Mussenden Temple & Downhill Demesne

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne is an iconic National Trust property on the Northwestern coast of Northern Ireland.

In 2021, Direct Access worked again with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust and the National Trust to undertake an access audit of the Castlerock estate in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act (Northern Ireland) and Technical Document R relating to access of and use of buildings. Direct Access also drew on guidance from international standards designed to preserve the heritage of Downhill Demesne for future generations.

As well as the main buildings, the audit looked at parking facilities, washrooms, and the onsite café and made recommendations on wayfinding enhancements surrounding Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne.

Downhill House was a mansion built in the late 18th century for Frederick, 4th Earl of Bristol, and Lord Bishop of Derry, at Downhill, County Londonderry. Much of the building was destroyed by fire in 1851 before being rebuilt in the 1870s. It fell into disrepair after the Second World War and became part of the National Trust in the 1980s. The Temple was already under the Trust’s care – it was built in 1785 and used for weddings.

The Temple offers views over Downhill Strand towards Magilligan Point and across to Inishowen in County Donegal; and to the east, Castlerock beach towards Portstewart, Portrush, and Fair Head.

Direct Access also worked with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust on several other sites managed by the Trust, as seen in the video below.