Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK and Republic of Ireland
News:
New listing Empty House Traders Stornoway Isle of Lewis
New listing Bethesda Hospice Shop Stornoway Isle of Lewis
New listing Carmina Gadelica Portree
New listing Celtic House Bowmore Isle of Islay
Open at advertised times
Phone before travelling
Appointment necessary
Status unknown, update requested
We do our best to make sure these details are correct and up-to-date. However we recommend that you contact bookshops before making a special journey.
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Bethesda Hospice Shop/STORNOWAY/48 Bayhead St
Bethesda Hospice Shop
48 Bayhead St STORNOWAY HS1 2DZ
map
tel:
01851 706465 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00
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Charity shop slightly out of the centre of Stornoway with a large book section.
Charity shop slightly out of the centre of Stornoway. Has a large book section with 100s of books on all subjects. Lots of religion and a good selection of Scottish interest. Some books priced individually (rarely over £4) but majority are hardbacks 50p, paperbacks 30p and at the moment, childrens books just 1p! We came away with a large bag full including fiction, childrens, Scottish and aviation. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Stornoway. HB 27.07.22
On the face of it this is a general charity shop of the sort we wouldn't normally include. But we trust our regular reviewers' judgement (see above)! TBG2 27.07.22
Birsay Books /ORKNEY/Craiglands Birsay
Birsay Books
Craiglands Birsay ORKNEY KW17 2ND
map
tel:
07496 122658 e-mail web 
Open: Thursday and Friday 12.00 - 5.00, Saturday - Sunday 10.00 - 5.00, other days by appointment
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5000 secondhand books on Orkney, Ornithology, Natural History, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Shetland, Folio Society and other areas. Full opening hours and special events on Facebook. Wheelchair accessible, dogs welcome.
Well laid out shop in stunning location with a good selection of nice quality stock - fine choice of books on Orkney & Shetland plus other Scottish interest. Also a good range of fiction and sci-fi all at very sensible prices. Definitely WAD if on Orkney. Ghost of Drif 19.06.24
Bog Myrtle Skye/STRUAN/The Green
Bog Myrtle Skye
The Green STRUAN IV56 8FB
map
tel:
01470 572782 e-mail 
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 9.30 - 3.30
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A wide range of secondhand books including Isle of Skye, Scottish, art and fashion, mountaineering and children's. We are also a café with stunning views of Skye's Cuillins. We serve gorgeous Glen Lyon Red Stag Espresso, Er Ya Tea, as well as an all-day vegetarian breakfast unlike anything you've never experienced, an ever-changing light lunch menu & home baking.
Has apparently changed hands and seems to be mostly a cafe now (a very good one) Closed Sunday and Monday. Appeared on a design makeover programme recently HB 10.07.23
This is now Mor Books - the listing for which is further down the page. Flip M 26.05.24
Bookcroft/NORTHMAVINE/Gateside
The Bookcroft
Gateside Hillswick NORTHMAVINE ZE2 9RW
map
tel:
07787 831557 e-mail
Open: Spring and summer only, please ring first.
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Small general stock, some Shetland books. Pictures and LPs. The UK's most northerly bookshop!
Carmina Gadelica/PORTREE/Armadale House, Bank Street
Carmina Gadelica
Armadale House, Bank Street PORTREE IV51 9DA
map
tel:
01478 612585 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.30 March - December, 10.00 - 4.30 January & February
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Mainly new books, especially on the Isle of Skye and Gaelic, but with a secondhand section.
Popped in here while in Portree. A very nicely laid out and well organised shop, with a lot of stock. Didn't see any used book section though?! Flip M 27.05.24
The report by Flip M, who visited here very recently, prompted me to call the shop to check about its stock. The helpful proprietor told me that it does still sell second-hand books, although the number for sale at the moment is considerably smaller than in the past, at less than 100. The second-hand books, which include some rare and elusive titles, are very much concentrated in one subject category: books on the local area. The opening hours have changed as above. Booker T 03.06.24
Celtic House/BOWMORE/Shore Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay
The Celtic House
Shore Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay BOWMORE PA43 7LD
map
tel:
01496 810304 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00
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The Celtic House has a substantial stock of second-hand books, and also new ones, with Hebridean and other Scottish books a strong speciality. The book department is on the ground floor. The shop also sells sells coffee, cakes and a wide range of Hebridean goods.
The Celtic House was established in Bowmore, the largest settlement on Islay, in 1959, and has been selling new and second-hand books for many years. It has several hundred second-hand books for sale at any time. Books on Islay, Jura and the other Hebridean islands are a particular focus, along with Scottish (and especially Hebridean) history, geology, whisky distilling, travel, walking and field sports, as well as Gaelic-language books and Scottish fiction and poetry. Many of the titles are rare and there is some antiquarian stock. Booker T 31.05.24
Colonsay Bookshop/ISLEOFCOLONSAY/Scalasaig
Colonsay Bookshop
Scalasaig
ISLE OF COLONSAY
PA61 7YZ
map
tel:
01951 200232
e-mail
web
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 12.30 Easter - end October
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Specialising in titles with a Scottish and Hebridean flavour, including an antiquarian section.
