Rural bookshops and booktowns

Barter Books, Alnwick, Northumberland

This shop's unique setting, a Victorian railway station, with ticket grille and buffers still intact, makes for a memorable experience. There's a playroom for children and an open fire in the old waiting room in winter. Set up as a book swap centre 20 years ago, and you can still exchange as well as buy. www.barterbooks.co.uk, 01665 604888

The Bookcase, Lowdham, Nottinghamshire

This is a shop a the heart of community, regenerating and stimulating local minds. It runs annual book and film festivals - the Lowdham Book Festival in the summer (18-25 June) and Flicks (3-6 March) - and is involved with many local schools as well as organising literary trips abroad to destinations like Dublin and Paris. www.thebookcase.co.uk, 0115 966 4143

Bookends Bookshop, Bangor, Co Down

Bangor residents don't need to make the journey into Belfast - this well laid-out shop specialises in secondhand and nearly new books, from local history to Irish fiction. The proprietor encourages buyers to return their books when they're done for a half-price exchange, because ‘books are a necessity of life'. 028 9147 1919

Burway Books, Church Stretton, Shropshire

In the heart of hill-walking country, this shop makes walkers welcome, whether they come in for maps and walking guides or reading matter for the end of a hard day. It has a good stock of Malcolm Saville's Lone Pine series, set around the area. Expect a personal service, whether you're local or passing through. www.burwaybooks.co.uk, 01694 723388

Hay-on-Wye, Powys

This town, home to the literary festival (www.hayfestival.com), satisfies both collectors and browsers. Rummage for rarities at Oxford House Books or visit the friendly and small Greenways Corner Bookshop and scan the open-air racks with an honesty box at Hay Castle Bookshop. www.hay-on-wye.co.uk

Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

Just Books has a large and loyal following, while titles about the area, and authors with a local connection, including Plath and Hughes, are championed at The Book Case. This shop is also the home of Royd Press, which publishes books with a local history theme. The Hebden Bridge Bookshop is an enthusiastic family-run enterprise. www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/books

Linlithgow, West Lothian

In this town, the Linlithgow Bookshop housed a 16th-century building specialises in Scottish literature and poetry, while nearby Blast Off Books is dedicated to making reading exciting for children. It's run by two women passionate about books: ex-teacher Harriett and her daughter, Jayne, who once drove a reading bus to the rural corners of Scotland. www.linlithgowbookshop.co.uk, www.blastoffbooks.co.uk

The Mainstreet Trading Company, St Boswells, Scottish Borders

This beautiful Borders village has a gem of a shop for anyone who loves books, beautiful things and good coffee. An excellent stock of children's books, and author events have included Alexander McCall Smith, Ian Rankin and Ann Fine. With traditional wooden and ceramic gifts, too, you may be here some time. www.mainstreetbooks.co.uk

Much Ado Books, Alfriston, East Sussex

This corner of East Sussex is a bibliophile's dream. Much Ado Books has a well-chosen stock of fiction and art, with an emphasis on the Bloomsbury Group, given its proximity to Charleston. Also take a detour to Lewes, with the expertly-run A & Y Cumming for antiquarian books, fine bindings and travel. www.muchadobooks.com, 01323 871222

Scarthin Books, Cromford, Derbyshire

This is a labyrinth with plenty of gems to discover. In all there's 13 rooms and cubby-holes crammed with volumes, plus an organic café to restore your strength. A children's room contains thousands of books old and new and there's a large collection of secondhand sheet music and antiquarian treasures. www.scarthinbooks.com, 01629 823272

Sedbergh, Cumbria

Britain's second official booktown is in prime walking country and makes a rewarding stop-off. Try Bertrams for musical books, The Bookseller for children's collectables and stock up on local history and travel at Dales and Lakes Book Centre, a collection of different and diverting booksellers under one roof.  www.sedbergh.org.uk/booktown, 015396 20125

Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway

Scotland's official National Book Town is home to over 20 book-related businesses, including Book Corner, a mecca for ornithologists, and ReadingLasses, focusing on books by and about women. Nearby is Wigtown Bay Local Nature Reserve, noted for its overwintering geese. Wigtown Book Festival runs 22 September to 2 October. www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk, 01988 402036

For more independent, rural  bookshops, visit www.booksellers.org.uk and click on 'bookshop directory'

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