In a magical and remote corner of Scotland, the first bookshop in the world managed exclusively by tourists was born
Getting lost among the shelves of a romantic bookshop, breathing in the scent of rare volumes, being their custodian. The true keeper; at least for two whole weeks. An experience that has been giving for a few years The Open Book, an evocative bookshopwhich is located in the even more enchanting town of Wigtown, in the south west of Scotland.
A rural town of around a thousand souls and over a dozen bookshops, Wigtown has been the National City of Books in Scotland since 1998, always full of curious stories linked to books and Scottish provincial life, such as that of Shaun Bythell.
Born and raised in Wigtown, Shaun Bythell is the legendary owner of The BookshopScotland’s largest used bookshop. About ten years ago, tired of customers coming in just to compare prices with the Amazon app, he pleasantly put on display a Kindle e-reader that he had kindly shot with a hunting rifle. On display, just like a trophy. This experience, added to the daily antics of the customers, was transformed into a book, a world best seller, The thoughts of a bookseller -The Diary of a Booksellermaking the city a true pilgrimage destination for readers from all over the world.
Among these pilgrims – who happened to be in his bookshop a bit by chance – there was also Jessica Foxwho in addition to the town and the bookshop, also fell in love with Shaun.
Despite her dream job as a multimedia consultant for NASA, Jessica Fox cultivated a very strong desire: a bookshop by the sea, in a town in western Scotland. The first bookshop he came across was The Bookshop. “Arrived in Wigtown’s lovely main square – explains Jessica al The Guadian – I discovered that the town was everything I had dreamed of: colorful stone houses, bookshops and views that ranged from mountains, sea and marshes.”
As an expert multimedia consultant, Jessica managed to make her dream evolve into something more magical: transforming a bookshop into a residence for tourists. “The Open Book” is the very first Airbnb bookshop in the world, and gives those who stay the joy of being able to manage a bookshop in an enchanted location, also supporting local cultural activities.
Before the inauguration in 2014, the local community donated books, making it a collective bookshop run by travelers on a rotating basis from day one.
You stay in the delightful apartment located on the upper floor and during the day you can manage the bookshop as you wish, deciding on opening times, displays, events, recommending books to customers. On the website www.wigtownbookfestival.com, section The Open Bookyou can find all the detailed information.
It goes without saying that the waiting lists are very long! This bookshop is one of the most requested properties on Airbnb globally, and it looks like it will be fully booked for the next two years.
But don’t be discouraged: an official newsletter warns you in case of cancellations or last minute free dates. However, if you are not lucky enough – especially patient and timely – to intercept a cancellation, you can console yourself with a preview of the fascinating literary climate of the Scottish town with the Wigtown Book Festival, 25 September to 4 October, a literary event that attracts visitors from all over the world every year. To wake up surrounded by a fairytale landscape tinged with red, gold and orange, in a remote corner of the beautiful Galloway region.
