Welcome to the Scrabo Tower website

Standing tall at 540 feet above sea level, Scrabo Tower is one of Northern Ireland's most iconic landmarks. For generations, it has watched over the historic market town of Newtownards, the rolling waters of Strangford Lough, and the sweeping coastlines of County Down in Northern Ireland.

The landmark, which is visible from most of north Down, was built on a volcanic plug above the town in 1857 as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry who was one of the Duke of Wellington's generals during the Napoleonic Wars.

This website is an independent, non-commercial project dedicated to two things: sharing the deep historical and geological story of the hill for students, and providing a straightforward local guide, as well as practical tips for walkers and tourists planning a great day out.

The site also serves as a web directory of Northern Ireland websites.

scrabo tower

Scrabo Tower - Guardian of the North Down Coast

The undulating maritime landscape of North Down has been watched over for more than a century by the Londonderry Monument, commonly known as Scrabo Tower. The tower, which is visible from many miles away, is a marked replica of some of the Scottish watch-towers, which were built along the border that played a part in the forays of long ago. Read more