Scotland's Best B&Bs
Scotland hosts a wide variety of literary festivals up and down the country from the Borders to the Scottish Highlands. We hope you will be tempted to book a stay at one of Scotland's Best B&Bs to enjoy a cultural break while sampling local food and hospitality.
Perhaps you have been inspired to visit Scotland by reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books. We're sure you won't be disappointed! Here's our recommendations for some of the great book festivals around Scotland and where you can stay at members of Scotland's Best B&Bs.
Winter Words
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
9 - 12 February 2023
This annual literary festival in Perthshire showcases a wide range of authors, playwrights, poets, adventurers and broadcasters.
Granite Noir
23 - 26 February 2023, Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s book festival dedicated to crime fiction and thrillers including many special events such as writing workshops, film nights, music, etc.
StAnza: Scotland's International Poetry Festival
9 - 12 March 2023 in St Andrews, Fife
Nearby B&Bs - Tarskavaig Bed and Breakfast by St Andrews, Craighall Steading in Ceres, Newton Farm by Inverarity.
Aye Write! Glasgow's Book Festival
tbc March 2023
A wide-ranging programme of events at Glasgow's iconic Mitchell Library.
Crime & Thriller Festival
21 - 23 April 2023, Cromarty, Highlands
A thrilling & suspenseful weekend book festival with many guests and novellists in this historic town on the Black Isle by the Moray Firth.
Nearby B&Bs - Home Farm at Muir of Ord, White Rose Tower near Invergordon
Ullapool Book Festival
5 - 6 May 2023
This is an intimate and welcoming literary festival in this former fishing village on the shores of Loch Broom in the Scottish Highlands.
Boswell Book Festival
12 - 14 May 2023, Dumfries House, Cumnock, East Ayrshire
This Scottish cultural event is the world's only festival of biography and memoir. Named after the Ayrshire writer James Boswell, this festival mixes Scottish history and tradition with contemporary culture.
Nearby B&B - Ayrs and Graces B&B near Ayr
Borders Book Festival
15 - 18 June 2023, Scottish Borders
Usually held in June in Melrose, but the festival has been moved to Abbotsford House in November 2021 as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations for Sir Walter Scott. A wonderful few days of talks, discussions, food & drink, and more for all the family.
Nearby B&Bs - Mill House near Kelso.
ButeNoir
tbc end July 2023
Isle of Bute's crime writing festival.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
12 - 28 August 2023
From politics to comics and graphic novels, from feminism to the environment, from health to storytelling, this is the festival with something for everyone!
Nearby B&Bs: Arden Country House near Linlithgow
Beyond Borders International Festival
tbc end August 2023, Traquair House, Innerleithen near Peebles
Cultural festival in the Scottish Borders including literature, performing arts, visual arts, heritage, film, politics and dialogue.
Nearby B&Bs - Mill House near Kelso
Three Lochs Book & Arts Festival
Strontian, West Highlands
This biennial book and arts festival in Ardnamurchan will be back in August 2023.
Nairn Book and Arts Festival
31 August - 3 September 2023
A varied programme including authors, workshops, music, theatre, photography, art exhibitions and more. Now in its 17th year. An exciting arts programme to suit every taste.
Nearby B&Bs - Inverness House and Ardmeanach House in Inverness.
Bloody Scotland
15 - 17 September 2023, Stirling
Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival which aims to be entertaining as well as informative, covering a range of criminal subjects from fictional forensics, psychological thrillers, tartan noir, cosy crime and many more. It all kicks off with a gala night and torchlight procession.
Nearby B&B - Garvally House in Alloa
Wigtown Book Festival
22 September - 1 October 2023, Dumfries & Galloway
The Lowlands have their own romance, giving birth to many of the writers, thinkers, warriors, explorers and inventors who have helped to shape the modern world. Hear their stories and explore the link between Galloway's stunning Lowland landscape and its people; drop in for a dram at Scotland's most southerly distillery and discover the lands where Robert the Bruce earned his spurs. Celebrating Scotland's National Book Town.
Nearby B&Bs - Nithbank Country Estate
NessBookFest
28 - 30 September 2023, Inverness
Lots of authors will be contributing through this long weekend in Inverness at this free annual festival. This year, the theme is 'FUTURE'.
Nearby B&Bs - Inverness House, Ardmeanach House, Inverness
Bookmark
7 - 8 October 2023, Perthshire
Book festival in Blairgowrie, Rattray and The Glens of East Perthshire with authors, commentators and speakers.
Nearby B&Bs - Craigellie House, near Blairgowrie, Northlands Bed and Breakfast in Pitlochry
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
tbc October 2023, Edinburgh
Nearby B&Bs: Arden Country House near Linlithgow
Tarbert Book Festival
tbc late October 2023, Tarbert, Kintyre
Events for all ages at this local book festival on the Kintyre peninsula
John O'Groats Book Festival
tbc October 2023, Caithness
Various venues in John O'Groats. The fourth book festival in this village in the far north of Scotland.
Nearby B&Bs - Auld Post Office B&B, Sharvedda
West Over Sea
27 -28 October 2023
The Tobermory Book Festival on the Isle of Mull.
A Write Highland Hoolie
10 - 12 November 2023, Mallaig, West Highlands
The annual Mallaig book festival returns for 2023 and will feature some well-known local and national names.
Book Week Scotland
13 - 19 November 2023
Events across Scotland
Push the Boat out - Edinburgh's International Poetry Festival
24 -26 November 2023
A new festival with a mix of poetry, spoken word, live music, songwriting, film, gaming, visual art and more!
Nearby B&Bs: Arden Country House near Linlithgow
Sign up to Scotland's Best B&Bs Newsletter to receive our Latest Offers and Packages.
Please feel free to share the content of this page with your friends – simply click on where you would like to share it.