Derry~Londonderry to Coleraine
The Atlantic shore at Benone and Downhill is on the left heading from Derry towards Coleraine. Mussenden Temple is inland, on the right above the railway; it is not on the sea-facing side.14
Northern Ireland · County Londonderry and the Causeway Coast
Derry~Londonderry Line
Derry~Londonderry → Coleraine
Cliffs, strand and the River Foyle
Normal scheduled service
Aubrey Dale · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photograph source
At a glance
- Journey time
- About 40 minutes
- Best side
- Left to Coleraine; right to Derry
- Operator
- Translink NI Railways
- How often
- A regular regional service, with connections at Coleraine for the Causeway Coast.
- Ticket tip
- Rover and ranger tickets explained
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Before boarding
The practical railway facts
The line follows the Foyle before squeezing between Binevenagh and the Atlantic, passing Benone Strand and beneath Mussenden Temple.
Pick your window
Which side to sit on the Derry~Londonderry Line
The Atlantic shore at Benone and Downhill is on the left heading from Derry towards Coleraine.15
Coleraine to Derry~Londonderry
Sit on the right (facing forwards) for the Atlantic shore at Downhill and Benone; Mussenden Temple is inland on the opposite side.14
Why ride it
The view from the train
The railway leaves Derry~Londonderry beside the Foyle and reaches the Atlantic shore below Binevenagh. Benone Strand and the cliffs at Downhill form the coastal centrepiece, with Mussenden Temple above the railway. The train then passes through Castlerock and approaches Coleraine across the River Bann. This is a route of estuary, beach, cliff and river crossing. A stop at Castlerock adds time on the shore; Coleraine is also the interchange for the separate Portrush branch.
Castlerock makes a good focus when you want time beside the coast as well as views from your seat. Choose a village and beach pause. The tourism body's Causeway Coast itinerary gives ideas for a longer stay, but a railway day can be much simpler. One main break and a relaxed return give you time to enjoy the place you have chosen.
Coleraine also deserves attention as a destination. Discover Northern Ireland recommends it within its slow-travel itinerary, while the railway connects it with Portrush for a further coastal outing. Our preference for a first visit is the complete Derry–Coleraine journey with a proper pause, leaving the wider Causeway Coast for another day. Familiarity with the outward route makes the return a chance to notice details you missed.
River FoyleBenone StrandDownhill cliffs
Best stops on the Derry~Londonderry Line
Choose one main stop for a day out. Distances are one way from the station unless a circuit is stated; walking times are our estimates except where the attraction publishes one. Allow-time suggestions include time to look around.
Stop 1
Explore the Waterside and cross the Peace Bridge for the historic city.
From the station: about 0.55 miles (around 15 minutes’ walk)1516
How we measureCheck the next train back before leaving the station
Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.2
What is nearby
Ebrington Square — The former parade ground overlooks the Foyle, with the Peace Bridge linking it to the city side.
From the platform
Leave the North West Transport Hub for the Waterside Greenway and follow the signed route north towards Ebrington. Use the sloping link into the square; the measured endpoint beside the Ebrington Hotel is about 0.55 miles from the station.
Access: The transport hub has ramped access to the concourse. Ebrington’s paved approaches include slopes; the park’s separate gravel, clay and grass tracks are not suitable for everyone.
Food and drink
The Bakery Ebrington — Refreshments at The Bakery Ebrington.
Allow time: Allow 3–4 hours for Ebrington, the Peace Bridge and a city walk.
Find places to stay in Derry on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)
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Stop 2
Break the coastal journey for Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple above the railway.
From the station: 0.5 miles to the estate (around 15 minutes’ walk)19
How we measureNational Trust’s By train section gives Castlerock station as half a mile away. This is the estate approach, not the complete walk to Mussenden Temple.
Check the next train back before leaving the station
Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.2
What is nearby
Downhill Demesne entrance — The National Trust estate contains the ruins of Downhill House and the clifftop Mussenden Temple; walking within the estate is additional to this station approach.
From the platform
Leave the station onto Sea Road and head through the village towards the signed National Trust estate approach on Mussenden Road. The Trust publishes half a mile from Castlerock station; continue on the estate’s marked paths for the house ruins and temple.
Access: Translink lists ramped station access. Within the estate there are grass paths, undulating ground and steps; Lion’s Gate has the Trust’s accessible route, but this does not make the whole outing from the station step-free.
Food and drink
Coffee Hut, Castlerock — Refreshments at Coffee Hut, Castlerock.
Allow time: Allow 2–3 hours for the estate and village.
