🌳 Outdoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16🏖 Beach🆓 Free entrySwimmingWater playSeasonal opening
What’s there
- Free parking
- Picnic area
- Dogs welcome
Access & inclusion
- Step-free access
Free parking on the beach itself. Take account of tidal conditions and soft sand before driving on.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Downhill Strand is a beautiful 7-mile sandy beach near Castlerock, part of the National Trust Downhill Demesne estate, featuring Mussenden Temple perched on the clifftop. It is a Blue Flag and Seaside Award recipient, making it one of the finest beaches in Northern Ireland for family days out. The beach is one of the longest in Northern Ireland at 11km and offers stunning views of the Atlantic coast and Mussenden Temple.
Lifeguarded 10am-6pm daily in July and August only. Dogs are allowed but restrictions apply from 1 June to 15 September. Horse riding is restricted 1 May to 30 September, permitted only before 11am and after 7pm. Parking is directly on the beach and free, which makes tide times part of planning the visit rather than an afterthought.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
- Wellies
- Wristband for lost childrenWrite your number on it before you go in.
- Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
- Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
- Car window sunshade
- Reusable cutlery
- Hair bobbles
- Portable phone charger
- Gloves
- Hand sanitiser
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