COMBER TO NEWTOWNARDS GREENWAY
“Strangford and Scrabo Greenway”
The Belfast and County Down Railway branched three ways at Comber, with a line running back north towards Newtownards under the shadow of Scrabo Tower, and eventually on to Donaghadee. A proposed 9km greenway route could once again provide a sustainable trasport link between Comber and Newtownards using a combination of railway alignment, roads and coastal defence walls.
ROUTE DETAILS
| Length | 9 kilometres |
| Estimate | £1.4 million |
| Timescale | 2026 to 2040 |
| Type | Former railway / coastal defence wall |
| Title | Belfast and County Down Railway |
| Border area | No |
| Councils | Ards and North Down Borough Council |
IMAGES
PROGRESS UPDATES
Idea stage
Feasibility
Construction
Completed
June 2016: ANDBC applies to Stage 1 of the DfI Small Grants Programme for Greenways competition
November 2016: ANDBC secures DfI £8,000 grant funding for a feasibility study
August 2017: ANDBC secures £25,000 grant funding at DfI Small Grants Programme stage 3
March 2018: Comber to Newtownards Greenway consultation event, Comber Leisure Centre, Tue 13 Mar 2018 14:00–19:00
RESOURCES ELSEWHERE
ANDBC Comber to Newtownards scheme page
Ambitious NI greenway plans continue to gather momentum (BBC NI)
Landowners object to Comber greenway extension (BBC NI)
Stonebridges campaign (Facebook)
Belfast and County Down Railway (Wikipedia)
Exercise Explore Enjoy: A Strategic Plan for Greenways (Department for Infrastructure) PDF 2.8MB
Strategic Plan for Greenways Base Report (AECOM, Sustrans, DfI) PDF 15.7MB
GREENWAY PROJECTS WHICH INTERSECT
A popular 11km route developed by Sustrans along the old Belfast to Comber railway line opened in 2008 – the original Northern Ireland greenway.
Extending the Comber Greenway route by 55km through Ballygowan, Saintfield, Crossgar, Ballynahinch and Downpatrick to the Mournes.
NEWTOWNARDS TO DONAGHADEE GREENWAY
A 14km former railway line running north out of Newtownards turning sharply east below Bangor and across the top of Ards Peninsula to Donaghadee.
NEWTOWNARDS TO NORTH DOWN COASTAL PATH GREENWAY
A proposal to link Newtownards with the North Down Coastal Path
GET INVOLVED
Successful greenway projects are driven by the passion of local people. If you have an update to share, a story to tell about the history of the route or future of the Comber to Newtownards Greenway, or if you want to submit a picture or video to this page, please get in contact.