Scrabo Tower

Scrabo Tower stands at the top of Scrabo Hill above Newtownards in County Down, inside a country park of beech woodland, old sandstone quarries and paths. The tower was built in 1857 as a memorial and is one of the best-known landmarks in Northern Ireland. Families come for the walks through Killynether Wood, the open hillside and the wide views across Strangford Lough and North Down. The grounds and country park are open to visitors every day, and there is a picnic area and parking on site. The tower itself is sometimes closed, so it is worth checking whether the climb is open before setting out. Younger children tend to enjoy the outdoor space and the scramble up the hill, while older ones can climb the stairs to the top of the tower when it is open.