Page 242 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

240 BACK ROADS IRELAND

Above Mussenden Temple, perched on the
clifftop Above centre Glenelly Valley in the y Hezlett House spectacular clifftop walks. Clinging
Sperrins Above right River Foyle in Derry BT51 4TW; Co Derry to the top of the cliffs, the
Pretty Hezlett House (open May–Jun & picturesque Mussenden Temple
Sep: Sat–Sun; Apr & Jul–Aug: Fri–Tue) is a (028 7084 8567 for opening details)
WHERE TO STAY picture-postcard traditional thatched was originally used as a library.
Dower House and farmyard owned Saved from collapsing over the edge
AROUND DOWNHILL DEMESNE and run by the National Trust. It is when the site was taken over by the
thought to be one of the oldest National Trust, it is now a popular
Downhill Hostel inexpensive
A friendly hostel in a lovely Victorian buildings in Northern Ireland, with wedding venue.
building with views over Downhill timber frames dating from 1690. ª Follow the road to Downhill and
beach to Donegal and good facilities. Visitors can take a guided tour of turn left here, just after the row of
Glenhassen Hall, 12 Mussenden Road, the simply furnished, Victorian-style buildings, for the Bishops Road Drive.
Downhill, Castlerock, BT51 4RP; 028
7084 9077; www.downhillhostel.com interior to learn more about life in There are spectacular elevated views
18th-century rural Ireland. There over Lough Foyle to the Inishowen
DERRY (LONDONDERRY) is also a small museum of historic Peninsula and, further along, to the
City Hotel inexpensive–moderate farm equipment. Sperrin Mountains. Continue on this
This large, 4-star hotel with a heated ª Return to the A2 and turn right. road, turning right onto the B201
pool overlooks the River Foyle. The entrance to the Downhill Estate is Windyhill Road and rejoining the A2
Queen’s Quay, BT48 7AS; 028 7136
5800; www.cityhotelderry.com on the right before the road begins to for Limavady. From here the road
descend down a hill. skirts the edge of Lough Foyle
Beech Hill Country House Hotel for part of the way to Derry. Park on
moderate
A charming and elegant hotel, set in the street or in one of two multi-storey
mature gardens southeast of Derry’s car parks at Quayside and Foyle Road.
city walls. Home cooking is a speciality.
32 Ardmore Road, BT47 3QP; 028 7134 i Derry (Londonderry)
9279; www.beech-hill.com
Co Derry
AROUND DERRY (LONDONDERRY) The city of Derry is a large,
Carrick Lodge inexpensive commercial city with a historic
Unassuming but welcoming walled centre lying along the banks
guesthouse with just two rooms – one of the River Foyle. The walls, forming
for families – overlooking meadows. an elevated walkway, date back to
138 Ballyquin Rd, Limavady, BT49 9EZ;
028 7776 7194; www.carrick-lodge.com the early 17th century. “The Troubles”
(see p246) had a huge impact on the
Roe Park Resort moderate
A spacious hotel and spa, this is the city of Derry and, like Belfast, it has
north coast’s only 4-star luxury resort. powerful murals representing the
Roe Park, Limavady (signed off A2); feelings of both sides of the
BT49 9LB; 028 7772 2222; Above Symbolic statue “Hands Across the Divide”, community. However, since the
www.radissonroepark.com in the city of Derry 1998 Good Friday Agreement that
AROUND LOUGH NEAGH launched the peace process, the city
Ardtara Hotel moderate u Downhill Demesne is more optimistic. The Museum of
A delightful 19th-century country BT51 4RP; Co Derry Free Derry (open Jul–Sep: daily; Apr–
house hotel, Ardtara is full of character The lovely Downhill Demesne (open Jun: Mon–Sat; Oct–Mar: Mon–Fri) tells
with lots of old-style charm and decor. daily) was built between 1774 and the story of the city’s turbulent history.
8 Gorteade Road, Upperlands, 1778 by the Earl of Bristol. Downhill ª From Derry, take the A5 towards
Maghera, BT46 5SA (on A29 north of
Desertmartin); 028 7964 4490; House itself is now a ruin, but its Omagh, following signs for the Ulster
www.ardtara.com gardens remain and there are American Folk Park.
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £100; moderate, £100–£200; expensive, over £200
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