Newton Stewart's most intriguing sight is on the eastern riverbank in what used to be the separate village of Minnigaff, where the Minnigaff parish church (mid-June to mid-Sept Mon & Fri 1.30-4pm; free) houses three eleventh-century carved grave-slabs. Otherwise, the town's attractions are pretty much confined to the local museum (July & Aug Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm & 2-5pm, Sat & Sun 2-5pm; Easter-June Mon-Sat 2-5pm; Sept daily 2-5pm; ?1), housed in the deconsecrated Church of St Andrew, to the west of the main street. There's also a remarkable collection of over fifty dolls' houses on display at Sophie's Puppenstube and Dolls' House Museum (April-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Jan-March Tues-Sat 10am-4pm; ?2.75), located at 29 Queen St, on the road heading west from the main square.

On the main square itself, by the bus station, you'll find the local tourist office (July & Aug 10am-6pm; May, June & Sept 10am-5pm; April & Oct 10am- 4.30pm; tel 01671/402431), which has plenty of helpful literature. The finest hotel is the warm and friendly Creebridge House Hotel (tel 01671/402121, ; ?70-90), in an appealing eighteenth-century granite hunting lodge near the main bridge. A cheaper option is to go for one of the substantial red sandstone Victorian villa B&Bs , such as Rowallan House (tel 01671/402520), on Corsbie Road, west of the main street up Church Lane. There's also an SYHA hostel (tel 01671/402211, ; April-Sept) in an old schoolhouse in Minnigaff, up Millcroft Road from the bridge.