Comber: Greenway, Market and History

When planning a hotel stay in Comber, three themes may shape your choice of destination: the Comber Greenway, local food culture, and the historic heritage around the Square and the churches. For planning your trip, they offer different points of interest: a route with named endpoints and information about its surface, a regularly held market, and historic sites with specific dates. Whether exercise, regional produce or history is your main focus is a useful first question when deciding to visit Comber.

Routes and getting your bearings

The Comber Greenway starts in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and runs seven miles to Comber. Its surface is smooth and relatively flat. The path is suitable for people of all abilities to walk, use mobility aids and cycle. 98.9 percent of the Greenway runs away from motorised traffic. Its length, surface and traffic arrangements are practical considerations when deciding how much of a role a route should play in your travel plans. Surface and crossing conditions can change; check access and surface conditions after major works, especially if these are important for your use.

Comber Square is part of the Columban Way, a 20-mile (32 km) heritage trail between Comber and Bangor. This gives you two different route descriptions to compare: the Greenway runs from Belfast to Comber and is seven miles long; the Columban Way connects Comber and Bangor over 20 miles. The endpoints and stated lengths help you distinguish between the routes by their respective courses.

Market and Comber Earlies potatoes

The Comber Farmers’ Market is held on the first Thursday of every month from 09:00 to 13:30 in the car park of St Mary’s Parish Church on the Square in Comber. As dates and times may change, check the details before visiting on a particular market day.

Another link to local food culture is Comber Earlies potatoes: they received EU Protected Geographical Indication status in 2012. The annual Comber Earlies Food Festival includes cookery demonstrations in the Festival Kitchen and a craft food market. The programme may change from one edition to the next. If you are planning a visit around the festival, confirm the event dates and programme details in advance.

Churches and history

Two monuments unveiled on Comber Square provide dates for the town’s history. The Rollo Gillespie Monument was unveiled on 24 June 1845. The Comber & District War Memorial followed on 14 April 1923. The dates place the two memorial sites in a specific historical context.

St Mary’s Parish Church stands on the site of the original Comber Abbey. A Cistercian monastery was established on the site in 1199; the present church dates from 1840. These years refer to different historical milestones: the founding of the monastery on the site and the construction date of the present church building.

Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church also has distinctive features of its history: it was built on land donated by James Andrews, and its stained-glass windows depict members of the family. The Comber Stones are another historical point of interest. The stones date from the 15th century, are on display, and are believed to be the remains of a Cistercian abbey in Comber. As their display status may change, confirm it before making a special visit.

Getting there

Comber is best reached by road and by public transport provided by Translink; public transport services are bus-only. As transport services and operating patterns may change, check your connection before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Greyabbey, Newtownards, Portaferry, Killinchy

For the broader travel overview: Ards.