Traversed by the River Cree, Newton Stewart is a historic burgh town nicknamed the “Gateway to the Galloway Hills”. It was founded in the 17th century by William Stewart as the “New Town of Stewart”. For a short period, it was known as “Newton Douglas” after Sir William Douglas established cotton mills in the town.
Things to do in Newton Stewart
You can delve into the local history at the Museum of Newton Stewart, which occupies the beautifully preserved St. John’s Church. In addition to vintage clothing and antique tools, the collection includes exhibits dedicated to blacksmithing, dairy farming and raising children. Also on display are military artefacts and wartime photos.
Newton Stewart makes an ideal base for exploring the nature trails of Galloway Forest Park, which is not only one of the largest tracts of forest in the United Kingdom but also a designated Dark Sky Park. Soak up the gully views from the historic Glen of the Bar lookout and walk to picture-perfect Rosie’s Waterfall. Also nearby is Murray's Monument, erected in honour of a local shepherd boy.
Mountain bikers can head north to Glentrool, a network of routes that lead through Galloway Forest Park. You can ride the 58-kilometre-long Big Country Trail or tackle the single-track Blue Trail. Along the way, you can learn about the local history at Bruce’s Stone, which overlooks the site of the 1307 Battle of Glen Trool.
Getting around Newton Stewart
Newton Stewart is around two hours’ drive from Glasgow and 1.5 hours from Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular buses connect to Newton Stewart and the town is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of accessing the surrounding attractions.