Scotland`s National Book Town – a book lovers haven – and with over quarter of a million books to choose from, old and new … it is impossible to escape empty handed.

2007-08 Poetry Competition

Book Festival Web Site

We Buy and Sell Books

As Wigtown enters its tenth year of successful economic regeneration the Book Town Company management responsibilities have now been handed over to the Wigtown Festival Company www.wigtownbookfestival.com and the District of Wigtown Chamber of Commerce www.dw-chamber.org.uk and should you have any queries re future events or business opportunities please check the appropriate web site for contact details.

ReadingLasses Book Shop for sale

Relax, unwind and take time to visit some of our other treasures while you are here – we have some fascinating stories to tell.

Situated between the central belt of Scotland and Ayrshire to the north, Cumbria, Northumberland and the Lake District to the south and Ireland to the west this kaleidoscope of beautiful pastoral landscape, rugged coastline, moorland and mountain is a rich cultural melting pot.

• Scotland`s Book Town with over quarter of a million books to choose from.
• Wigtown`s Spring and Autumn Literary Festivals
• The Wigtown and Bladnoch Annual Book Fair in May
• The UK`s largest national Nature Reserve and unique viewing gallery with wildlife video coverage in the County Buildings.
• Cycling, fishing, golf and field sports in abundance.
• Regular Saturday Street Markets and summer gala days
• Country Gardens, Animal World & Museum and Off Road Driving Centre all within 20 minutes drive from Wigtown.
• 15 minutes from Whithorn the cradle of Christianity in Scotland.
• Historic and archaeological sites, walks and tours throughout the Machars

We look forward to meeting you when you visit this idyllic corner of southwest Scotland.

Eight great reasons for Shopping in Wigtown,
Scotland's National Booktown

Shopping can be a relaxing day out
With easy access and easy parking in the town’s wide streets and market square, shopping is a pleasure in Wigtown. It’s an easy stroll round bookshops, gift shops, cafes and inns. New businesses and restored buildings all add to the vibrancy of the literary town. There are special facilities – including toilets – for people with a disability.

Buy a book – it’s a gift chosen with care
Wigtown has some thirty book-related businesses, with new and second-hand books galore. Second-hand books in good condition make very popular gifts, with so much thought going into finding just the right book. Stumped for a present? Everyone has an interest – fishing or football, gardening or golf – and they’ll love a book about it! How about a 1950s Dandy Book? You don’t have to be a youngster to enjoy an annual!

All kinds of shops, all with great gift ideas
Books are here – and much more besides. Along with all the shops that make up a traditional market town, like the quality butcher, grocer and pharmacy, there are many delightful gift and craft shops. Here you’ll find art materials and art books … unusual wall hangings and soft-furnishings … antique furniture and local crafts … a birth date newspaper or video … the latest CDs … guitars and music accessories.

Paintings, prints and lots of cards
Books and painting go hand-in-hand, and we have specialist businesses that stock a wide range of paintings, prints and cards. Picture-framing and portrait-painting are on offer, too. A portrait in oils, taken from a photo? It’s possible in Wigtown!

Personal service that comes as ‘standard’
Most likely, the people serving you in Wigtown shops will own the businesses, and personal service is something they pride themselves in. They’ll help you find exactly the right book or gift, and they’ll advise on art or music materials, or track down that out-of-print publication.

Good food and refreshments
Enjoy a great day out, with meals and refreshments served in the town’s cafes, inns and hotels. We also have our own distillery in nearby Bladnoch – the region’s only distillery – is open from 9 to 5, Mondays to Fridays, with visitor centre and gift shop. Tours may be available. Regular visitors turn their Wigtown shopping trip into a holiday, choosing from the wide range of local accommodation.

The Wigtown Book Token
Book tokens are always popular and the Booktown has its own token, which can be exchanged in any of the bookshops in and around Wigtown. There is no time limit for using the tokens, and they can be exchanged for books, maps and audio books on tape or CD. Tokens are £5 each, available from the Book Town Office.

We Also Buy Books
With nineteen bookshops and an ever-expanding number of customers, we need to constantly be replenishing our stock levels and our latest addition to the web site is aimed at just that – one to one thousand books (or more) we are interested in talking to you - click here for further information.