Mussenden Temple

Mussenden Temple

Mussenden Temple is a small, round building. It sits on tall cliffs near Castlerock in County Londonderry. The temple looks out over the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest coast of Northern Ireland. It is high above the water and has great views of the ocean. Its shape and place make it a special site to see.

History

Mussenden Temple is a small, round building built in 1785. It sits high on cliffs near Castlerock in County Londonderry, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. The temple was made as a special gift for the Earl-Bishop’s niece, Mrs. Frideswide Mussenden, and was meant to be a quiet place for her to relax.

The temple was designed to look like the Temple of Vesta in Rome. It used to have walls filled with books and a fire in the basement to keep them dry. Over time, the cliffs have moved closer to the temple. In 1997, the National Trust helped to protect the building.

National Trust

The grounds around Mussenden Temple and Downhill Castle are open to visitors all year. You can visit from dawn until dusk. The temple has great views to the west over Downhill Strand toward Magilligan Point and across to Inishowen in County Donegal. You can also see views to the east toward Castlerock beach, Portstewart, Portrush, and Fair Head.

Since 2007, the temple has been allowed to host civil wedding ceremonies. The closest train station is Castlerock railway station.