip as lovely as possible,” The Open Book explains.
“Set up by The Wigtown Festival Company, the bookshop residency’s aim is to celebrate bookshops, encourage education in running independent bookshops and welcome people around the world to Scotland’s National Book Town.”
You will also be given a laptop and access to free Wi-Fi, as well as a bike for getting around the village and exploring further afield.
