Gary & Danielle's Northern Exposure

What an enchanting place - this temple perched on the edge of the cliff top in County Londonderry. It comes as no surprise that it's one of the most photographed monuments in Northern Ireland.

HISTORY

In the 1770s the flamboyant Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, Frederick Hervey, chose this headland to built his country estate and surround it with a landscaped estate.

He erected a small library on the cliff in memory of his cousin and modelled it on the Temple of Vesta in Italy. It now has a licence for civic weddings. Coastal erosion has brought Mussenden Temple closer to the edge and in 1997 the National Trust carried out work to stabilise the cliff.

The latin inscription around the Dome reads: 'Tis pleasant, safely to behold from shore The rolling ship, and hear the tempest roar.'

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Owned by the National Trust, the Temple and Downhill Demesne are open to the public. Look out for the dovecot and ice house in the extensively landscaped garden. Downhill Forest also has some enjoyable walks.

COST: Grounds and Temple:

Adult: £2.30
Child: £1.60
Family: £6.20
Group: £2

BOOKING: Tel. 028 2073 1582

Email: downhilldemesne@nationaltrust.org.uk
www.ntni.org.uk
Opening Hours: Phone in advance for opening hours.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne

Mussenden Road

Castlerock

Co L'Derry

BT51 4SR

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