Discover Newtownards through a range of experiences: significant priory ruins, a Market Cross with a story of destruction and reconstruction, a Georgian town hall with galleries, and trails and geological features in Scrabo Country Park. For your trip, this offers a choice between architectural and cultural history, a specific events programme, and nature-related themes.
Priory Ruins, Market Cross and a Monument
Newtownards Priory includes significant remains of a Dominican priory founded in 1244. The surviving remains are the only ones of their kind in Northern Ireland. For travellers who like to see a landmark in its historical context, the date of its foundation provides a clear point of reference. The Market Cross tells a different story: the original structure was destroyed in 1653; the present building was completed in 1666. These dates refer to two successive states of the building, not to a single construction year. Scrabo Tower, meanwhile, was built in 1857 as a monument to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. The founding of the priory, its reconstruction and the erection of the monument therefore represent distinct historical themes.
Galleries and Cultural Programme
The Ards Arts Centre is located in Newtownards’ restored Georgian town hall, completed in 1770. It has two professional galleries: the Georgian Gallery and the Sunburst Gallery. The programme includes exhibitions, creative workshops, live music and theatre performances, among other events. Many events in the borough’s annual programme take place at the Ards Arts Centre. If you have a particular date in mind, check the current programme, as individual events may change.
Walking trail guides offer another way to explore history. They help visitors discover Newtownards in the footsteps of Normans, Vikings and saints. This lets you engage with the history through these different historical themes, rather than focusing only on individual buildings.
Woodland Trails, Geology and Views
Scrabo Country Park offers walking trails through Killynether’s beech and hazel woods. The disused quarries also have their own geological features: dykes and horizontal sills can be seen there. Ravens and jackdaws nest in the quarries; they have also been breeding sites for kestrels and peregrine falcons. Exploring the area brings together several aspects: woodland trails, geological formations and wildlife. Scrabo Golf Club offers views of Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains, adding another perspective to these nature-related themes.
Market, Information and Getting There
Newtownards Market takes place every Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm at Conway Square. Check the times before your visit. The Ards Visitor Information Centre in Newtownards provides information about accommodation, local events and places to eat. Newtownards is best reached by road and by public buses operated by Translink. Check the latest services before setting off.
Saturday offers a specific time frame for a market visit; exhibitions, workshops, live music and theatre performances depend on their respective event dates. Checking market times and the cultural programme before your trip can help you shape your stay around the themes that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Greyabbey, Comber, Killinchy, Portaferry.
For the wider travel overview: Ards.
