Carmina Gadelica is an independent bookshop, located in Portree on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and is a member of the Booksellers Association (National Book Tokens, therefore, can be either bought or exchanged within our store).
Having been established in 1993, we’ve been providing services to the local community and to visitors alike for a number of years.
We have recently greatly expanded our selection of books (as well as other products, e.g., art supplies and fishing equipment). We endeavour to showcase topical and acclaimed literature, carefully hand-picked by ourselves, which aims to meet the needs of all.
We offer you a warm welcome and hope you get the chance to drop by our shop. We will be happy to provide any assistance, or even guidance on things to do and see in the local area on your visit to the island. Staff in the shop are Gaelic speakers.
To read more about us, please scroll down the page.
Please click the box below to read answers to some of our frequently asked questions.
We strive to always have an extensive selection of books on offer, which reflect the most widely discussed, and most highly acclaimed, literature of the time. This is, of course, in addition to books which pertain to Hebridean and Gaelic history, prose, poetry, folklore and mythology.
In addition, we also have a variety of art supplies on offer, from a range of different brands: these include paints (oils, water-colour and acrylic), brushes, canvases, sketching and painting pads.
And…we’re a fishing tackle shop! A range of gear, suitable for both fly fishing (including locally made flies) and sea fishing, are available, such as rods, reels, lures, feathers alongside fishing books. We sell fishing permits (lochs and rivers) on behalf of the local angling association.
We also have an assortment of gifts, so whatever your interests may be, or whatever you may be looking for, we’re sure you’ll find something!
Carmina Gadelica's name derives from an outstanding collection of folklore, poems, proverbs, psalms, prayers and incantations in the Scottish Gaelic language, which was originally published in 1900 by Alexander Carmichael. 'Carmina Gadelica', a Latin name, can be translated into Gaelic as 'Ortha nan Gaidheal', or into English as 'The Song of the Gael'.