Downhill Forest

Full Description

Downhill Forest is the woodland behind the coast, and it's a different day out from the beach and the temple down the road. It's 83 hectares of mixed woodland just inland from Castlerock, run by the Forest Service rather than the National Trust, with free parking off the Mussenden Road and two short waymarked trails to choose from.

The Pond Trail is the shorter of the two at around 0.7 miles; the Mill Trail is a loop of roughly 1.2 miles. Both are forest walks with gradients rather than flat park paths, which is worth knowing before you promise an easy stroll. Along the way you'll pass a small lake that once fed a water-powered sawmill, the remains of an Early Christian promontory fort, and one of the fattest sitka spruce in Northern Ireland — around six metres round when it was measured in 1962.

The Ulster Way runs through part of the forest and Sustrans Route 93 comes down through the trees to Burrenmore Road, so it's a good link if you're on bikes. There's an orienteering course too, laid out by the North West Orienteering Club.

What You'll Find

Two waymarked trails: the Pond Trail (about 0.7 miles) and the Mill Trail (about 1.2 miles), both loops with gradients.

A small lake in the middle of the woodland, once the water supply for an old sawmill.

An Early Christian promontory fort and one of Northern Ireland's fattest sitka spruces.

The Ulster Way passing through part of the forest, and Sustrans Route 93 running down through the trees towards Burrenmore Road.

An orienteering course created by the North West Orienteering Club.

Free parking off the Mussenden Road (A2).

Wee Ones Will Love...

• ✓The pond in the middle of the woods, and the old mill story that goes with it
• ✓A tree so wide it takes the whole family to hug it
• ✓Two short trails, so you can pick the shorter one when energy is low
• ✓Somewhere to bring bikes that isn't a road

Before You Visit

The forest is on the Mussenden Road (A2) at Downhill, near Castlerock — coming from Coleraine, take the A2 through Articlave and the forest is on your left after about a mile and a half.

The forest is open from 8am until sunset for pedestrians and cyclists. Admission is free and parking is free.

Both waymarked trails have gradients and rougher ground. The Pond Trail is the shorter and easier of the two; the Mill Trail is longer and climbs more.

There are no toilets and no café in the forest. The nearest facilities are in Castlerock.

This is a separate place from Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne. The demesne is National Trust land on the coast with its own car park and entry arrangements; Downhill Forest is Forest Service woodland inland from it. You can walk between them, but don't expect one ticket or one car park to cover both.

Suggested ages are guidance, not a restriction. Both waymarked trails are unsurfaced forest paths with gradients and rougher ground, and the Mill Trail climbs more than the Pond Trail, so choose by how well your group walks rather than by age alone.

Top Tips

• ⭐Do the Pond Trail first if you've small children — it's shorter and gets you to the water quickly
• ⭐Bring bikes if your family rides; Route 93 runs through the woods
• ⭐Don't expect flat paths — this is a forest with real gradients
• ⭐It pairs well with Castlerock beach, but park in the right place for each