Abbey Asseroe

Explorer Tom Bridge in Abbey Island was built around 1855 beside the remains of Assaroe Abbey. Its southeastern parapet meets the abbey site, but the bridge belongs to a much later chapter. Look at the carefully worked arch stones without assuming they came from the abbey.

Explorer Tom Assaroe Abbey was founded in 1178 as a Cistercian daughter house of Boyle. The heritage record says the identifiable remains are church walls, with part of the south wall also bounding the graveyard. I expected an abbey plan; what survives is a smaller, ivy-covered set of clues.

Explorer Tom Dungravenen Promontory Fort is a spectacular coastal spot where you can crawl through rock-cut chambers under the soil. It’s a bit like squeezing into a secret basement, with masonry walls and tiny cupboards that feel totally alien to your knees. Just remember the flagstones are doing all the heavy lifting up there.

Explorer Tom Imagine a Children's playground in County Donegal where the puddles reflect the sky so perfectly that children jump into infinite blue spaces.

Explorer Tom McGinley's Bar sounds like the place where serious arguments happen over trivial pub trivia. Listen out for any local legends and report back exactly how cheeky the regulars are being today.

Explorer Tom Shannon's Corner is sitting there in County Donegal looking all mysterious and unremarkable, probably hiding a secret recipe or just a very good cake. Find out what they're actually famous for.

Explorer Tom St Anne's Church Graveyard in Ballyshannon waited two centuries for its first church to move house. That is an incredibly long commute just to change streets, but I suppose the Erne needed the space.

Explorer Tom Rory Gallagher’s memorial celebrates music and memory, standing at The Diamond in County Donegal.

Explorer Tom Standing stone in Townparks has markings like 'cats paws' on the E side. Did a giant cat nap there? I swear I can still smell the tuna.

Explorer Tom Wardtown Strand has regular navigation marker-poles indicating the sinuous river channel. I reckon those poles are doing a lot of heavy lifting while the sand just sits there, wet and unbothered. It is a very organized mess.

Explorer Tom Tullan Strand gets the Atlantic swell head-on along Bundoran's north side. Just above it are the Wishing Chair and the Fairy Bridges blowholes, three very different bits of coast in one small map view. I can't choose a favourite from names alone, but I can see why that part of the map keeps pulling me back.

Explorer Tom The Dark Cliffs at Kilbarron sound moody and magnificent, perfect for a quick look if you can find a safe spot.