404 [Proc. B.N.F.C* 



hood of Newtownards. Starting from the Ulster Hall shortly 

 after noon, and passing through the rapidly improving suburbs 

 of Bloomfield and Knock, no halt was made till reaching 

 Ballyoran, where a short stay was made at the extensive quarries 

 *n the Triassic sandstones (new red), close to the roadside. The 

 sandstone here is of a rich, brown colour, thickly bedded, and 

 easily procured in large blocks. Proceeding by the old Newtown- 

 ards Road a short distance, a second halt was called to allow of a 

 visit to the Kempe Stone, perhaps one of the best examples in the 

 country of those archaic structures known as cromlechs, the cover- 

 ing stone of which is computed to weigh over sixteen tons. 

 Although the Club had visited the place quite recently, yet this 

 striking monument awakened new interest, and several members 

 availed themselves of the opportunity to add a sketch to their 

 albums. The old road to Newtownards is much^ better to the 

 lover of the picturesque than that now in use. It passes along the 

 crests of the hills, as is almost invariably the case with the earlier 

 made roads, and the traveller to whom time is not a primary 

 object is well repaid for his toil by the extensive view of the sur- 

 rounding country which he gains. On this occasion, as the day 

 was fine and clear, the ever-changing panorama of hill and dale 

 with the Mourne Mountains as a majestic back-ground was pecu- 

 liarly pleasing. The old road approaches Scrabo — the sward 

 (scrath or scraw) of the cow (bo) on the north side, and here the 

 party on foot proceeded over rugged dolerite rocks, which are only 

 partially covered by heath, to the tower which crowns the summit 

 of the hill, and which forms a conspicuous landmark seen even far 

 into Antrim. From the summit of the tower the busy town of 

 Newtownards is seen lying almost beneath, and a wide prospect of 

 sea and land, the Isle of Man being visible in the far distance. 

 The walls of the tower were found to be exceeding wet, and it was 

 matter of regret to the visitors that, as it seemed to them, sufficient 

 care was not bestowed on the structure to secure its permanence. 



