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A pretty market town, Newton
Stewart has a fine bridge over the River Cree and
was founded in the 17th century by
William Stewart, third son of the Earl of
Galloway. Twelve miles east is ‘Bruce’s Stone’,
not to mention some beautiful views beside Loch
Trool.
It was from Newton Stewart that Robert the
Bruce launched his attempt to rid Scotland of
English rule, ambushing an English army before
fleeing into the hills. Bruce’s Stone was
unveiled in 1929 on the 600th anniversary of his
death and today marks the start and finish of many
walks in the Galloway Forest Park, among them a
rather serious climb to the top of Merrick, the
highest summit in Scotland’s south west.
Nearby is
the Galloway House historic gardens which were
created in the 1740s by Lord Garlies, elder son of
the 65th Earl of Galloway. |
Loch Trool - Photo: Visit Scotland
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