Newtownards

"New" means from 1226 AD, when the Normans founded the "New Town of Blathewic". The old town was built from 540 AD around Movilla Abbey but was torched and razed in the 1570s, by Irish clans trying to keep out the English. What they got instead was the Scots, especially from Ayrshire, who settled in large numbers during the 17th century Plantations. At the dawn of the industrial age, places called "new town" were springing up all over, so this one became specified as Newtownards. It was a large market town but growth was hampered by lack of a port — the lough was too shallow — so goods had to be lugged to and from Donaghadee. But in 1860 the railway connected it to Belfast and the population increased rapidly, sharing the ups and downs of Northern Ireland's economic heartland.

The challenge for Newtownards ever since is to be more than just a commuter town for Belfast. Its industries were never traditional smoke-stack, and the Council sees its future in niche areas of agri-business, engineering, and IT such as cyber-security. But many industrial lots lie vacant, and its principal employment sector of services and hospitality has been hard hit.

By road from Belfast follow A20.

Ulsterbus 5 runs from Belfast Laganside, taking 40 min via Dundonald. It's every hour or so M-Sa, but with only four on Sunday.

Bus 7 also runs hourly from Laganside, taking 40 min, and continues to Donaghadee, Millisle and Ballywalter.

Bus 6 runs every 30 min from Bangor, taking 20 min.

Bus 9 / 10 runs M-Sa hourly from Newtownards down the Ards Peninsula via Mount Stewart House and Grey Abbey to Portaferry, for ferries to Strangford. (Some buses start from Laganside.) There's only four on Sunday.

1 Newtownards Bus Station is central on Regent St.