Newton Stewart
Contents |
Newton Stewart
Introduction | Langholm | Moffat | Dumfries | Castle Douglas | Kirkcudbright | Gatehouse of Fleet | New Galloway | Newton Stewart | The Machars | Stranraer | Portpatrick | Wigtown
===Introduction to Newton Stewart=== Phone code: +44 (0)1671
The town of Newton Stewart is set on the west bank of the River Cree at the junction of the main A75 and the A714, amidst beautiful wooded countryside. It's a popular base for hiking in the hills of Galloway Forest Park, especially around Glen Trool. Newton Stewart is also a major centre for salmon and trout fishing. The season runs from March till mid-October. Permits, guides and the hire of fishing gear can all be arranged at the Creebridge House Hotel. The tourist office is on Dashwood Square, just off the main street and opposite the bus station. They can book accommodation for you as well as provide lots of information on walking in Galloway Forest Park. Info: Apr and Oct daily 1000-1630; May, Jun and Sep till 1700; Jul and Aug till 1800. Tel 402431. The Forestry Commission, Tel 402121, also produces a series of leaflets on its various marked trails through the forest park.
Sleeping: accommodation in Newton Stewart
As a major walking and fishing centre, Newton Stewart has plenty of accommodation across the range. Top of the list is the fabulous A Kirroughtree House, Tel 402141, Kirrough Tree House] 17 rooms. This grand 18th-century country mansion is set in its own grounds and offers impeccable standards of comfort and service. It's superb restaurant (expensive) has a well-deserved reputation for its gourmet Scottish cuisine. Another fine choice, and a lot cheaper, is the charming B Creebridge House Hotel, across the river in the village of Minnigaff, Tel 402121, CreeBridge House Hotel 19 rooms. Arranges fishing permits and offers very good food at mid-range prices.
There are also lots of B&Bs to choose from. Many of these are on Corsbie Rd and include D Rowallen House, Tel 402520, Rowallen House EOakbank, Tel 402822, open Feb-Nov; and E Stables Guest House , Tel 402157. Also good is the friendly E-F Kilwarlin, 4 Corvisel Rd, Tel 403047, open Apr-Oct. There's a F SYHA Youth Hostel, Tel 402211, open mid-Mar to end-Oct, in the village of Minnigaff, which is on the other side of the river, across the bridge.
There are a couple of Forestry Commission campsites in Glen Trool. There's the Caldons Caravan & Camping Site, on the western shore of Loch Trool, Tel 840218, open Apr-Sep (possibility of closure so check with tourist office first), and the Glen Trool Holiday Park, Tel 840280, open Mar-Oct, near Glen Trool village, just off the A714.
Eating in Newton Stewart
The best places to eat are Kirroughtree House and Creebridge House Hotel. The latter also serves fine ales. Alternatively, try The Brig End Pantry, a tearoom and restaurant overlooking the Cree bridge, Tel 402003; or The Riverbank, a popular lunch stop near the main car park, Tel 403330. About € mile out of town on the A714 heading south is the Black Sheep Inn, where there is a licensed restaurant and bar, Tel 404326.
Transport
Newton Stewart is on the main A75 between Dumfries and Stranraer and there are regular buses to and from each of these destinations, including Nos X75 and 500. There's also a No 430 bus to Stranraer and No 500 to Gatehouse of Fleet. Newton Stewart is the departure point for buses south to Wigtown and Whithorn (No 415). There's a service (No 359) north along the A714 to Girvan, via Bargrennan and Glen Trool village several times a day Mon-Sat (less frequently on Sun).
Around Newton Stewart
Newton Stewart lies at the heart of the most scenically stunning part of Galloway and makes an ideal base for exploring this most beautiful part of the country. About three miles east, near Palnure, is the Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, the southern gateway to Galloway Forest Park. A series of waymarked trails and cycle routes lead from here into the forest. There's also a tea room serving light meals. Info: Apr-Sep daily 1030-1700, Oct closes at 1630. Tel 402165.
Four miles north of town, reached via the A714, is the Wood of Cree Nature Reserve, Tel 402861, the largest ancient woodland in southern Scotland. This RSPB reserve is home to a huge variety of birdlife, including pied flycatchers, redstarts and wood warblers. There are nature trails running for two miles through the forest in the Cree Valley.
The prime attraction around Newton Stewart is Glen Trool, one of the most accessible and loveliest parts of Galloway Forest Park. Ten miles north of Newton Stewart at Bargrennan, on the A714, a narrow road winds its way for five miles past Glen Trool village to Loch Trool, hemmed in by the wooded slopes of the glen. Halfway up the loch is Bruce's Stone, which marks the spot where Robert the Bruce's guerrilla band ambushed the pursuing English force in 1307, after they had routed the main army at Solway Moss.
There are a number of excellent hiking trails which start out from here, including the one to the summit of Merrick (2,766 ft), the highest peak in southern Scotland. It's a tough climb of about four hours, but fairly straightforward and well worth the effort. There are also numerous Forestry Commission trails for the less fit/experienced/adventurous. Part of the Southern Upland Way runs through Glen Trool and along the southern shores of Loch Trool, then continues east towards Clatteringshaws Loch. On the road to Loch Trool, about a mile from the village, is the Glen Trool Visitor Centre. Info: Apr-Oct daily 1030-1730. Tel 01671-402420.