11 things to do in Castlerock, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is a beautiful part of the UK. Straight facts. In particular, Castlerock, the little seaside village on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, has captured my heart since I was a child. It is one of my most favourite places to go, to take my children, to have a picnic, and to breathe and to relax.

It is also the place my parents would take me & my Brother several times a year i.e. over any school holiday, as we had a caravan there. I have walked through this village 1000 times, grew up on that blue flag beach, which has the softest sand. I’ve enjoyed buns and cakes from Ruth’s Bakery, both as a child and as an adult. It’s now a bakery my own children adore. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

Castlerock in Northern Ireland, is a super small village, residing no more than 1500 people and it’s just beautiful. So you’re maybe thinking about how can it be so great, being so small! Well, let me tell you…

11 things to do in Castlerock

For a small seaside village, there is quite a lot to see and do! You could easily spend the entire day there and not see and do it all, which is why I think it is great to have Air B’n’B options available in the village. From the famous blue flag beach, cafes, surf hire shops, caravan parks, an 18-hole golf course right before the beach, temples, forests and so much more.

It is a place to come to visit, be able to breathe, have fun, be dazzled by the beauty of our gorgeous North Coast, and just have the craic, you know? Oh and not forgetting to eat your wee heart out and maybe have a wee beer in the sunshine, too!

Swing by Ruth’s Bakery

I truly believe this little business is the heart of Castlerock. It is super small, only 2-3 people at most can fit into it at any one time. But everything is homemade. Everything!

From the soda farls, potato bread, crusty loaves, sausage rolls, the wee buns, and cakes! Everything is baked with love and that is a true bakery in my opinion. Also, this little bakery has been opened since I was a child and I am 40 years old!

I did try to find out when it originally opened, but I came up with nothing! So if you know, I’d love it if you left me a comment!

Either way, if you’re ever in Castlerock, pop into Ruth’s Bakery, you will not be disappointed. And try the wee Caramel squares, they are exactly like my School Days Caramel Tart recipe on my blog! Delicious! 

Go for a walk along Castlerock Beach

Castlerock Beach is 1 km long {0.7m} and stretches between the Lower River Bann Estuary and the Seacliffs of Downhill. My kids love that if you walk to the end of the beach {if you turn right as you walk onto it} that you can see Portrush & Portstewart. And if you turn left as you enter the beach, you’ll spot Mussenden Temple upon the cliff-top.

The beach overlooks the North Atlantic Ocean and the views are just spectacular. I learned how to bodyboard in those waters and I’ve now taught my own children how to bodyboard on those same waves. Which is something pretty special!

You can lay a blanket and enjoy the sun on your face or you can play catch with the kids. You can buy a net from the local store and go rock pooling, or you can have fun in the sand dunes. Which are known to the be oldest sand dunes in Ireland. Whatever you get up to Castlerock Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches along the North Coast of Northern Ireland.

Just as a precaution though, jellyfish are known to wash up on this beach, so do be wary. Also, if you or your children are going into the water, there may be the presence of weever fish, which have venomous spines along their dorsal fin and bury themselves in the sand. So they can be trodden on, so I highly advise you and your children to wear scuba shoes of some sort, if you are going into the water. 

Facilities at Castlerock beach include:

• Free Car parking on the promenade
• Boardwalks connecting from the promenade to the beach
• Disabled toilets & disabled parking available
• Dogs are allowed, however, there are restrictions in June through September
• Showers available on the beach to help clean the kids after enjoying the sea & sand
• Lifeguards present over the seasonal months

Visit The Black Glen

This is a walk between Castlerock and Downhill. A beautiful area, now owned by the National Trust and is also known as an arboretum {a botanical area made exclusively of trees}. There used to be a section of The Black Glen that was a ‘tree tunnel. Really dark, super creepy if you’re a child! So we’re pleased that’s been cut away and it’s now all open!

You can see the gorgeous farming fields on your right as you walk along the path and Downhill House off in the distance. When the annual Kite Festival is being held at Downhill House, from this point? You can usually see the huge kites flying in the sky – which is an amazing sight to see!

To pass the Black Glen into the Downhill Forest and onto Downhill Demense Bishops Gate etc there is a fee because this is a National Trust Site. It can be quite expensive, as a family, if you are not National Trust members.

So we pay £10 a month, because we are regular visitors, to be able to visit whenever we want to. However, also due to current coronavirus restrictions, you may also have to book your place to visit the Mussenden Temple and more, so give this number a ring to enquire: National Trust 0344 800 1895

Go for a wander through Downhill Forest

Once you have walked through the Black Glen, you will come into Downhill Forest. This area is maintained by the National Trust and it is made of 83 acres of woodland and it is a beautiful, tranquil place to walk through.

It is a popular spot for walkers, hikers, and families alike to enjoy. You can also access Bishops Play Trail and Bishops Gate via this forest, as well.

Walk down by Downhill Lake

As you leave the Black Glen and enter the Downhill Forest, on your right you can walk down to the gorgeous Downhill Lake. This lake was originally designed as a fish pond, would you believe it! A fish pond! IT’S HUGE! But it is now home to a number of mallard ducks that now reside there.

