There’s nothing better than coming in from the cold, curling up in front of a log-fire and opening a good book this winter. And with Christmas fast approaching you might be on the lookout for those last-minute presents for friends and relatives. Well, there are plenty of great places to pick up some fantastic reads.
The Watermill Café and Bookshop, Aberfeldy
Listed as one of the top 100 bookshops in the country, as the name suggests the shop is located in the old watermill and the milling wheel is still visible downstairs in the cafe. Upstairs they have a good variety of works, including on the local area, history and Scottish culture, as well as children’s books. The selection is curated and regularly updated so its worth popping in to see what’s on the shelves this month.
The Old Watermill, Killin
I don’t know what it is about bookshops in watermills, but here is another. The Old Watermill in Killin is home to the community run visitor centre. You will find a selection of second-hand books upstairs. You can also find information on things to do in the area. As well as books you can also pick up maps, golf balls to enjoy the local course, clothes and other items.
King’s Bookshop, Callander
An antiquarian bookseller on the Main Street of Callander. Books on Scotland, natural history and poetry. A great place to check out if you are looking for something special.
Balquhidder Book Exchange, Balquhidder
Looking for something new to read? Have a book you’d like to pass on? Check out this nifty book exchange located in the red telephone box by the Balquhidder Village Hall. Simply drop in any book(s) you don’t want and pick up a new one to take away.
Inerpeffray Library, Perthshire
A little different, but well worth a look for bibliophiles. The Inerpeffray Library is Scotland’s oldest lending library. A team of volunteers work to keep the history of this building alive. They are all friendly and passionate about what they do, more than happy to share stories of the library and the books they have there. Take a tour of the upstairs to see the full collection and learn more about the people who used to use the library and what it tells us about Scotland’s past relationship with the printed word.