New Galloway

New Galloway

New Galloway
New Galloway
New Galloway shown within Dumfries and Galloway
OS grid reference NX635775
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CASTLE DOUGLAS
Postcode district DG7
Dialling code 01644
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
Tolbooth, High Street
Tolbooth, High Street

New Galloway (Gd: Baile Ur Ghall-Ghaidhealaibh) is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. It lies on the west side of the valley of the Water of Ken, a mile north of the end of Loch Ken. Before the local government reform of 1975, it was in the county of Kirkcudbrightshire.

Engraving of a view of New Galloway by James Fittler in Scotia Depicta, published 1804

There were scattered settlements in the area from at least the 13thC (when the nearby Kenmure Castle was first built), but the village was formally founded in the 17th century by the Viscount of Kenmure and granted Royal Burgh status in 1630 - this was to enable it to serve as a market town. However, Kirkcudbright, only 19 miles to the south, was larger and drew more traders. New Galloway thus grew very slowly and is the smallest Royal Burgh in Scotland.

New Galloway today is an attractive rural town. It has a Town Hall, two churches, three pubs, and a golf club. A popular holiday destination, standing on the edge of the scenic Galloway Forest Park, it is on the Galloway Kite Trail, where red kites can be spotted at all times of the year. Each August, it hosts the Scottish Alternative Games in its small park.

The Ken Bridge, which links the town with the main road on the east side of the valley, was built in 1822 by the Scottish engineer, John Rennie, who also built the second London Bridge.


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