The Open Book - Wigtown

Immerse yourself in the literary heart of Scotland with this exceptional auction prize: a four-night stay for two at The Open Book, the bookshop holiday experience in Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town. The stay dates are set at 20-24 April 2026 and are non-exchangeable.

This is more than a holiday; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime. Run your own bookshop from the ground-floor shop before retreating to your cosy residence above which has the best view across Wigtown square and the Galloway hills. Explore a town dedicated to the written word, with more than 15 bookshops and book-related businesses.

Your winning bid directly supports Wigtown Festival Company (a registered charity SC037984), the engine behind the renowned annual Wigtown Book Festival. As a charity, it relies on fundraising to sustain its vital year-round cultural programme. This includes nurturing new writers through its mentoring programme, hosting an annual schools tour to reach more than 2,000 children and young people across Dumfries and Galloway, and promoting literacy and creativity across all ages in rural Scotland.

By bidding generously, you secure a unique getaway while ensuring this cherished literary sanctuary continues to inspire, connect, and celebrate stories for years to come.

Wigtown Festival Company grew out of a social and economic regeneration project to revive the fortunes of a small town in south-west Scotland. Our largest project, Wigtown Book Festival, takes place each autumn and attracts thousands of visitors to the town and region. The programme offers high-quality literary events – including dedicated children’s and young people’s programmes - as well as music, visual arts and theatre. It offers a space to showcase and celebrate Dumfries & Galloway’s distinctive culture and heritage. The festival is rare among rural events in drawing a substantial proportion of its attendees from outside its region while also retaining solid local support. More than 100 volunteers help a small professional staff deliver the event.

Other WFC projects include the Wigtown Poetry Prize - which incorporates the nation’s leading Scots and Gaelic poetry prizes - the Anne Brown Essay Prize for Scotland, the Compass regional writer mentoring scheme, Big Dog (Scotland’s only standalone children’s book festival), and our schools outreach programme, which in 2025 has reached more than 2,500 children and young people across D&G.

Wigtown Festival Company is limited by guarantee with charitable status. Charity number SC037984.