Downhill Strand Beach (Coleraine)
The travel writer Michael Palin described the route alongside Downhill Beach as ‘one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world.’
As passengers on the Belfast-Derry train emerge from a cliffside tunnel, this breathtaking coastline unfolds before them. This is the most easterly section of a magnificent 11-kilometre stretch of Atlantic coastline beginning at Magilligan Point. The beach, used in filming Game of Thrones, offers many activities, from swimming and surfing to kayaking, walking and horse-riding (hours restricted, May-Sept). The 18th-century Mussenden Temple, sitting precariously close to the edge of the high cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, dominates this landscape of sand and surf and offers stunning views across the sea to Donegal.
The Temple and Downhill Castle, owned by the National Trust, are open to the public all year. Downhill is an area of scientific interest, with cascading waterfalls and towering sand dunes, it’s easy to see why. It’s very accessible too, with visitors able to drive onto this beach and park on the sand. Downhill is an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
