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Scrabo Country Park

203A Scrabo Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4SJ
Image of the NIEA signpost entitled Scrabo County Park, caring for the environment with Scrabo Tower in background

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About

This picturesque country park provides a natural and relaxing retreat to visitors. For those who enjoy walking, they can go and experience walks to the beech and hazel woodlands of Killynether. During Springtime, the woodland floor is carpeted with bluebells and wood anemones.

Here at Scrabo, there has been a lot of generated interest from geologists, as there are old quarries where the famous peach-coloured Scrabo sandstone came from. The quarries are of special interest to geologists as they display 'dykes' through which molten lava from deep in the earth burst up through the sandstone and horizontal 'sills', leaked out to the sides where there were weaknesses in the sandstone strata, cooling to form dolerite. The hard igneous dolerite captured the hilltop and protected it from the ice-sheet grounding away at the rest of the sandstone. Ravens and jackdaws nest in the quarries, which have also been the breeding site for kestrels and peregrine falcons.

When it is open, visitors can climb Scrabo Tower, built in 1857 in memory of the 3rd Marquis of Londonderry and is known as one of Northern Ireland’s best known landmarks. (The Tower is now in the care of the Department for Communities).

We hope you have an enjoyable positive experience at Scrabo Country Park. You may like to visit our other properties which include: Crawfordsburn Country Park, Helen's Bay and Redburn Country Park, Holywood.

If you would like to provide us with your comments, feedback or ideas for improvement please contact us at: nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

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Facilities

Catering

  • Picnic Area

Establishment Features

  • Accept coach parties
  • Toilets

Event Facilities

  • Booking Required - Please be advised that commercial activities or events, including filming, photography and organised group activities are not permitted without prior written permission from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). Charges for commercial use of the property may apply. For enquiries please contact: nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

Parking & Transport

  • Car parking
  • On site parking

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
TicketFree

Free

Related

Scrabo Tower at duskScrabo Tower, NewtownardsAt the top of Scrabo Hill, overlooking Strangford Lough and the whole of North Down, is Scrabo Tower. The tower, which was built in 1857, is one of Northern Ireland’s best known landmarks and the views from the top are spectacular.

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Tel+44 (0) 28 9181 1491

Map & Directions

Opening Times

* Open to pedestrians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The two car parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The toilets are open from 10:00 to 16:00.
The park is open all year round for pedestrian access.

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Related

Scrabo Tower at duskScrabo Tower, NewtownardsAt the top of Scrabo Hill, overlooking Strangford Lough and the whole of North Down, is Scrabo Tower. The tower, which was built in 1857, is one of Northern Ireland’s best known landmarks and the views from the top are spectacular.

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