Bookshop located about two miles west of Scalasaig (the ferry terminal), on Colonsay's west coast. The somewhat shed-like exterior belies the Tardis-like interior, one of the true attractions on the island. Small but worthy stock. Ran by the Piermaster and island taxi's wife, friendly welcome, decent prices. Graeme Rendall 31.12.09
Has relocated to larger premises close to the ferry terminal in Scalasaig. Alas, the charm of the old "shed" does not appear to have moved with it - very few second hand books on show and I was ignored by lady sitting behind counter. I was not made to feel welcome by her or the new shop itself. A real pity. Graeme Rendall 06.08.13
The bookshop moved again a few years ago. It is still in the village of Scalasaig and near the ferry terminal, but the current premises are by the Colonsay Brewery. About 200 second-hand books are available at any time (around 10% of the shop's stock), with the focus very much on Scottish books - in particular those about Colonsay, the other Hebridean islands and the west coast; subjects include local history and topography, geology and natural history, as well as fiction by Hebridean and Argyll authors. Much of the second-hand stock, which is of good quality and includes some antiquarian books, is sourced from the Scottish mainland. Booker T 03.06.24
Empty House Traders/STORNOWAY/16 South Beach
Empty House Traders
16 South Beach STORNOWAY HS1 2BE
map
tel:
01851 827219 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30
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A room of vintage books in a three-storey building of vintage traders.
Three storey building of vintage traders, mostly clothes, records, gifts, jewellery but one room has ‘vintage’ books. Mostly Scottish interest, childrens and classics, chosen as vintage items with bindings /illustrations rather than for content. Prices reasonable, we didn’t find anything but you never know. Not really worth a detour but the whole building is pleasant to browse. HB 27.07.22
Iona Book Shop/ISLE OF IONA/The Old Printing Press Building
Iona Book Shop
The Old Printing Press Building ISLE OF IONA PA76 6SL
map
tel:
01681 700699
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Visited Iona on a glorious day,packed with half-term visitors. Notice in the shop window -open 1.30 - 3.30 Thursdays and Saturdays only! Is this a business we asked ourselves? Second Nature 06.07.10
'Second Nature' missed a treat! A small/medium bookshop with a wide range of quality second hand and antiquarian stock. I found three excellent and reasonably priced purchases almost immediately and am sure would have found more if I hadn't had to rush off to catch a ship! Henry Middleton 13.09.11
Johnston_s Arran Bookroom/Isle of Arran/Atholl House
Johnston's Arran Bookroom
Atholl House Lamlash ISLE OF ARRAN KA27 8LD
map
tel:
01770 600344 e-mail
Open: By appointment only at the moment, please phone or email.
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A unique collection of Arran books, most not listed for sale online. Nautical, diving, shipwreck and salvage. Collectable Scottish and children's titles. Formerly Johnston's Marine Stores. Now trading from home with much larger and varied stock.
Johnston_s Marine Stores/LAMLASH/Old Pier
Johnston's Marine Stores
Old Pier LAMLASH KA27 8JN
map
tel:
01770 600333
Open: Summer 10.00 - 1.00 & 2.00 - 5.00 but ring to be sure.
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Nautical books and some Arran books. Marine Stores selling chandlery, fishing tackle and nautical clothing as well as books.
The shop has changed hands and will be purely chandlery. Books will be available to view by appointment at Johnston's Arran Bookroom in Lamlash very soon. 01770600344 TBG
Kergord Hatchery Bookshop/SHETLAND/Weisdale
Kergord Hatchery Bookshop
Weisdale SHETLAND ZE2 9LW
map
tel:
01595 830419 e-mail web
Thursday - Sunday 11.00 - 6.00
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We are a second-hand bookshop in Shetland. We stock a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and kids books. You’re welcome to come along and browse.
Mor Books _ The Windrush Cafe Studio/STRUAN/Struan Green
Mor Books & The Windrush Cafe Studio
Struan Green STRUAN IV56 8FB
map
tel:
01470 572782 web
Open: Summer, Monday - Saturday 11.00 - 5.00. Closed Mondays in April and October, emial first in winter.
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More quirky books of the same range as in our other shop, Mor Books in Broadford but with coffee, cakes & light lunches as well. Spectacular views across Loch Bracadale to the Cuillin!
Excellent, discerning selection covering wide range from literature to popular. Also very nice coffee, cheese scones and cakes, vintage clothes and textiles and a fine view over the loch. Well worth a detour if on Skye. Mark V 15.06.15
