A Town That Comes Alive: The Wigtown Book Festival

Just a short drive from Westview Cottage sits Wigtown, officially Scotland’s National Book Town, and every autumn it puts on one of the most wonderful literary festivals in the country. I’ve been along myself, and honestly, it’s one of my favourite things about this part of the world.

Why I Loved It

I went along on my own, not quite knowing what to expect, and came away completely won over. The whole town changes for those few days. Every café is bustling, every bookshop has something going on, and there’s this lovely buzz in the air that you just don’t get anywhere else.

I spent my time watching authors talk about their books, their process, the stories behind the stories, and it was genuinely inspiring. There’s something quite special about being in a room with so many creative people, all gathered in one small Galloway town because they love books and ideas and conversation. I came home wanting to write something myself.

And honestly, even if you’re not a big reader, it’s worth going along just for the cakes. Wigtown’s cafés really do themselves proud during the festival, and with so many independent bookshops dotted around the town, each running their own little events, you could easily spend a whole day just wandering between them.

What to Expect

The festival runs for around ten days each autumn, with well over 200 events packed in across the town, covering everything from fiction and poetry to history, nature, politics, and children’s storytelling. There’s a full programme for younger readers too (the Big Wig children’s events are always popular), plus a dedicated Young Adult strand, workshops for aspiring writers, live music, and even film screenings with a literary link.

Over the years, the festival has welcomed some genuinely famous names through Wigtown’s doors, including Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Maggie O’Farrell, Alan Cumming, Irvine Welsh, and Bill Paterson, alongside a huge range of debut authors, poets, and local writers from right across Dumfries and Galloway. It’s the kind of place where you might find yourself chatting to a bestselling novelist in the queue for coffee.

A Perfect Autumn Stay

Wigtown sits just up the road from us here at Westview, so it makes a brilliant day trip (or several) if you’re staying with us in the autumn. Spend your day wandering the bookshops, catching a talk or two, and treating yourself to something delicious in one of the cafés, then come home to Westview, get the wood-burning stove going, and curl up with whatever you’ve picked up along the way. There’s something lovely about reading a book you’ve just bought from the very town it was talked about in.

When to Go

The festival takes place every autumn, so if this has caught your imagination, keep an eye on the Wigtown Book Festival website for the confirmed dates and full programme closer to the time. Autumn is a beautiful season to be on this coast, and pairing your stay with the festival makes for a really special trip.

If you missed our last post, we also wrote about another wonderful local event, the Stranraer Oyster Festival, just along the coast. Between the two, there’s a real feast of things to see and do in this corner of Scotland, whatever time of year you visit. We can’t wait to welcome you to Westview.

Ready to make it happen? Book your stay at Westview Cottage direct and see for yourself why this corner of Scotland is worth the trip.