Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles (16 km) east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. It is a strong Northern Irish “Unionist town”, with approximately 86 percent of the population is from a Protestant background and nine percent from a Catholic background. It is known colloquially by locals as “Ards”.
Backpacking in Northern Ireland: Newtownards, County Down
Main Sights:
Conway Square
Newtownards Town Hall
Scrabo Tower
Avalon Guitars
Warden’s Department Store
Castlereagh Park, former home of Ards FC (no longer there)
Killynether Wood
Scrabo Golf Club
Ards Rugby Club
Ark Open Farm
The Somme Heritage Centre
Mount Stewart
Newtownards Airport
Londonderry Park
First Presbyterian Church
Ards War Memorial
Loyalist Wall Murals in West Winds Estate
Loyalist Wall Murals in Scrabo Estate
Loyalist Wall Murals in Glen Estate
Loyalist Wall Murals in Bowtown Estate
Loyalist Wall Murals in Movilla
Population: 28,000
Places to Stay:
The Strangford Arms
Clandeboye Lodge
Our Favourite Pub: Molly Brown’s
Our Favourite Restaurant: Wetherspoons, The Spirit Merchant
Our Favourite Coffee Shop: Knott’s
Our Newtownards Secrets:
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Newtownards Celebrities:
Blair Paddy Mayne
Christine Bleakley
Eddie Irvine
