The Smell of a Good Book

I recently had a brief holiday in the Scottish Highlands. We stayed in a small hotel in rural Sutherland, and it really was a step back in time. I loved it! The Crask Inn was built for the purpose of providing respite for weary travellers as they traversed the wild and rugged Scottish countryside on their way to the northern coast. What I loved most about the Crask Inn is the presence of books in almost every room. And not just any books. These are classic hardback novels, tatty old paperbacks that date back to the 1960s and earlier, and the occasional modern book thrown in for good measure.

I didn’t have time to properly explore the extensive personal library displayed at the Crask, but I did manage to take some photographs of the fabulous bookshelves and the vintage sitting room where you could easily lose yourself in a wild adventure for a day. What really made me smile was the presence of a shelf of books in our bedroom, in place of where there would be a TV in a more modern hotel or B&B. Before we left I couldn’t resist picking up one hardback book that caught my attention. I opened it, smiled as I viewed the text and style, and then I brought it to my nose and inhaled the wonderful smell of old pages. Bliss!