No roughcaster listed in Newton Stewart yet.

A roughcaster applies a textured external finish to buildings - the traditional Scottish harling that protects stone and blockwork walls from the weather while giving them a clean, uniform appearance.

Harling is one of Scotland's most common wall finishes and when it cracks, blows or starts to let in damp, getting it patched or replaced promptly prevents more expensive damage to the masonry underneath.

Ask whether they use traditional lime harling or modern cement render - on older stone buildings, lime-based finishes allow the walls to breathe and avoid the moisture problems that cement can cause.

Newton Stewart is a small market town on the River Cree in the heart of Galloway, serving as the gateway to the Galloway Forest Park - the largest forest park in Britain.

The town has a traditional main street with local shops, a museum and a famous salmon river - the Cree is one of the best salmon and sea trout rivers in south-west Scotland.

Newton Stewart is a popular base for outdoor activities: the 7stanes mountain biking trails at Kirroughtree, the Southern Upland Way and the Galloway Dark Sky Park are all accessible from the town.

The town sits on the A75 between Dumfries and Stranraer, making it a natural stopping point for travellers crossing Galloway.

(opens in new tab)

Dumfries and Galloway is the most south-westerly council area in Scotland, stretching from the English border at Gretna to the Mull of Galloway - the southernmost point in Scotland - and from the Solway Firth coast inland to the hills of the Southern Uplands.

Dumfries is the largest town and administrative centre, a handsome red sandstone burgh on the River Nith where Robert Burns spent the last years of his life and is buried in St Michael's Kirkyard.

The region divides naturally into three historic areas: Dumfriesshire to the east, Kirkcudbrightshire (the Stewartry) in the centre and Wigtownshire to the west - each with its own character, landscape and loyalties.

The Galloway coast and countryside have a mild climate influenced by the Gulf Stream, fertile farmland, dark-sky reserves and a string of small harbour towns that attract artists, writers and visitors drawn to the quiet and the landscape.

Despite its size, the region is one of the most sparsely populated in Scotland - a place where community is strong, the pace is slower and the landscape ranges from river valleys and rolling farmland to wild moorland and rocky coastline.