National Trust - Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne

Lovely walled garden. Temple overlooking fantastic beach. I would like to thank the National Trust man that was checking the venue and allowed us access to the Temple and provided us with great information. ( This of course was a one off perhaps but added to the visit)

We toured Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne on a breezy Monday. Free admission, but parking is 10£, but free for members of the National Trust. Tour at your own pace, we enjoyed a relaxing stroll thru these historic sites. The generally flat trail is just under a mile/1.5km that leads from parking thru the Downhill walled Garden with Apple trees grown onto old walls, to the Dovecote. Then to the Mussenden Temple on the cliff face with dramatic views of the sea, Benine beach, and even Binevenaugh AONB, both Game of Thrones filming locations. Then thru the Downhill Demesne and back to the car park. There’s facilities and an Al’s Coffee with snacks available too.

Gorgeous on a sunny day. Coffee at Als also excellent. Plenty of picnic benches to enjoy it. A lovely way to spend a morning walking around wall garden to the Temple on some occasions it is open but very rarely and bare inside, then up to what remains of the old house. The views of the Atlantic, lough Foyle Donegal coastline and the view of Downhill beach stunning.

Great walk among very interesting buildings with breathtaking views. Don’t forget to visit Downhill beach afterwards to enjoy the views from below.

Beautiful walks, beautiful scenery of the north coast of NI plenty of parking. Close to the beach and near toilets. Mussenden has two buildings lovely gardens a lake and across the road a forest to walk around.

Very beautiful to visit - not a full days out worth on its own but there’s a lovely beach nearby too. Interesting to see and excellent views. Not a difficult or long walk but if you’ve got mobility issues you may struggle.

Mussenden Temple 🌊⛪—that’s such an atmospheric place. It’s a little circular building perched dramatically on a cliff edge in Northern Ireland, near Castlerock in County Londonderry. Built in 1785, it was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy, and originally served as a library for Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol (and Bishop of Derry—he was both nobleman and churchman, which is already a story in itself). What makes it extra striking is its location: the temple is balanced right on a cliff 120 feet above the Atlantic, with sweeping views of Downhill Strand belo

Didn't go to the temple, just the beach, which was clean, lifeguards on duty and just lovely. Sand for miles. Also, parking on the beach is allowed, but watch out for soft sand. Good public toilets.