Scotland's largest second-hand book shop.
Very large ,comprehensive ,quite good quality stock at reasonable prices. Also stocks new Scottish, mainly local, material. Second Nature 01.04.09
Good quality stock, prices higher than they should be. Nice to browse in. PaulP 02.08.11
I seriously doubt their claim to be "Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop." I can think of at least four larger and with far better and more interesting stock than the tired old offerings presented here. How many runs of 'The Waverley Novels' does it take to claim the record for the most boring titles? I agree that there are good books in this shop, some of which are very rare, but even the completely bored shop assistant admitted that sales this year "are slow." And the prices ... ! Chris Harte 18.06.12
The Bookshop (such modesty!) clearly models itself on Shakespeare & Co in Paris, with its sleeping loft, and written postcards bearing booky quotes and other eccentric features which I will leave you to discover for yourselves, so as not to spoil the fun. The stock is large, with all subjects well represented and a substantial Antiquarian section. Architecture and Art are housed on a splendid staircase to the (private) upper floor. Here I even found a book sold at my own shop well over ten years ago, complete with my pencilled price and code! There is much to browse here and the stock is of good quality, with mid-range prices. Customer service could be improved: the assistant carried on talking to her friend throughout my purchasing and charged me for my plastic carriers, which I thought was pretty stingy considering what I spent. This left a bad taste on an otherwise enjoyable visit. TravellingLibrary 08.08.15
Certainly extensive and with a large stock to look at in characterful premises. Mark V 08.08.15
Seemed quite popular when we visited in June, albeit Wigtown was pretty quiet (midweek). No doubt the owner having written a book about his time owning the shop helps. All that aside, stock was well arranged in an attractive shop with separate rooms heading into the back of the shop. A very old building and I enjoyed having a browse. Came away with a few books at decent prices - shop owner was pleasant and chatty. Didn't have time to browse the other shops in town but as we're moving to nearby Ayrshire shortly, no doubt I'll be back again and again to Wigtown. Very decent cafe just around the corner - Cafe Rendezvous in Agnew Crescent. Flip M 30.08.18
Popular when I went midweek recently. Stock turns over a fair bit - while I was there, the owner was on the phone negotiating to go and visit another collection to purchase. Quite different stock every time I go. Lighting could be better in some areas (really struggled to see the military titles). Owner friendly and happy to chat. If you've never been its definitely worth it - a quite labyrinthine old building (ground floor and 1 staircase only, is the actual shop) containing thousands of books on almost all subjects. Flip M 21.08.19
Comments as per my previous visits really. Caught in a time warp, The Bookshop doesn't really change much. There were quite a few "not priced yet" boxes on the floor in front of some shelves which was awkward. 2 years ago I noticed a TV and film actor's fairly recent biography for a rather ambitious price. On this latest visit, I noted with amusement it was still there, still with the same price. I guess books sit there until someone buys them, or they rot away, whichever comes first. Revisiting old stock and their price might be sensible but with such a large stock and small staff, perhaps not realistic.
On a busy Tuesday in Wigtown, people still mainly kept their distance in the shop - and this isn't really difficult with the layout as it is, split into different rooms and areas from front to back. A "must visit" when in Wigtown. Flip M 29.10.21
Here a year later. Only found one book I wanted this time - a PB copy of Sir Walter Scott's journals. They had 2 copies - 1 rather creased and well used for £8; the other (same edition) unblemished and almost new looking for £4! I took the latter. Quite a few boxes of unpriced stock awaiting unpacking in the front areas blocking several shelves. Prices generally pretty ok (apart from that anomaly above. Well stocked with most areas covered. Almost a whole room on railways stock for those interested in that. No football though. There never really is. Other sports but footy doesn't get a look in in Wigtown. Flip M 09.09.22
Your Wigtown correspondent calling in again...
Visited again a few days ago. Prices not hiked up much from what I could tell but found just the one book to purchase. That same actor's autobiog noted a couple of visits ago is still in the biog section. The pile of boxes of "new unsorted arrivals" now pretty much fills and blocks off the hardback fiction section at the front of the shop - even more so than on my last visit, and with nobody seemingly bothered enough to be working on it (just as nobody was last time). If I was being harsh I might think the owner is trading on his name now, rather than having the best shop in the area, which I don't think it is anymore. Flip M 02.04.23
Open at advertised times
Phone before travelling
Appointment necessary
Status unknown, update requested