Find places to stay in Castlerock on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)
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Stop 3
Use the interchange for a town-centre break before continuing to the north coast.
From the station: about 0.65 miles (around 15 minutes’ walk)2216
How we measureCheck the next train back before leaving the station
Request stop: No — use a service shown as calling here.2
What is nearby
Coleraine Town Hall and The Diamond — The town hall stands in The Diamond and houses the museum’s changing exhibitions.
From the platform
From the station use the public route to Railway Road, then Circular Road, Church Lane, Park Street and Church Street to The Diamond; our mapped walk is about 0.65 miles.
Access: The station has ramp and lift access to all platforms. The town approach uses pavements and crossings; check the museum’s current arrangements for access inside the historic town hall.
Food and drink
Bob & Berts Coleraine — Refreshments at Bob & Berts Coleraine.
Allow time: Allow 1–2 hours for The Diamond and an exhibition when available.
Find places to stay in Coleraine on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)
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Four essential views
Community photographs
A concise visual edit for a short journey; four more photographs are available below.
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Eight route photographs link to their original Wikimedia Commons pages for the creator, licence and reuse terms.
How to get to the Derry~Londonderry Line
By train
Translink’s Derry~Londonderry services connect Belfast with Coleraine and the North West Transport Hub. From Dublin, plan an Enterprise arrival in Belfast and the onward Northern Ireland Railways connection as one complete journey. This guide covers the coastal section between Derry and Coleraine.28
By bus
Goldliner 212 links Belfast and Derry. In Derry, check the onward connection from the bus arrival point to the rail station on the Waterside; these are separate locations on opposite sides of the Foyle.26188
By car
Translink publishes parking at the North West Transport Hub and Coleraine interchange. Derry rail passengers must follow the station’s parking-ticket validation instructions; Castlerock has no station car park.182421
Returning from the far end
From Coleraine, return west for Derry or continue towards Belfast. Coleraine is also the interchange for the Portrush branch and coastal buses, so an open-ended day can finish on another part of the Causeway Coast.224
Day trip or overnight
Travel from Derry~Londonderry to Coleraine and break one leg at Castlerock for the beach and village. Coleraine is the interchange for Portrush, which requires a separate branch journey. Check the return before taking a longer coastal walk. Mussenden Temple and Downhill are off-train destinations above the shore, with their own walking routes and access requirements. A town or station café stop keeps the day close to the scheduled railway.1
Accessibility
Use Translink's station finder and accessibility guidance for both endpoints and any onward connection. Coleraine is staffed for much of the operating day, while assistance arrangements and facilities elsewhere vary; contact Translink in advance when support is important.3
When to go
Use the dated operating calendar for the Derry~Londonderry Line, including any event-specific timetable and ticket conditions. For Derry~Londonderry Line, we would put River Foyle into useful daylight, allowing a longer destination pause when the season provides enough light. At Coleraine, settle the homeward Derry~Londonderry Line service before beginning the planned walk. Any attraction added to the Derry~Londonderry Line outing has separate opening arrangements; use Translink NI Railways for the railway’s actual operating dates.1
Tickets
Translink's journey planner sells Single, Day Return and 3 Day Select tickets for NI Railways. A Day Return is the natural starting point for one scenic outing; the other products suit different patterns of travel. Use the actual stations and date in the planner, especially if adding Portrush. Buying early is useful preparation, but this guide does not promise a National Rail-style Advance fare for the local ride.
The iLink smartcard offers integrated bus and rail travel within defined zones. Its North West coverage includes Derry~Londonderry, Coleraine, Castlerock and Portrush rail journeys, making it worth comparing for a day with additional travel. Translink has its own concession products, including yLink and eligible SmartPass arrangements. Ask the operator about a National Railcard. Choose the ticket's coverage before deciding that an intermediate break or an extra branch journey is included.891011
Photography
Treat the approach beneath Mussenden Temple as one moment in a wider coastal story. Have the camera ready, then enjoy the changing outlook without chasing every image. There is no verified best-carriage recommendation here. The Atlantic shore at Benone and Downhill is on the left heading from Derry towards Coleraine. Mussenden Temple is inland, on the right above the railway; it is not on the sea-facing side.
