Tullyboard Windmill

Tullyboard Windmill 3. TownTactics (Atlas Obscura User)

Located on the southeast side of Portaferry village is a small hill. On the left-hand side of Windmill Hill road, there is an old Windmill Stump that overlooks the village. From this location, visitors can get some truly inspirational views of Strangford village and the lough as well.

When the windmill was in its heyday, it formed a vast network of 50 windmills across the Ards peninsula, known locally as the “Little Holland” of Northern Ireland. The windmills were largely used for flax scutching and grinding grain for flour.

The Tullyboard windmill was originally built in 1771 by the Savage family and was in use for over a century before it was destroyed in a fire on Christmas 1878. The Windmill stump, fortunately, has remained throughout the years and has in itself become a local landmark. It is still used as a navigational marker for boats going up the Strangford channel.

Know Before You Go

make your way to the County Down town of Newtownards and then follow the Portaferry Road (A20) from Newtownards to Portaferry along the Strangford Lough shoreline through the villages of Greyabbey & Kircubbin. Once you get to Portaferry, go down High Street and then turn left onto the Windmill Hill Road and follow this until you reach the outskirts of the village where you will see the Portaferry Windmill on the hill to the left and a layby on the right. There, you can also park your car.