Best Places to Visit Near Derry/Londonderry
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best places to visit near Derry/Londonderry are Binevenagh, Altnaheglish Reservoir, Mussenden Temple, Downhill Beach, Downhill Strand Beach, Carntogher Way, Drummoney Falls and Dunseverick Falls.
Standing on the banks of the Foyle in the northwest of Northern Ireland, Derry makes a natural starting point for exploring a stretch of country that runs from wooded glens to a wild, sweeping coast. The places gathered here are well spread out, so treat them as day-trips into the surrounding areas rather than quick errands.
Head northeast toward the Antrim coast and you reach the basalt heights of Binevenagh, the clifftop landmark of Mussenden Temple, and the long sands of Downhill Beach and Downhill Strand, with the sea-fed cascade of Dunseverick Falls further along the Causeway Coast. Turn south into the Sperrins for the oak woods and still water of Altnaheglish Reservoir and the open hill loop of the Carntogher Way.
Push further southwest into County Fermanagh and you find the quiet, peat-stained steps of Drummoney Falls. Between them these eight cover beaches, waterfalls, walks, a clifftop temple and a moorland viewpoint, a real mix of days out across three counties.
Here are eight places to visit near Derry.
Binevenagh
Photo: Richard Webb via Geograph.org.uk
Climb Binevenagh Rising above the coastal plain at the western end of the Antrim hills, Binevenagh is a high, flat-topped hill crowned with dark basalt cliffs, around half an hour's drive northeast of Derry into County Londonderry. Its steep face drops toward the farmland of Magilligan, the long beach at Benone and the wide mouth of Lough Foyle.
Bishop's Road climbs onto the plateau, where a viewpoint looks across the lough to the hills of Donegal. The summit is open moorland with a small fishing lake, and the updrafts along the cliffs draw hang-gliders and paragliders.
The view from the top is enormous.
Altnaheglish Reservoir
Photo: Phil Champion via Geograph.org.uk
Walk to Altnaheglish Reservoir A drive south into the Sperrins brings you to Altnaheglish Reservoir, set at the head of Banagher Glen a few miles from Dungiven. The long, still water is held back by a stone dam that appears quite suddenly as you climb through the trees.
Below it, the glen is cut by the Owenrigh river and filled with old oak woodland, part of why the area is a national nature reserve, with mossy paths, small waterfalls and spring bluebells. A forest track reaches the dam in about a mile and a half, while a longer loop of roughly eight miles circles glen and water.
Expect wet ground after rain.
Mussenden Temple
Photo: Gerald McKenna via Geograph.org.uk
Visit Mussenden Temple On the north coast about 37km northeast of Derry, Mussenden Temple is a small round, domed building perched on the cliff edge high above Downhill Strand near Castlerock. It stands within the Downhill Demesne, the estate of the eighteenth-century Earl Bishop of Derry, beside the ruins of his great house, and is now in the care of the National Trust.
Modelled on a classical Roman temple, it was built in the mid-1780s as a library and named for the bishop's cousin, Frideswide Mussenden. The demesne stays open through the year for clifftop walks and wide views along the coast toward Donegal.
Downhill Beach
Photo: Colin Pyle via Geograph.org.uk
Walk Downhill Beach Below those same cliffs lies Downhill Beach, a long sandy strand on the County Derry coast beneath the Downhill estate, a pleasant day-trip northeast toward Castlerock. High above one end stands the little round Mussenden Temple, perched right at the cliff edge as part of the National Trust's Downhill Demesne.
The railway line to Derry runs along the back of the beach, so trains pass just behind the sand. Wide sand stretches out under the cliffs toward Castlerock, making this an easy, open shore to walk and a natural pairing with the temple above.
Downhill Strand Beach
Photo: Jonathan Wilkins via Geograph.org.uk
Explore Downhill Strand Downhill Strand is the same sweep of north-coast sand seen a little differently, running below the cliffs near Castlerock and Downhill village. On the headland above its eastern end sits Mussenden Temple, the small round building of 1785, with the National Trust's Downhill Demesne and the ruins of Downhill House behind.
The strand carries on for miles toward Benone and Magilligan, and cars are allowed to drive onto the sand. It stood in as Dragonstone in Game of Thrones, filmed below the temple.
Lying about 37km from Derry, it is an easy run out along the coast.
Carntogher Way
Photo: Rossographer via Geograph.org.uk
Tackle the Carntogher Way Back in the Sperrins, north-west of Maghera, the Carntogher Way is a waymarked loop of about six miles over Carntogher mountain, some 39km southeast of Derry. It sets off from a small roadside car park at Cotter Row and climbs steadily onto open hill before dropping back by lanes and minor roads.
The ground runs boggy and soft in places, even after a spell of dry weather, so decent boots help. The reward comes higher up, where the walk opens out to long views across the surrounding hills.
It is a proper half-day on the hill rather than a quick stroll.
Drummoney Falls
Photo: Derek Henry via Geograph.org.uk
Seek out Drummoney Falls Further afield, a longer drive southwest into County Fermanagh reaches Drummoney Falls, a small waterfall on the Bannagh River a few miles north of Kesh toward Pettigo. A short path with stone steps leads down from a little car park on Derrybrick Road to a set of stepped cascades tumbling over peat-stained rock.
It is modest in dry weather and much fuller after heavy rain, so time your visit for after a wet spell if you want it at its best. This is a brief walk and photo stop rather than a long outing, but a quiet one worth the detour.
Dunseverick Falls
Photo: Anne Burgess via Geograph.org.uk
Find Dunseverick Falls At the far end of the collection, roughly 60km east along the Causeway Coast in County Antrim, Dunseverick Falls tips over the cliffs straight toward the sea. It is easily reached on a short walk from a layby on the coast road, joining the clifftop path, with a rough scramble down to the foot of the fall.
The flow changes greatly with the weather, full after rain and thin in dry spells, so it rewards a visit when the streams are high. It sits close to Dunseverick Castle and harbour, making it a good stop on a wider day out along this stretch of coast.
FAQs
Which places near Derry are best for a coastal day out?
The north-coast run northeast of Derry links Mussenden Temple, Downhill Beach and Downhill Strand around Castlerock, with Binevenagh above the Magilligan plain and Dunseverick Falls further along the Causeway Coast in County Antrim.
How far is Dunseverick Falls from Derry?
Dunseverick Falls lies about 61km east of Derry on the Causeway Coast, close to Dunseverick Castle and harbour, so it works best as part of a full day exploring that stretch of the Antrim shore.
Are there good walks in the Sperrins near Derry?
Yes. South of Derry the Sperrins offer the Carntogher Way, a six-mile loop over Carntogher mountain, and Banagher Glen at Altnaheglish Reservoir, an oak-wooded nature reserve with tracks up to the dam.
Conclusion
From the basalt heights of Binevenagh to the quiet cascades of Drummoney Falls, the country around Derry rewards those willing to drive a little. Head northeast and the north coast delivers Mussenden Temple, the long sands of Downhill Beach and Downhill Strand, and, further along in Antrim, the sea-facing drop of Dunseverick Falls.
Turn south into the Sperrins for the oak woods and dam at Altnaheglish Reservoir and the hill loop of the Carntogher Way, or push southwest into Fermanagh for the peat-stained steps of Drummoney Falls. Beaches, waterfalls, a clifftop temple and open moorland viewpoints sit within easy reach of the city, each a different sort of day out.
Whether you fancy a coastal stroll, a wooded glen or a summit view, these are the places to visit near Derry.
