We recently went on a Scottish adventure and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. We started our journey in Inverness, a city drenched in historic ambience, a few modern conveniences, but most of all – charm. Around every corner is a building built centuries ago or ancient church. What we didn’t expect to find was one of the most epic vintage book shops we’ve ever encountered – Leakey’s.
Jet Lag Strategy Led To A Hidden Gem
Leakey’s – was a treasure we stumbled upon while exploring on our first evening in Inverness. It’s become our new tradition to have a slow arrival day. We try to arrive at our destination early to mid afternoon, get out and walk around for a bit, find some dinner and go to bed at a normal time. (This helps with jet lag so much!) So, that’s exactly what we did.
Let’s Explore
We dropped off our luggage, grabbed a quick shower to wash the “airplane” off and headed out to explore. We began our stroll along the River Ness. A couple of blocks into our journey, we noticed what appeared to be an ancient church and cemetery (more on that later). As we rounded the corner to head in the direction of the church, we saw a sign for a book store.
Of Course…
Let’s face it, we’re teachers, we’re drawn to book shops. Of course, we had to go investigate.
Oh, The Charm
Leakey’s blew us away with its unique charm. The two story shop was filled floor to ceiling with used books. One of the first things we noticed was the wood burning stove in the middle of the store. Talk about a welcoming vibe!
Unique Ambience
We wandered around the first floor for a bit before venturing up the spiral staircase to the second floor. Much like the first floor, books are tucked in a variety of nooks and crannies, just bolstering the ambience of the shop.
The layout of the second floor offered an overview of the whole store, which was really cool!
Now The Layout Makes Sense!
Did we mention that the store used to be a church? That’s right! it’s more obvious when you’re looking down from the second floor. The stained glass high in the peak of the ceiling just confirmed our thoughts.
If you have the opportunity to visit Leakey’s, we highly recommend it!
Be sure to check out our YouTube short about Leakey’s HERE.
Make sure you follow along for more of our adventures in Scotland!
