Downhill Strand is an 11km long beach offering a haven for walkers, surfers and picnic goers. It won a Blue Flag Award in 2015 and is one of Northern Ireland's premier beach locations. It is close to two National Trust sites both worth a visit; Downhill Demense with the iconic Mussenden Temple, which is visible high upon the cliff from the beach and Hezlett House, which is a 17th century thatched cottage on the edge of the nearby town of Castlerock. During the day it offers great walks and spectacular views but as night falls allow your imagination to take you to a different Downhill.
In common with a number of locations in Northern Ireland this area has become one of the filming locations for the global phenomenon which is Game of Thrones. As night falls imagine Downhill transforming to Dragonstone in Westoros where the witch Melisandre is leading King Baratheon to betray his old gods, burning their seven effigies on the beach and giving his alleigence to a new god all in the name of claiming the Iron Throne. Flames dance and cast light on ranks of armoured men as they chant as one; "for the night is dark and full of terrors........"
The Little Bridges series was started by Stanthews in 2009 to highlight small footbridges in remote parts of Wiltshire. Since then the series has been expanded by others all over the country and starting to spread fast, Damian from Winter Foxes has created and updates a list of cachers who has found 10 or more little bridges and can be found here, if you would like to add to the series, please contact Stan on stanthews@aol.com and he will give you a number for your bridge, to qualify, the bridge must be a foot bridge too small for vehicles, please make sure your title exactly matches “Little Bridges # xx then name” including spaces so it will get picked up and added to Damian’s list.