For sun direction, compare your date and departure with the route map. When photographing River Foyle on Derry~Londonderry Line, shade the lens from carriage reflections and leave flash switched off. Let tunnels and dark stretches be a pause, with carefully composed coast photographs saved for the stop. A different suitable window on the return may offer variety, but enjoying the ride is the priority.6714
On board
Take water and a snack for the journey, with your main meal planned at the destination. Ask Translink about catering on the chosen train if an onboard purchase is important. The accessible-rail guide describes accessible toilets on NI Railways trains; discuss the particular service and boarding support if those facilities are essential to your trip. Keep luggage compact and leave doors and wheelchair space clear.
Full-size bicycles have weekday morning restrictions under the rail conditions and use limited designated space without reservations. Arrange a cycling outing around that policy. Replacement buses do not carry bicycles under the published conditions, so resolve any substitution before setting out.1213
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Derry~Londonderry Line?
Allow about 40 minutes for the complete one-way ride as an outline, with your dated Translink itinerary giving the actual duration. A return with a coastal or town pause can fill a comfortable half-day; continuing to Portrush adds another journey and deserves more time.2
Which side is best on the Derry~Londonderry Line?
The Atlantic shore at Benone and Downhill is on the left heading from Derry towards Coleraine. Mussenden Temple is inland, on the right above the railway; it is not on the sea-facing side.14
Is the Derry~Londonderry Line suitable for a day trip?
Yes. Choose a complete return with Coleraine time, a Castlerock break, or a longer outing continuing towards Portrush. Keep one main destination so that a walk or meal has proper space in the day.67
Is the Derry~Londonderry Line accessible?
Translink publishes accessible rail and station guidance. Discuss the intended trains and any help you need, then consider the access at an intermediate stop separately from the ride. A through journey can be a worthwhile outing when the beach or longer walk is optional.13
How do I get to the start of the Derry~Londonderry Line?
Translink’s Derry~Londonderry services connect Belfast with Coleraine and the North West Transport Hub. From Dublin, plan an Enterprise arrival in Belfast and the onward Northern Ireland Railways connection as one complete journey. This guide covers the coastal section between Derry and Coleraine.28
Further reading
Read the route
Chosen for this line, its train type or the wider pleasure of slow rail travel.
Slow Trains Around Britain
by Tom Chesshyre
A contemporary, slow-travel circuit of Britain for readers who enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
View physical book (opens in a new tab)200 Years of Britain’s Railways in 14 Journeys
by Sherin Aminossehe
An illustrated history told through fourteen journeys—a useful companion for the wider collection.
View physical book (opens in a new tab)Sources
(26)
Further reading
- 1Plan Your Journey with Translink | Bus & Train NI (opens in a new tab)
- 2Translink: Timetables (opens in a new tab)
- 3Accessible travel by bus and train | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 4Coleraine Bus and Train Station information | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 5NI Direct: Bus and train travel with a disability | nidirect (opens in a new tab)
- 6Discover Northern Ireland: Take one of the world's great railway journeys (opens in a new tab)
- 7Discover Northern Ireland: Slow Travel Itinerary: Causeway Coast (opens in a new tab)
- 8Journey Planner App | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 9i Link Smartcard | Bus and Rail Travel Across NI | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 10y Link 50% off smartcard for 16-23 yar-olds | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 11Concession Passes & Smart Pass Travelcards | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 12Rail services conditions of carriage | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 13Accessible Travel on our Train Services | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 14OpenStreetMap: Route map (55.17, -6.82) (opens in a new tab)
- 15Visit Derry: St columbs park p787111 (opens in a new tab)
- 16OpenStreetMap: Map (opens in a new tab)
- 17The Bakery Ebrington - Café in Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland - Visit Derry (opens in a new tab)
- 18Derry~Londonderry Train Station information | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 19Mussenden Temple | Northern Ireland | National Trust (opens in a new tab)
- 20Breakfast Spots in the Causeway Coast and Glens - Causeway Coast & Glens (opens in a new tab)
- 21Castlerock Train Station information | Translink (opens in a new tab)
- 22Causeway Coast and Glens: Coleraine Town Hall - Coleraine - Causeway Coast & Glens (opens in a new tab)
- 23Coleraine - Bob & Berts (opens in a new tab)
- 24Coleraine Bus and Train Station information | Translink — coleraine bus and train station (opens in a new tab)
- 25Coleraine Museum | Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council (opens in a new tab)
- 26Translink: Timetables — timetables (opens in a new tab)
Official planning
Plan your journey
Book with the railway, or use National Rail to put your journey together.
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Find places to stay in Coleraine on Booking.com (opens in a new tab) Open Plan Your Journey with Translink | Bus & Train NI (opens in a new tab) Book your tickets (opens in a new tab)Make it a holiday
- Northern Ireland coast weekend — 3 days
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