The Donaghadee Moat and Camera Obscura is one of the most unusual heritage attractions in Northern Ireland. It combines medieval earthwork, a 19th-century gunpowder store, and a rare working optical device that projects live views of the town.
It was opened to the public in 2022, following a major conservation project - a brilliant use for a listed historical building that needed preservation, set on a high point and with no windows!
On clear days Scotland and the Isle of Man can be seen in the distance as well as the town, people walking along the harbour walls and swimmers in the sea. Whilst we visited, the BBC was undertaking filming relating to the fictional drama series Hope Street which is set in Donaghadee and the flags of “Port Devine” and the “Police” were clearly visible.
We visited on a clear day in June 2026 and could indeed see Scotland and the Isle of Man! Visitor Ambassador Helen was our guide for the visit. Helen’s favourite part of working at the observatory was meeting the visitors and hearing their stories, learning about the local history that they share. The tower had been abandoned for many years, during which time it was a popular place for teens to visit, so many in the area have memories of the tower! One parent commented that a lad came home with a bag full of [old] chequebooks. A tourist commented on visiting that the “Scrabo Tower” was used by the German Luftwaffe in WW2 as a marker for dropping bombs on the Harland & Wolf shipyard in Belfast. The weather can however be a challenge and views from the camera obscura can be disappointing for visitors when visibility is low. Helen recommends visiting on clear days.
The camera obscura is operated by Ards and North Down Borough Council and is open to visitors at the weekend in the summer and it is free to visit. During the week, there are organised trips for children from local schools. Most visitors to The Moat (about 70-80%) are from Northern Ireland; other visitors are travellers from England and the US who have family here, some from cruise ships or who are on golfing holidays in the area. As it is a relatively new attraction in the area, many locals are still finding it for the first time, however they often return with friends & family.
One of the most remarkable comments was from a visitor, who, after watching the table for a while asked: is this live? Children also often try to pinch the image to expand / shrink it as they would with a screen!
I asked Helen whether she had visited other camera obscuras; she had been particularly impressed with Rocca Sanvitale of Fontanellato, a camera obscura near Palma in Italy - one to add to my list to visit!
Motte or Moat? Even though the mound is “motte” rather than a “moat” (there has never been water around it), it has been known locally as “The Moat” for a long time - that is the name that appears on the archway leading to the building.
Visiting Camera Obscura at Donaghadee Moat
The Camera Obscura at Donaghadee Moat is open from May to September on Saturdays and Sundays from 10-4pm except 1pm - 1.30pm; see the Visit Ards and North Down website for more details. Note that The Moat is accessible via a series of steps and there are no toilet facilities.
