If you love browsing old bookstores, my dear readers, this is one you don't want to miss while traveling in Scotland. It is thought to be the largest second-hand book store in all of Scotland, with well over 100,000 books. It also has an extensive selection of old prints.
Not only is it a historical building ...but, it's walls have some very sad events to recall.
The Old Gaelic Church has beautiful stain-glass windows...
and, interesting architectural features, left intack from many years ago.
Some of that history is re-told on the bookshop cafe menu.
This is of particular meaning to me, since the trip was planned around a connection with my ancestors. I could almost hear Scotland's sad story whispered, of Jacobite prisoners, shot outside these walls.
My daughter and I laughed about eating our way through-out Scotland, many times tempted to eat "dessert first". I also enjoyed a wonderful bowl of carrot and coriander soup served with crusty homemade bread.
We decided to enjoy lunch, and browse later with the idea of walking off some calories.
The bistro-type cafe is on the upper level, with a view of the entire store. Books fill the shelves, with overflowing stacks displayed on tables.
To make it complete, there is a rather large black wood-burning stove, situated in the middle of the lower level. You can see the hefty supply of stored wood, to keep the fire burning.
Now that I am home again, thinking about the bookshop, I realize one could spend their entire holiday in Inverness, at the Leakey Bookshop.
Unfortunately, we only had a few hours of browsing...there was so much more to see.
Meggie Mac
