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Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne - National Trust

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne - National Trust

Mussenden Road, Castlerock, County Londonderry, BT51 4RP

Best time to visit

Enjoy magnificent views across rugged headlands of the North Coast of Ireland from this spectacular hilltop location, featuring the 18th-century mansion of the Earl Bishop now lying in ruins, as well as incredible starry skies of a night time.

This location is recommended for stargazing by the National Trust.

Photo by Samuel Steele on Unsplash.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne - National Trust has been recommended as a great place to stargaze by the local authority, national park, community organisation or property owner. May require payment for access or parking.

Location events organiser

National Trust

National Trust organises events at this location

Please contact National Trust directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location

Email: [email protected]
Website: National Trust
Twitter: @nationaltrust
Facebook: National Trust

Weather forecast

  • 27/04/26

    13° 8%

  • 27/04/26

    12° 8%

  • 27/04/26

    12° 8%

  • 28/04/26

    10° 8%

Weather forecast for Coleraine (6.0 miles away) updated 27/04/26 at 06:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne - National Trust is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite. For more advanced light pollution data, view this location on DarkSkySites.

The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.

Light pollution map of Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne - National Trust

Best time to visit

The Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies in the night sky. Try to plan your stargazing when there is no bright Moon at night as this is when the skies will be at their darkest.

The below chart shows when the skies will be at their darkest at this location and therefore the best time to visit. Moonlight is shown in light yellow and the Sun's twilight in light blue. Midnight on the date shown is shown as a white line with sunset to the left and sunrise the next morning to the right. A black background with stars shows the best times for stargazing. See our dark sky calendar for more details.

Moon phase on Mon 27th Apr

Mon 27th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
79 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Tue 28th Apr

Tue 28th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
87 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Wed 29th Apr

Wed 29th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
93 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Thu 30th Apr

Thu 30th Apr

Full Moon
97 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Fri 1st May

Fri 1st May

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sat 2nd May

Sat 2nd May

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
Dark from 21:47 to 21:52
Dark for 0h 4m
Moon phase on Sun 3rd May

Sun 3rd May

Full Moon
98 % illuminated
Dark from 21:50 to 23:08
Dark for 1h 17m

Find more dates

If you are planning to visit this location check our dark sky calendar to find out when is best!

Calendar

Events nearby

No events found

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