Newton Stewart
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|---|---|
 The River Cree with Newton Stewart beyond | |
  Newton Stewart Location withinDumfries and Galloway | |
| Area | 1.94 km2 (0.75 sq mi) [1] |
| Population | 4,030 (2020)[2] |
| • Density | 2,077/km2 (5,380/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | NX405655 |
| • Edinburgh | 85 mi (137 km) |
| • London | 299 mi (481 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWTON STEWART |
| Postcode district | DG8 |
| Dialling code | 01671 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 54°57′29″N4°29′31″W / 54.958°N 4.492°W /54.958; -4.492 | |
Newton Stewart (Gd:Baile Ùr nan Stiùbhartach) is a formerburgh town in the historical county of Wigtownshire inDumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland.The town is on theRiver Cree with most of the town to the west of the river, and is sometimes referred to as the "Gateway to the Galloway Hills".[3]
The main local industries are agriculture, forestry and tourism. The town hosts a local market, and a number of services to support the farming industry. There are many mountain biking trails in the area. Newton Stewart lies on the southern edge of theGalloway Forest Park, which supplies many jobs to the town. Newton Stewart is 7 miles (11 kilometres) from Scotland's book townWigtown.
The town was founded in the mid-17th century by William Stewart, fourth and youngest son of the 2ndEarl of Galloway. The "New Town of Stewart" was grantedburgh status by charter from KingCharles II, allowing a weekly market and two annual fairs to be held.
It was on a pilgrimage to the shrine ofSt Ninian atWhithorn in 1329 thatRobert the Bruce forded the river where the present bridge stands.[4] Designed byJohn Rennie the Elder and built in 1813 the present bridge replaced the old bridge of 1745.[5]
The industrialistSir William Douglas (died 1809), best known for founding the planned town ofCastle Douglas, also established cotton mills in Newton Stewart, which was renamed "Newton Douglas" in his honour but soon reverted to Newton Stewart.[5]
The main municipal building in the town, theMcMillan Hall, was completed in 1885.[6]
TheA75 road runs along the southern edge of the town, and connects the town toStranraer in the west andDumfries in the east. Public transport in and around the town and to places in South Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway is mainly provided byStagecoach Western.[7]
Newton Stewart railway station was on thePortpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway and closed in 1965, as a result of theBeeching Axe.[8] The nearest railway stations are atStranraer andBarrhill which are respectively 25 mi (40 km) and18+1⁄2 mi (30 km) from Newton Stewart.[9]
Newton Stewart has three primary schools:
The town has one secondary school, theDouglas Ewart High School.
Local news and television programmes are provided byBBC Scotland andITV Border. Television signals are received from one of the two local relay transmitters (Minnigaff[10] and Cambret Hill[11]).
Local radio stations areBBC Radio Scotland on 93.1 FM andGreatest Hits Radio Dumfries & Galloway on 103.0 FM.
The Galloway Gazette andDumfries & Galloway Standard are the town's local newspapers.[12][13]
The horror filmThe Wicker Man, set on the fictional privately owned Scottish island of Summerisle, was filmed almost entirely (some opening scenes filmed inPlockton, Wester Ross also) on location around Newton Stewart, and had itspremiere at its cinema in 1973.[14]
There are numerous nature trails nearby as part ofGalloway Forest Park, managed on behalf of the state byForest Enterprise.[15]
Home of theTrad Music Festival which takes place over three days the 2nd weekend in July each year, theSpringGrass Bluegrass Festival in May each year and theAutumn Trad Festival in October each year atThe Vault Arts Centre.
Newton Stewart FC, nicknamed the "Creesiders", play in the South of Scotland league, their ground is called Blairmount Park.[16]
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