Mussenden Temple: A Library on the Edge of a Cliff
Derry, Ireland
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Earl Bishop
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225
XP
1 day
Mussenden Temple: A Library on the Edge of a Cliff
225 XP
Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry from 1768 to 1803, built a small circular temple on the cliff edge above Downhill Strand in 1785 and kept his library in it. It was once possible to drive a carriage the whole way around the building. It is not now — the Atlantic ate the cliff in so close that the National Trust had to stabilise it in 1997 to stop the building being lost, which is the only reason it is still standing there.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Walk out to Mussenden Temple on the cliff edge above Downhill Strand
2
of 4
See how close the cliff edge comes to the walls, and where the 1997 stabilisation work holds it back
3
of 4
Walk the ruins of Downhill House, the Earl Bishop's mansion behind the temple
4
of 4
Go down onto Downhill Strand and look back up at the temple from the beach
Walk out to Mussenden Temple on the cliff edge above Downhill Strand
See how close the cliff edge comes to the walls, and where the 1997 stabilisation work holds it back
Walk the ruins of Downhill House, the Earl Bishop's mansion behind the temple
Go down onto Downhill Strand and look back up at the temple from the beach
Before you go
The cliff here is actively eroding and unfenced in places. Stay on the paths and well back from the edge, especially in wind.
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About Derry
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
225 XP
Potential total
225 XP
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