Castlerock is one of those great places you can drive past every day and rarely visit - a seaside village rooted in history, home to a prestigious golf course and a beautiful beach.
History
Evidence of early settlement here dates to the Mesolithic period (around 6000-4000 BC), with tools and remains found in the dunes near the lower River Bann estuary and at Mountsandel Fort in Coleraine. The name “Castlerock” comes from a basalt outcrop resembling a castle, once a landmark for sailors.
During the Plantation of Ulster, the land was largely owned by the London Clothworkers’ Company, who established nearby Articlave in 1613. A 19th-century railway turned Castlerock into a sought-after resort town, with the Londonderry family playing a significant role in its development. Nearby, Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple - built in the 18th century by Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry - remain symbols of the area’s history.
Castlerock sits within Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (the current local authority since the 2015 local government reorganisation, replacing the former Coleraine Borough Council).
Golf and Beach
Castlerock Golf Club is an 18-hole championship links course, one of Northern Ireland’s oldest and most iconic, with the Irish Sea as a backdrop.
Castlerock Beach, known for golden sand and dunes, is popular with locals and holidaymakers alike, with seasonal RNLI lifeguards through summer.
Things to See and Do
The Black Glen, near the Hezlett House entrance, is a favourite local walking spot, rich in wildlife. Hezlett House itself is a 17th-century thatched cottage, one of the oldest buildings in the area. Mussenden Temple sits dramatically on the cliff edge above the Atlantic. Downhill Forest offers further peaceful woodland walks, alongside Downhill Lake.
Castlerock Beach, Mussenden Temple, and Downhill House are all cared for by the National Trust.
Getting There
Easily reached by road, with a railway station connecting Castlerock to the rest of Northern Ireland.
The Community
A small, closely-knit village with a growing number of second homes - a more affordable option than neighbouring towns across the Bann - alongside long-established local families.
