Newmilns (population 3,439) is a small town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It sits half way up the Loudoun Valley, named after the hill at one end¹, and the castle at the other, below Darvel² and above Galston.

Its most notable aspects are that it has Britain's cheapest (and probably shortest) dry ski slope, and that it gained its Royal Burgh status in 1490. It has links with America, the first of which came during the American Civil War. The weavers of Newmilns sent a message of support to Abraham Lincoln, who in turn sent them an American flag. The flag was lost over the years, but in 1949 the American Embassy presented the town with a replacement flag which is now located in the Church.

Other historical things to do with Newmilns include a 16th Century Tower House, often missed as it sits in a car park behind a pub; the oldest neolithic hand-axe in Britain (found beside the road out of town); and its main square. One edge of the square has a meeting house, with an external staircase. It was from here that 17th Century Covenanters would make speeches against the government. In fact, the church still has plaques on its front to those who died 'as martyrs to the cause' during the Covenanting years.