About 18 miles north-west of Gatehouse Of Fleet on the A75 is Newton Stewart on the banks of the River Cree and the area north of that is the Galloway Forest Park. Newton Stewart has few visitor attractions but is an ideal place as a base for walkers, cyclists and anglers (salmon and trout fishing) visiting the Galloway Forest Park. An unusual exhibition is that of the Sophie's Puppenstube and Dolls' House Museum near the market square and there are 11th century engraved graves in Monigaff Church. The main hotels are the Creebridge House Hotel and the Bruce Hotel. Buses run to Dumfries, Stranraer, Girvan (in Ayrshire) and the Isle Of Whithorn and the tourist office is in Dashwood Square.
The Galloway Forest Park is a beautiful area of hills, woodland and lochs covering an area of 300 square miles. It is a walker's paradise with a range of walks from the gentle to the more strenuous and the park is dissected by part of the Southern Upland Way. The A712 passes through the park between Newton Stewart and New Galloway - known as the Queen's Way. It is worth stopping at the Grey Mare Tail's Bridge, about 7 miles east of Newton Stewart, to explore the network of woodland walks, and later at the Galloway Red Deer Range for a guided walk to view the deer. The road passes Clatteringshaws Loch where the Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre provides interesting information about the local natural habitat and species, including the red kite. From the Centre, you can walk the 14 miles around the loch or to Bruce's Stone where Robert The Bruce is reputed to have rested after defeating the English at the Battle of Rapploch Moss in 1317. Taking the A714 north out of Newton Stewart up the western edge of the Forest Park, there is a track (popular with cyclists) from Bargrennan to Glen Trool, the Glen Trool Visitor Centre and the amazing views at Loch Trool. There is a wide range of walks in this area, including a hike up the 842-metre Merrick hill and part of the Southern Upland Way which leads to Clatteringshaws Loch. The nearest hotels are the Lochinvar Hotel at St. John's Town of Dalry and the Leamington House Hotel at New Galloway. Buses run from Dumfries, Castle Douglas and Ayr.
List of cottages in this area:
Sleeps: 4,
Bedrooms: 2
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
Located between Barrhill and Newton Stewart, Drumlamford is a delightfully secluded 1,500-acre estate. An excellent base for walkers, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore the Solway Coast, Southern Upland Way and the Galloway Forest Park. Maberry Cottage is a lovely detached Victorian cottage situated in open countryside overlooking Loch Maberry.
Sleeps: 4,
Bedrooms: 2
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
Is a lovely detached Victorian cottage, very well furnished and equipped, which stands in its own area of grass garden (furniture) overlooking the landscaped grounds of Drumlamford House - 12 miles north of the small market town of Newton Stewart in south-west Scotland.
Sleeps: 4,
Bedrooms: 2
- No Pets
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
Is a magnificent conversion of an old steading, quiet and totally secluded in its own delightful orchard garden, yet just a few yards from the centre of the market town of Newton Stewart in 'Bonnie Galloway' in the south west corner of Scotland. Designed and furnished to the highest standards, lucky holiday makers now have a chance to experience its many comforts and attractions.
Sleeps: 6,
Bedrooms: 3
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
is a detached traditional cottage set in its own pretty grass garden (furniture) not far from both Loch Dornal and Loch Gower on the Drumlamford Estate - 12 miles north of the small market town of Newton Stewart in South-west Scotland.
Sleeps: 6,
Bedrooms: 3
stands quite alone in a perfectly heavenly position high on a hill above Cairnryan in the south-west-most corner of Scotland, with fabulous views across Loch Ryan all the way to Ireland. A very high-spec, sublimely comfortable house, its lovely situation and the standard of its accommodation mean that it is sure to become a firm favourite with visitors to this delightful corner of Scotland.
Sleeps: 8
(9)
,
Bedrooms: 4
- No Smoking
- Short Breaks available
- Pet Friendly
is a beautifully appointed, very spacious detached farmhouse which stands all on its own enjoying spectacular views from its grounds (furniture) over the surrounding hills of the Galloway Forest Park. A really lovely house, it is reached by one mile of hard track from the quiet single-track B7027 public road 12 miles north of the small market town of Newton Stewart in south west Scotland.