You used to be able to go blackberry picking as you walked down to the dam, but I’m not sure if you can still do that. When I revisit over the summer, I will check and edit this post.

You can access the Mussenden Template down this pathway, by walking across the dam and up the many {many} steps. The pathway to the left as you get to the top of the steps is rather narrow and I do not advise that you take children. It is not recommended for pushchairs either. But, if you are with friends and love a little high pathway adventure, then it is a beautiful way to get to Downhill Demsense.

Explore Downhill Demense & Hezlett House

Once you have walked up the Black Glen and through Downhill Forest, you will be able to take a lane upwards to visit the ruins of Downhill Demense and Hezlett House. This is such a beautiful part of Castlerock, right on the cliff-top and where the annual Kite Festival is held by the National Trust.

This is one of our favourite places to explore, fly our kites, play in the Downhill Demense ruins and even have a picnic.

Have a play at the Bishops Play Trail

This Bishops Play Trail, built out of wood from fallen trees within Downhill Forest is such a fun place to hang out. With a rope swing over a very small creek, log beams, climbing frames, seesaws, and more.

It is all built into the area beautifully and my gang love to stop off here for a good while to blow off some steam. Plus it is a place

Enjoy a stroll through Bishops Gate

If you carry on down the lane, past the Bishops Play trail then you will come across Bishops Gate. This is a beautiful Gothic-style gate lodge that is home to an array of amazing horticulture for the area.

As well as a Bog Garden, which was first created by Lady Bruce in 1910. It is a beautiful area to walk through, especially in the summer months when all the flowers have bloomed.

Take in the views at Mussenden Temple

When you are visiting Downhill Demense, you can also visit the infamous Mussenden Temple. On the cliff edge, overlooking both Downhill and Castlerock beach.

Mussenden Temple is perched on the cliff-top, 120ft above the Atlantic Ocean, on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. The views from this beautiful building are spectacular. Built in 1785 it is part of the Frederick, the 4th Earl of Bristols home. And in turn, an extension to Downhill Demense. It’s known that Mussenden Temple was built to be the Earl of Bishop’s library. How extravagant, eh! 

It is my understanding that you might not be able to enter the Temple due to current coronavirus restrictions and guidelines. So please get in touch with Downhill Demense & Hezlett House before your trip. You can contact them on this number: Downhill Demense & Hezlett House: 02870 848 728

Pop into The Surf Shack

The Surf Shack is such a cool addition to the beachfront of Castlerock and it is a place that is perfect to chill out, have a coffee, or even a wee bun. You can sit, chat, watch the beautiful blue flag beach in Castlerock and just soak up the views. Which are arguably some of the best views in Northern Ireland!

If you follow Zara Ceramics, you’ll know she had a recent and very exciting Mug Drop collaboration with the Surf Shack. Gutted I missed it, but it was such an amazing thing to see Castlerock getting more visitors.

Fill your bellies at The Meatbox

The Meatbox cabin is one of our firm favourites to order from when we are visiting Castlerock. When you get off the train, you walk out past The Rock Bar {which I do not recommend, personally, not for the food anyway} and you will be able to see it straight across the road. It is situated on the lane that also acts as the entrance to the Castlerock Holiday Caravan Park.

They use locally supplied produce from McAtamanys in Coleraine, Sydney B. Scotts, and McKinneys Bakery. Which, using local produce is such an important thing to do. So kudos to the Meatbox for that! Personally, these guys {hands down} do the nicest burgers in Northern Ireland!

They sell a great range of foods from breakfast baps, brunch boxes, filled sodas and so much more. The prices are great, too! You can check out their menu ahead of your visit and you can even phone and give your order in advance on the number: 07983 649 561

And there you go, 11 things to do if you’re ever visiting the beautiful village of Castlerock in Northern Ireland. If you are ever having a road trip around the North Coast of Ireland, then I highly recommend you stop off for a nosy because it is breathtakingly beautiful.

Helpful Advice when visiting…

ALSO WHEN VISITING THESE PLACES, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL I.E PUT LITTER IN BINS, HAVE DOGS ON LEASHES, AND PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOGS.

WITH CURRENT RESTRICTIONS, SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES, AND GUIDELINES STILL IN PLACE, PLEASE WEAR A MASK WHEREVER PROHIBITED TO.

ALSO PLEASE CHECK ANY OPENING HOURS FOR ATTRACTIONS BEFORE LEAVING ON YOUR ADVENTURE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. 

If you found this post super helpful and information to aid you in planning your day out in Northern Ireland. Then there are a few ways that you can say thanks and in turn, support the Super Busy Mum blog! 

You could be amazing and buy me a virtual coffee

You can pop over to my Super Busy Mum Facebook Page & give me a follow

Click here to follow me on Instagram

Share this post with your family & friends

Or simply, leave me a comment!

Thank you SO much for your support. 

PIN IT FOR LATER!