Are you a writer who has a favourite walk around Dumfries and Galloway?
Would you care to share it with the world?
With support from Best of British funding we aim to this year develop a series of
Writer’s Walks to allow our festival visitors the chance to follow in today’s literary footsteps, discovering what makes each unique walk resonate with each unique writer.
We are inviting adult writers of all ages and genres to share their favourite D&G walk with us through their own words and pictures. These walks will then be available to download from our website during the Wigtown Book Festival (25 September – 4 October 2026) and beyond.
Creative people often have their own favourite place to visit and many a good story has been inspired by nature, a walk or taking a moment to lose yourself in a view.
We want to share that moment, allowing our festival attenders the chance to experience these walks first hand and our international audience to find out more about the area, whether considering a visit or enjoying these works from home.
It is important to us to give our audiences a taste of new, emerging and established authors in the area. Writers of all kinds can apply and each published walk can be linked to your own portfolios or web pages. We hope you will get involved!
Apply to take part
Contact [email protected] with some basic details of the walk you would like to write about and a little bit about you (or link to your site). A limited amount of expenses are available for this project so please also detail your expenses at this stage. We will get right back to you to confirm if your walk has been accepted.
1. If accepted, chose your walk
Simply choose your favourite walk from any well-established source such as South Scotland Destination Alliance Scotland Starts Here or Walk Highlands. Or if you prefer to write your own walk then begin with including a starting point, distance, difficulty level and any difficulty notes. Your own walk should ideally include up to ten route stages with easy to follow descriptions and photos.
2. Write your walk your way
Whether you are sending us a link to a favourite walk or describing your own, we want to know why you love it! What makes it special to you? Please also send an accompanying narrative to your walk in your own style. Tell us a little about you, give us a walk overview and maybe add some notes, sketches, poems or photos to further illustrate each route stage and you as a writer. Any kind of creativity that represents your walk.
3. Send us your walk
Send your walk and any accompanying attachments back to: [email protected] by Wednesday 1 July 2026. We will collate your information into a downloadable pdf available on wigtownbookfestival.com throughout the festival and longer for others to enjoy!
Please note:
Walkers are advised to seek appropriate safety information before setting out. All routes taken are at entirely your own risk.
Be safe out in Nature - make sure to check the weather forecast, bring adequate clothes and supplies, and be respectful of nature and other trail users.