Scrabo Hill and Scrabo Tower, Newtownards

From the Scrabo Country Park car park, take the paths south-west into Killynether Wood and loop through the beech trees on the west side of the hill, north towards the pond and back by the wood's east path. Back at the car park, climb the path north-east to the foot of Scrabo Tower on the summit, which has wide views over Strangford Lough and North Down. Then drop to the floor of the South Quarry, follow the path along its foot, and return by the track and path below the quarry.

It is 4.3 km round with 226 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: wide paths and tracks, with a steady climb to the tower and a few short rises in the wood. Keep to the paths round the old sandstone quarries.

Scrabo Tower is closed: the Visit Ards and North Down page for the tower says 'Tower currently closed' and gives no date, though it says the grounds and country park open daily. The same council tourism page for the country park says access to the North Quarry is closed until works to replace the steps are completed; this walk does not use the North Quarry. The page says the park is open to pedestrians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and that entry is free.

The car park is the country park's own, on the road up from Scrabo Road; Outmore NI lists the parking as free, and Visit Ards and North Down says its two car parks are open 24 hours a day.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.