Overview
Comber gave the world two things it’s still proud of: Thomas Andrews, the man who drew up the RMS Titanic and went down with her in 1912, and the Comber Earlies, a new potato so prized it carries the same EU protected-name status as Champagne. The town sits where the Glen and Enler rivers meet at the head of Strangford Lough, a market town of around 9,500 people that locals dub the ‘home of great taste’.
It works best as a base rather than a destination in itself. From the Square you can walk a compact heritage trail, cycle a flat traffic-free greenway the whole way into Belfast, or drive ten minutes to one of Northern Ireland’s best wetland reserves.
History & Heritage
Comber’s roots trace to the early 1600s, when Scottish settlers established a port at the townland of Cattogs. By the 1700s the commercial centre had shifted to the present-day Square, and the town grew on linen, grain and, later, whiskey. The local Comber Whiskey brand was a fixture until distilling stopped in 1953.
Two figures dominate the town square. Thomas Andrews is remembered with a memorial to his life and work, and the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church holds his family’s links to the Titanic. The other is Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie, a 19th-century soldier celebrated for campaigns in India and South America. The town raised the Rollo Gillespie Monument in 1845, a 55-foot column carrying Masonic symbols and his last words; the unveiling drew a reported 30,000 people.
Exploring the town
The centre is small and easily walked. The Comber Town Trail is a 1.5-mile circular route that takes about an hour and links the main landmarks, including the Georgian House, St Mary’s Parish Church (home to the ancient Comber Stones), the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church and the Andrews Memorial Hall. It’s mostly level, with one steep hill, and there are accessible toilets along the way.
If your interest is the Titanic connection specifically, download the free Comber Titanic Audio Trail, a self-guided walk to Andrews-linked sites including his childhood home, with QR codes posted along the route.
Farmers’ market
The Comber Farmers’ Market runs on the first Thursday of each month, 09.00 to 13.30, in the St Mary’s Parish Church car park, with two dozen-plus traders selling produce, cheeses, baked goods and plants, the Earlies among them in season. Don’t turn up on an ordinary Thursday expecting it; it’s the first of the month only.
Nature & outdoors
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre
Just outside town, WWT Castle Espie is run by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and is the standout day out here, a refuge for Brent geese, ducks and terns with a wetland aviary, a sensory garden and a café using local produce. It opens daily from 10.00 to 17.00, closing only on 24 and 25 December. Parking is free, but note that entry to the reserve is not: an admission fee applies, so check the website before you go.
Comber Greenway
The Comber Greenway follows the old Belfast–Comber railway line for 7 miles (about 11 km) of traffic-free path to east Belfast, part of National Cycle Network Route 99. The compacted-grit surface suits wheelchairs, pushchairs and young families, and the route takes in views of Stormont and Scrabo Tower on the way.
Nearby natural sites
- Nendrum Monastic Site: one of the best-preserved pre-Norman monastic complexes in Northern Ireland, with three concentric stone enclosures.
- Bangor Abbey: about 10 km north-east, a coastal counterpoint to Comber’s inland setting.
- Crawfordsburn Country Park: a coastal park with woodland trails and sea views.
Food & drink
The town’s culinary identity is the Comber Earlies, the early-harvest potato that gives Comber its ‘great taste’ nickname. The annual Comber Earlies Food Festival in June celebrates the crop with cooking demonstrations, stalls and music, and local cafés and pubs serve them alongside Strangford Lough seafood through the season.
For spirits, the Echlinville Distillery is a short drive away. As Ireland’s first farm distillery it runs guided tours covering the farm-to-glass process for its whiskey, gin and poitín; tours include a tasting and must be booked ahead.
Practical information
Getting around
Comber is just off the A22, roughly 15 km east of Belfast. Translink bus services connect the town with Belfast and Newtownards; the nearest railway station is at Bangor. Check current Translink timetables for routes and times.
Parking & facilities
Free parking is available in the town centre, including an open-air car park outside the Leisure Centre gates and spaces around St Mary’s Parish Church.
Accessibility
Most key attractions are wheelchair-friendly. The Greenway’s flat, compacted surface takes wheelchairs and pushchairs, and dogs are welcome on leads. Castle Espie provides guide-dog access and disabled toilets in the visitor centre.
Seasonal highlights
- June: the Comber Earlies Food Festival.
- July: the Twelfth of July parade, organised by the local Orange lodges, brings crowds and road closures, worth knowing if you’re driving through.
- August–September: Castle Espie often runs summer craft festivals and wildlife talks.
Time your visit for the first Thursday of the month and you’ll catch the market; otherwise, hire a bike and ride the Greenway toward Belfast for the most rewarding few hours here.