Castlerock to Mussenden Temple Coastal Walk

We are at Castlerock Co Antrim up on Northern Ireland's north Atlantic coast. Our family group walk is from the excellent Haye's caravan park, to the magnificent Mussendon Temple perched on the clifftop.
This was not a long walk but you dropped down into a valley and then climbed a series of steps back up the other side. I found this a bit challenging because of my bad hip. Holding a video camera in one hand as I tried to keep my balance did not help! The reward was reaching Mussendon Temple, ( actually the Bishop of Londonderry's library ) and the spectacular views and wonderful bird life to be seen along the way.
Mussenden Temple is located in the beautiful surroundings of Downhill Demesne near Castlerock in County Londonderry. It perches dramatically on a 120 ft cliff top, high above the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland, offering spectacular views westwards over Downhill Strand towards Magilligan Point and County Donegal and to the east Castlerock beach towards Portstewart, Portrush and Fair Head.
History of Mussenden Temple
The temple was built in 1785 and forms part of the estate of Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol (or the Earl Bishop). The temple was built as a summer library and its architecture was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome. It is dedicated to the memory of Hervey's cousin Frideswide Mussenden.
Both the Temple and the surrounding views are among the most photographed scenes in Ireland. Over the years the Temple itself was under danger of being lost to the sea due to the erosion of the cliff which brought Mussenden Temple ever closer to the edge. In 1997 the National Trust then carried out cliff stabilisation work to prevent the loss of this lovely building.

[@stephaniemcquillan1930]

Thank you for the link Tom. Another great explore of this place

[@TomMcClean]

Yes a fascinating spot Stephanie with all that history and fab views too.

[@mayberry8299]

Thanks for making this video and struggling to make the climb so we all could view it at our leisure. It's lovely!

[@TomMcClean]

Hi May thank you for taking the time to post in with those kind and encouraging words! I am delighted you enjoyed it. Comments like yours make it all so worthwhile for me. Best wishes from Belfast

[@andybrown223]

Lovely video mate,was their last summer,parked the car in the carpark at the big ruin house,and it's amazing going around it. I found the wall along the temple very loose when I leaned against it,not much and you would be over the clift.seriously needs looked at for safety reasons.views amazing.👍

[@mikescollectiblemadness9498]

Amazing video and amazing channel and amazing job friend 😀😎👍😁🤗

[@TomMcClean]

Many thanks MCM. I thrive on encouragement! lol

[@mikescollectiblemadness9498]

@@TomMcClean ur welcome friend 😀😎👍

[@shaunmckenna1923]

Hello Tom thank you for sending the link really enjoyed it , I haven't taken that cliff top walk I must do that very hard to beat Ireland for views and walks . I seem to remember way back the temple was open it was like an information center there was always a lady in there its must have been after the trust took over I believe also there was fee to enter , it really is amazing the size of it all the amount of work to build that place such a shame is was let go. All the best.

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Shaun. I thought you might be interested. Ireland north and south is spectacular. We Took a wee break in Donegal on the Inishowen peninsula a while back and were totally amazed at what we found. If only the weather was a wee bit warmer and more predictable. You pay your National Trust entry of £8 .50 at the main gate of Downhill or simply walk in by the many other entrances for free. The cliffs are dangerous for the unwary. They have no fencing and are undercut. Many of the big houses in N Ireland were wantonly destroyed in the 1950s+ by owners and government edict. Many were owned by absentee English lords etc These people left their big houses empty. They wanted to pay as little money as possible on maintenance. Various governments decreed that if the owners removed the hose roofs and windows then they didn't have to pay tax. So that's what happened and the big houses like Downhill were quickly destroyed by the elements. Sheer legalized vandalism
.

[@paulpayton8238]

Hi Tom ive walked all up the Antrim coast years ago, it's lovely all up there and Carrick rope bridge, thanks for sharing this video Tom, all the best Paul p England 😎🌞👍

[@TomMcClean]

Absolutely fabulous walking country Paul. i haven't been up here at Mussenden for decades.

[@joanburnison8071]

Some lovely scenery Tom. Thank you.

[@TomMcClean]

So much to see and explore here Joan. We saw a peregrine falcon fly close by too!

[@JohnnyBareToes2]

Cool stuff Tom, that temple and bishops palace are some of the most videoed areas in the north with drones, seems everyone has droned them except me haha

[@TomMcClean]

Hey you can't be everywhere JBT. You just gotta do your own thing. I like the wee off the beaten track places the best. The temple was good but the walk up to it and the lesser important buildings nearby were also of interest to me. We had a peregrine falcon fly close by too1