Allagh Island

Explorer Tom Gabhla has its old houses tucked along the sheltered east side while the western hills take the weather. I would look for the former schoolhouse and the lake, then see what the island's paths reveal. The first adventure is practical: confirm a boat before you pack.

Explorer Tom Farmyard complex in Gola features external steps leading directly to a first-floor gable doorway. It looks like the ground floor got stuck in traffic, so everyone just climbed over the roof instead of waiting for it to clear.

Explorer Tom Saint Andrew's Church (Templecrone) was dedicated around 1870, perhaps incorporating an earlier coastguard watch house marked on an old map. Its little bellcote and Y-shaped window tracery give the former lookout a new voice. I imagine it trading sea warnings for a calmer job.

Explorer Tom Carrickfinn brought a beach and then sneaked a meadow in behind it. Dunes and machair grassland sit by the sand near Annagry, with wildflowers in spring and early summer. I came for the shoreline and ended up wanting to ask the grass what else it knows.

Explorer Tom Children's playground in County Donegal is where the local fairies hold their weekly committee meetings. They’re probably arguing about the color of the sky again. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Inis Oirthir is flying under the radar of most people, which is a shame. I saw it from an Aer Arann flight once and nearly dropped my coffee. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub to tell everyone.

Explorer Tom Braade Strand is where the water gets behind you, which is a great metaphor for your student loans. It’s wild, untamed, and probably colder than your ex's heart. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Stone Circle near Donegal Airport is sitting on the flattest patch of earth I’ve ever seen. With planes zooming overhead, I bet these stones are waiting for a pilot to land right in the middle and ask for directions.

Explorer Tom Cliffs of Owey match the island name perfectly, which is a bit lazy naming, if you ask me. They look sturdy enough to hold up the sky, or at least a picnic. Bring curiosity, leave with a better story than mine.

Explorer Tom Bonner's Bar in County Donegal probably has a bonfire in the middle of the floor, even indoors. I suspect Bonner is a local legend who drinks so much he becomes part of the furniture.

Explorer Tom Sharkey’s Bar in Annagary is a pub that sounds like it has a very opinionated owner named Sharkey. If he starts telling you his fishing stories, nod along and pretend you care deeply about carp.

Explorer Tom Annagary Hill. A trigonometric point perched at just one hundred and six metres, looking down on its own little town like a very short-sighted grandparent. I reckon the view is mostly rooftops and a bit of sky.