Kriss Nichol’s Wigtown Women’s Walks introduce visitors to some of the amazing array of women who have lived in Wigtown

Tell us about one of the women in the tour?

The first who springs to mind is Dr Mary Broadfoot Walker, who was the catalyst for the walks. She pioneered the treatment of Myasthenia Gravis, often called Rag Doll Syndrome, an auto-immune neurological condition affecting the muscles of the body, from which I suffer.

After further investigation I found a treasure trove of other incredible women and Wigtown Women's Walk grew from there. Women like Jane Agnew, cousin and companion of philosopher John Ruskin, whose house was on the site of the library, Helen Lenoir (born Susan Couper Black) who went to London to pursue a career in acting, met and married Richard D'Oyly Carte and ended up managing the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

There was also Margaret McGuffie, often referred to as The Black Lady, whose father, John McGuffie, a saddler from Mochram, established a successful business in Barbados and returned to Wigtown with his out of wedlock mixed race daughter Margaret and built Barbados Villa, now Dunure, where Margaret lived for 60 years. These are just three of the 15 stops we make and there are also some selected readings in situ from an anthology of poetry and prose, Singing Over the Bones by women writers of the region, to highlight some of the stories.

As a long-time volunteer, what makes Wigtown Book Festival special?

I have volunteered for around 20 years and find the festival special because I get to see and meet a wide range of writers and artists from the area and beyond whom I feel enriched and inspired by. It's a bit like going to a book club and reading books that normally wouldn't be on your radar but they extend your knowledge, experience and pleasure. Volunteering for events about books I've never come across before open doors to worlds I didn't know existed and I always find the authors, their stories and methods of working, completely uplifting.

What’s your favourite book about Galloway?

My favourite is 40 Coast and Country Walks by J Fallis which I purchased not long after moving here, and I used to help me explore and understand the area. In those days I was a lot healthier than now so was able to undertake all the walks and appreciate the diversity of the region. I was also able to use much of those observations of nature and place to inform my writing, particularly my poetry.

What was a book that influenced your life?

The book that first made me want to write a novel was The Bone People by Keri Hulme. I loved the time and perspective shifts, the sensitive way she dealt with difficult subject matters and the whole style of the book. I was also blown away by her performance at the Booker Prize awards ceremony and the highlighting of indigenous issues in New Zealand.

But the book that really changed my life and soul attitude was The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. I loved the question and answer format and the gentle wisdom he imparted was deeply affecting. Those two books are entrenched in my psyche.

You can purchase tickets for Kriss Nichol's events - and 17 other early bird events - until 31st May with 10% off the ticket price. The full programme of 2026 events will be released to the public on 24th July.