A bid is being made to promote Castle Douglas as Scotland’s top market town.
For several years, it has been marketed as Dumfries and Galloway’s Food Town due to the fantastic range of butchers, bakers and artisan food producers in and around King Street.
Now, local councillor Pauline Drysdale feels a different approach should be taken to highlight the food, drink, produce and everything else “our fantastic and diverse town has on offer”.
The Castle Douglas and Crocketford representative said: “It’s an exciting time going forward and I really foresee Castle Douglas standing out as one of the UK’s premier market towns.
“Once you look at the extensive offer in Castle Douglas and surrounds you can understand why we remain an extremely vibrant place to live and work and it’s crucially important to communicate this to all who visit.”
Castle Douglas is home to Wallets Marts, which started more than 150 years ago. The number one sale ring is the oldest octagonal sale ring still in use in Scotland.
Councillor Drysdale’s hope is for the Kelton the Wicker Beltie sculpture – made for the Royal Highland Showcase in 2021 – to return permanently to Market Hill and the creation of new information boards to show what’s on offer in the town.
That will include information on the varied shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes available as well as leisure facilities such as the rugby, golf, tennis and football clubs, parks, community centre, town hall, Threave Castle and the monthly producers’ market.
Councillor Drysdale added: “In conjunction with the Galloway Glens Scheme and with the support of Castle Douglas Community Council, Castle Douglas Development Forum, Rotary Forward and fellow councillors this idea is being welcomed as we focus on sustainability and the desire to shop locally and support our own fantastic community shops and organisations.
