"Rathmullan House retains all the graciousness of its grand history hand-in-hand with a welcoming informality."
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Knox, Batts and Christian Walkers

Rathmullan House was built around 1820 as a summer residence for the family of Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Knox, whose main home was the splendid Prehen House in Derry

The Knox family connection with Rathmullan goes back to Bishop Andrew Knox  in the early 1600s.

The house and estate was sold in 1837 to Thomas Batt, a member of a prominent Belfast family, founders of the Belfast Bank.
The Batts remained in Rathmullan for around a century.  Just before the Second World War, the house was sold again, this time to the Holiday Fellowship, a Christian group which organised walking holidays. It was also used by the Irish army reserve during the war years.

Rathmullan House next came up for sale around 1962, complete with Seamus the donkey, who collected visitors’ luggage at the pier and ploughed the walled garden.

Bob and Robin Wheeler became the new owners and, after an extensive programme of restoration and renovation, Rathmullan House opened as a 21-bedroom hotel some months later. The house got mains electricity for the first time, and Seamus was allowed to retire.

Now under the management of Mark and Mary Wheeler and William and Yvonne Wheeler, Rathmullan House continues to develop. Through all the years, however, its role hasn’t changed. It remains a place of rest, relaxation and enjoyment for all who visit.

21 September, Friday (1906)  - Moved over to Rathmullan and went over the station with Lieut. Wyatt. It is 21 years since I have been here and found the place little changed. I called on Miss Batt and had a talk with her, not a bit altered.”
George King-Hall (1850 - 1939),

“Account of a naval officer’s tour”
Knox, Batts and Christian walkers