With My Own Hand – the secret poetry of Marie Maitland
Discover the fascinating story of Marie, a sixteenth-century Scottish woman whose secret love poetry was discovered, hidden in a manuscript.
Thursday 17th September, 7pm Stow Station House
Join historian, translator and author Ashley Douglas, to hear of her astonishing discovery of the secret love poems of Marie Maitland, now being hailed as one of Scotland’s earliest lesbian poets. From mysterious clues hidden in plain sight, Ashley has revealed for the first time a hidden story of love and bravery in the harsh climate of post-Reformation Scotland. Now being published as “In My Own Hand” , Ashley will be here to tell us more about this intriguing secret aspect of Scotland’s history.
A fascinating story, we are delighted to be hosting Ashley in the Scottish Borders.
Booking essential, through Eventbrite.
Shiver – the Lessons of the Lochs
‘Shiver flowed from a time when my life had been broken open, and cold water became both refuge and reckoning’.
Saturday 10th October, 7pm The Wild Hare Cafe, Stow.
After her life is upended Brigid Lowe swims her way back to life by seeking to plunge into 1,000 of Scotland’s ice-cold lochs. Stepping into ice and caves and sacred springs, she swims with birds, conger eels and seals, alone and with her children in tow. And as she comes to know these secret pools, with their vaulting depths and softer shallows, she walks the line between recklessness and safety, discovering new depths of pain and pleasure, of strength and endurance…
Free author event, donations welcome. Booking essential, through Eventbrite.
Galawe’en III – Hallowe’en in the Gala Valley
24th – 31st October, 2026.
It’s back! Join us for our third week-long Hallowe’en festivities and events in Stow. From bone-chilling book events, to phantasmic quizzes, fascinating folklore to terrifying karaoke! Watch this space for further details soon!
The Wedale Folklore Club
Usually meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month from 7pm, The Wild Hare Cafe, Stow.
The Scottish Borders has a rich and stirring history, matched by the often weird and wonderful folklore that surrounds us. We love a story, so have created this free-to-join group inspired by myths, legends and folk-customs. The group meets monthly and is a place to share stories, discover forgotten folklore and strange, fascinating places to visit and revel in the mysterious! Open to all, 18+.
If you love folktales, folklore, myths and legends then this may be the place for you! For further details or to join the group, please email us hello@wedalebooks.scot
poetry circle
Meets monthly on the last Wednesday of the month from 7pm at the bookshop
If you enjoy reading or composing poetry, you may like to join our new monthly gathering at the bookshop on the last Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Free to join, this group is for readers or writers of all abilities who love to write, read, sing, sign or perform poetry!
Meets monthly at the Wedale Bookshop. Email hello@wedalebooks.scot for further details or to join as places may be limited. 18+
Each month, we choose a Poem of the Month, written by someone in the group. We’ll post each poem here on the website and our social media channels and we hope to publish a collection annually – so get involved!
Poem of the Month – June 2026
Death of the subjunctive by Wendy E. Ball
Authors? Why have your book event in Stow?
Stow of Wedale has excellent transport links (we think we’re the only independent bookshop in the Scottish Borders directly served by a railway station) meaning holding and attending events here that celebrate the written word is ideal. In addition to our bookshop, we have local caterers and facilities that can allow for events hosting from 2 to 176 guests (that’s the capacity of the main space in the Town Hall!). In addition to the town hall, we also have the beautifully refurbished and presented Station House.
The Wedale Book Club.
We have two book groups (one meeting on the 2nd Wednesday and the other on the 3rd Wednesday of every month) hosted in the bookshop. Open to all 18+. 20% off each month’s chosen titles when you buy in-store – contact us or ask next time you pop in!
July’s Book
June’s Book
You can buy books that our Book Groups have been reading from our List on Bookshop.org:
The LGBTQI+ Book Club
We are delighted to host the south’s only dedicated LGBTQI+ bookshop book group (as far as we know!). It’s held in Stow each month. Open to 18+. 20% off each month’s chosen titles when you buy in-store – contact us or ask next time you pop in!