Castlerock

Castlerock is a seaside village in County Londonderry, with a population of 1200 in 2021. Its big attraction is Mussenden Temple perched on the cliffs.

By road from Belfast follow M2 / A26 to Coleraine then the coast road, 62 miles.

Trains run hourly from Belfast Grand Central via Antrim (for International Airport), Ballymena and Coleraine, taking 90 min to Castlerock, then another 30 min to Londonderry. Change at Coleraine for trains to Ulster University and Portrush, and for buses along the Antrim coast to Bushmills, Giant's Causeway and Ballycastle.

55.1652-6.78711 Castlerock railway station is in town centre near the beach.

Ulsterbus 134 runs M-Sa every couple of hours from Coleraine along the coast road to Castlerock (20 min), Magilligan crossroads, Aghanloo Cross and Limavady.

Everything is within walking distance of the railway station.

No local taxi, it would have to come from Coleraine.

• 55.17-6.7741 Barmouth is the breakwater channeling the outflow of the River Bann. The breakwater on the other side is at the end of Portstewart Strand but there's no river crossing below Coleraine.
• 55.1552-6.78932 Hezlett House, 107 Sea Rd BT51 4TW. Closed. Built around 1691, this thatched cottage is one of the oldest buildings in Ulster. It's now managed by National Trust, and closed for repairs.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.164-6.8123 Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne, Mussenden Rd, Castlerock BT51 4RP, ☏ +44 28 2073 1855. Daily 10AM-5PM. Wacky ruined estate on a headland, built in the late 18th century for the Lord Bishop of Derry. It's within walking distance of the village but most visitors park on A2 either at Bishop's Gate (small but free) and walk up through the woods, or at Lion's Gate (charges) and enter via the Walled Garden, which is more like a walled lawn with toilets. On the headland you first reach the mausoleum to the bishop's brother, then the vast shell of the mansion: this was fire-damaged in 1851, restored, then abandoned and largely dismantled in the 1950s. (A visitor of 1812 reckoned he'd "never seen so bad a house occupy as much ground.") The temple teeters on the edge of a cliff, which has been stabilised to prevent it tumbling to the shore way below. It's modelled on Bramante's Tempietto in Rome, which is in turn based on the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli. Also nearby is a Belvedere. Lion's Gate parking £10, NT free.  (updated Sep 2026)

• Surf Shack on the beach has surf kit, lessons and a cafe. It's open Th-M 9AM-4PM.
• Castlerock Golf Club is on Circular Rd 200 yards northeast of the station. While tees are 5884 yards, par 71. From here you could thwack a ball across the river onto Portstewart Golf Course, but it's an 11 mile drive to get there.

• Spar on Main St by the station is open M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM.

• Braemar Farm Ice Cream on the Promenade is open M-F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa Su 11AM-6PM.
• The Rock just north of the station at 15 Sea Rd is a cafe open daily 10AM-5PM.
• Giggling Goose is a bakery at 8 Sea Rd, 50 yards north of the station, open daily 9AM-2PM.
• Bertha's Bar, 6 Sea Rd BT51 4RE (50 yards north of station), ☏ +44 28 7084 8888. Bar daily, food Th-Su noon-8PM. Dog-friendly cafe, grill and bar. (updated Sep 2026)
• Coffee Hut is at 6 Main St north of the station, open daily 9AM-4:30PM.
• The Loft is a cafe 50 yards south of the station at 29 Sea Rd, open Su, Tu-Th 9:30AM-3PM, F Sa 9:30AM-4PM, 5-8PM.
• Mussenden Kitchen is within the golf club.

• Village Tavern is on the main road in Articlave 2 miles south of Castlerock, open daily noon-midnight.

• Railway Sleeper Hostel, 15 Sea Rd BT51 4TL (At station), ☏ +44 28 7053 1289. Friendly comfy hostel open all year, in the Victorian station house. Bunk £39. (updated Sep 2026)
• Castlerock Holiday Park, 24 Sea Rd BT51 4TN (200 yards south of station), ☏ +44 28 7084 8381. This is mostly for static caravans on long lets, but it's open Feb-Sep for camping and caravans. Pitch £37. (updated Sep 2026)
• Downhill Beachhouse on Mussenden Rd is nowadays only available for exclusive lets, sleeps 24, and is no longer a hostel.
• 55.1439-6.85081 Danu Resort, Burrenmore Rd BT51 4SG, ☏ +44 7496 593146. Luxury pods on the hill west of town. B&B double £280.  (updated Sep 2026)

As of Sep 2026, Castlerock and its approach roads have 4G from Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and O2.

• Derry is a must-see historic city, with its ancient walls intact.
• Portstewart east across the estuary has another fine beach.
• Coleraine has Ulster University. It's short of sights, but you go that way for Bushmills and Giant's Causeway along the Antrim coast.