The Wee Bookshop, Dollar

We live in a world of online deliveries but there is something special about browsing a physical bookstore, particularly an independent business. E-books have their uses and I enjoy flicking through my Kindle app, but it has already been proven that the printed word in paper form will never die. I have been known to travel substantial distances with the main aim of visiting a book retailer, so I didn't have to think twice about heading up to Dollar, Clackmannanshire, to have a look at the newly-opened Wee Bookshop.

I know the small town well, having visted many times over the years. Nicole had been to the bookshop a week or two previously and had recommended it to me. Dollar sits at the foot of the Ochil Hills and Castle Campbell stands at the top of the glen. It is a place with an affluent air, perfect for supporting a little bookstore. Well that's the theory. It can't be an easy way to make money and many outlets - particularly those in the country - rely on a secondary income stream. Which makes sense. All businesses need to attract paying customers through the doors on a regular basis. The coffeeshop attached to the Wee Bookshop provides a community feel and there is ample seating indoors and also in the adjacent garden. I offered to take my mum along for the ride and she readily accepted. A lifelong voracious reader, she is always on the lookout for something new and interesting. We parked by the burn that slows through the centre of town and the cherry blossom was fighting a losing battle with the seasons. The shop is situated right on the main drag and we stepped inside to find a friendly environment with a surprisingly large stock. The store specialises in walking, hiking and travel literature and I was in my element there. Mum tends to go for contemporary fiction and we both had a good look around. The business was set up by two vets and all staff are local. After two and a half years of delays, rising costs, building conundrums and a huge amount of effort from all the team involved, the shop finally opened in late 2023. I purchased a little volume of London walks, to add to my collection on this topic. As I write, another trip to the Big Smoke is in the pipeline. I also bought One Woman Walks Europe, by Ursula Martin. It chronicles her 5500-mile trek across the continent and it follows her previous work on a journey across Wales. I think I'll enjoy this account of her epic undertaking. Mum and I relaxed with coffee and cake outdoors. There were certainly people around us who were there for just the refreshments on offer. The garden can be accessed directly from the street and couple of people wandered in and sat down. I wish the venture every success. Literacy is God's greatest gift to humanity.