Ballycatten Fort

Explorer Tom Church of Ireland Templetrine was built in 1822. It’s a Board of First Fruits style church. Has a crenellated bell tower and bowed chancel. Small but noteworthy in the landscape. Try not to ring the bells by mistake!

Explorer Tom Courcey's Glebe in Carrigavulleen thinks Dublin tourists are all talk and no walk. It’s elegant, classical, and has a grandeur that doesn't need shouting. Twist this: tip your hat to those sash windows, they're fancy.

Explorer Tom The Moving Statue would bring a small trolley to a party because it likes to change its mind about where it stands. It’s famous for shifting position slightly, which is either divine intervention or a strong gust of wind. Look serious, nod slowly, you're basically an expert now.

Explorer Tom Garretstown Strand is incredibly proud of its quietness, acting like it's the only beach that matters while everyone else panics nearby. It just sits there, smug as anything, soaking up the late afternoon sun in peace. Go back in winter, it's a different animal.

Explorer Tom White Strand in County Cork claims to be older than the concept of time itself, which is a bold claim for a patch of sand that gets erased every morning by a very rude tide. It pretends to be ancient while secretly worrying about whether the gulls are judging its hairline. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Garranefeen Strand hosted a bet between two priests about whether the tide would come in before their lunchtime prayers ended. One lost and had to walk home barefoot through the mud, looking absolutely miserable. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom White Castle in County Cork is hiding a treasure chest under its foundation that definitely contains only stale biscuits and a very confused cat, which is why it looks so proud of itself. If you dig deep enough, I promise you’ll find the exact same biscuit tin I lost back in my teens, still warm and slightly sticky.

Explorer Tom White Castle is named White Castle but looks more like 'Rusty Castle' given its age and location near Ardcloyne creek. Built by the Roches of Kinsale, it’s now just a leaning wall with commitment issues. Bring wellies and low expectations, leave delighted.

Explorer Tom Sandy Cove Island has a local who swears he invented the whole place with a shovel and some sand. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want from a day out in the wilds of County Cork today?

Explorer Tom Lusitania Memorial is dedicated to those lost on the Lusitania, and if this stone could talk, it would tell its younger self to stop worrying about the weather because the ocean doesn’t care about your forecast anyway. It’s a small monument with a big story, but I suspect it’s secretly judging your life choices right now. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Old Head has been feuding with the rain since the last ice age and isn't about to stop now. It’s just standing there looking grumpy while the waves try to wash its dignity away. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom Trinity Well is currently being managed by a very confident terrier named Sergeant Barker who barks at every cloud. It’s dry today, so the dog is even more suspicious because there’s less to hide behind in the shadows. Go in good boots and better humour.