If you're a book lover and are looking for your next fix of quirky shops to visit then you need look no further.

Hiding in the Highlands of Scotland in a converted church in Inverness is one of the quirkiest book shops I've ever visited - Leakey's.

More than 45 years old, this is less a place to come and buy books and more an experience in itself where time completely stops and before you know it, a quick pop in for a browse turns into 90 minutes.

The church itself dates back to 1649 and became home to Leakey's back in 1993, 14 years after Leakey's the book shop came into existence.

For more than 200 years, the church served as a place of worship for Gaelic speakers and history is in every corner of this magical place.

Shelves line almost every visible part of the building and each one is lined with thousands upon thousands of antique and secondhand books.

From real collectors items to affordable books for someone simply looking for their next good read, there is something for everyone.

On a grey and rainy winter's day in the Highlands of Scotland this book shop is corner of warmth.

The light streaming in through the lovingly restored stained glass windows to the wooden shelves groaning under their treasures.

The whole place is warmed by a gigantic log burner, which makes what clearly is a cavernous building feel unbelievably cosy.

The smell of books is comforting and it feels like you've stepped from a grey day into the pages of a fairytale.

Running up to the upper level of Leakey's is an impressive spiral staircase, which as well as enabling you to reach thousands more books gives an excellent bird's eye view of this spectacular shop.

Here you can truly see the scale of just how many books - and antique prints - are for sale - as they line the towering bookcases below.

I have to confess, while being an avid reader, I mainly popped in to get out of the rain and an hour and a half later emerged back into the Inverness afternoon, holding my newly bought books and feeling like I stepped through the wardrobe out of Narnia.

Leakey's alone is well worth the visit to Inverness - and you definitely won't leave empty handed.

History of Leakey's

Found in 1979 by Charles Leakey

Leakey's moved into its current home, a converted church in 1993

The church was built in 1649 as a place for Gaelic speakers to worship, which it remained for more than 200 years

It was rebuilt in 1792 and then architect James Smith decided to transfer the building once again in 1822 in the Greyfriars Free Church.

It was again given a new lease of life in 1993 by Charles Leakey