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The Nairn Bookshop on the corner of the High Street and Gordon Street, a cream and maroon front with arched windows and wooden double doors.
Inverness

Nairn Books

An independent bookshop on the corner of the High Street and Gordon Street in Nairn, strong on crime fiction, nature writing and Scottish history.

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Welcome

Nairn has had a bookshop for many decades, and Nairn Books, on the corner of the High Street and Gordon Street, is a lovely one, with tall arched windows and books on every side.

It was started by Alison and George Gray, who also founded the Nairn Book and Arts Festival, and it moved across the street into these bigger premises in 2015. Samantha Holland has run it since 2023. The shelves are strong on crime fiction, especially Scottish and Scandinavian, on nature writing and on local and Scottish history, with books in Gaelic and Scots, classics and poetry, translated fiction and a big children's section, plus cards, notebooks and Nairn tea towels. If they don't have the book you're after, they can order almost anything in print in the UK, usually within a few days. The shop is laid out for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and it's open Monday to Saturday.

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The Daily for 26 October, from Scotland with love. A waterfall tumbles over mossy rocks into a woodland pool, autumn leaves scattered on the water.
Not farThe Allangrange15 milesSee itThe Allangrange
Before you go

New books for adults and children, cards and gifts, and any book in print ordered in.

Where
94 High Street, Nairn, IV12 4DE.
Open
Monday to Wednesday 10.30am to 4pm, Thursday to Saturday 9.45am to 5pm; closed Sunday.
Ordering
Any book in print in the UK, usually within a few days.
Access
Laid out for wheelchairs and pushchairs; tap on the window if you need the doors opened.
Phone
07522 269444

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
10.30am–4pm
Tuesday
10.30am–4pm
Wednesday
10.30am–4pm
Thursday
9.45am–5pm
Friday
9.45am–5pm
Saturday
9.45am–5pm
Sunday
Closed

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Where it is

On the corner of the High Street and Gordon Street in Nairn.

Close byNairn and the Moray Firth.
  1. Grassy dunes border a wide sandy beach with walkers near the shorelineNairnA seaside town on the Moray Firth east of Inverness, with Victorian villas, Fishertown, a Telford harbour, two beaches and Nairn Golf Club.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Nairn BeachNairn BeachThe long sandy beach by the harbour at Nairn, with a promenade, a breakwater and its white beacon, dunes, and wide views across the Moray Firth.Under a mile 3 min by road
  3. Brodie CastleBrodie CastleThe rose-coloured home of the Brodies for more than four hundred years, with guided tours, a Playful Garden and a famous collection of daffodils.7 miles 14 min by road
  4. Rodney's Stone standing in a small wattle-fenced enclosure on the lawn by the drive to Brodie Castle, a walker passing.Rodney’s StoneA tall Pictish cross-slab of grey sandstone standing beside the drive to Brodie Castle, carved with a cross, serpents and Pictish symbols.7 miles 12 min by road
  5. Turreted castle with crow-stepped gables overlooking a striped lawn and gravel driveThe Playful GardenA garden of play at Brodie Castle, with giant musical instruments, spinning seats, unicorns and Scotland's biggest bunny sculpture, all inspired by the castle's story.8 miles 14 min by road
  6. River winding through autumn woodland with orange and gold foliageRandolph's LeapThe narrowest point of the River Findhorn's rocky gorge near Forres, named for a medieval leap, with old flood stones and woodland walks.12 miles 18 min by road
Directions
AttractionsNairn Dunbar Golf Club0.6 miles
Golfers on the fairway seen through dining room windows with laid tablesAttractionsNairn Golf Club1.2 miles
A curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.NairnBoath CabinSleeps 4 · 2.2 miles
Culbin Edge, Inverness-shireBrodieCulbin EdgeSleeps 4 · 6.2 miles
The cheese counter in the Cheese Pantry at Connage Highland Dairy, with whole cheeses on the shelves behind.ShoppingConnage Highland Dairy6.5 miles
Chefs in HG jackets slice bread and plate small dishes in a kitchenCafeHillhead Cafe9.9 miles
ShoppingULY + RO, Forres11 miles
Cafe 1496 on Forres High Street, a white shopfront with gold lettering, a wreath on the door and blue tables outside.CafeCafe 149611 miles
Cannons line the fort's ramparts overlooking the coastline and clock towerAttractionsFort George11 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the bookshop, and when each is next free.

A curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.Boath Cabin
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Nairn
  • 2 miles from Nairn Books
Free 26–28 OctCulbin Edge, Inverness-shireCulbin Edge
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Brodie
  • 5 miles from Nairn Books
Free 9–11 NovA long sandstone steading with a conical-roofed tower at its centre stands beyond a field of young crops, trees framing it on either side in evening light.Newhall Mains
  • To stay
  • In Balblair
  • 13 miles from Nairn Books
Check datesThe timber cabin lit at dusk against a pink sky, a hot tub steaming on the deck beside two chairs.Callie Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Pluscarden
  • 16 miles from Nairn Books
Free 31 Oct – 3 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in InvernessAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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