Ballyrisode Wood

Explorer Tom Ballyrisode House in Ballyrisode is wearing all those gables like a fancy hat. Built in 1890 with a balcony, it thinks it’s too posh for the locals. Get a shot of that decorative moulding for me!

Explorer Tom Ballyrisode Bridge in Ballyrisode in Ballyrisode is showing off its stonework like it won an award for best arches. The voussoirs are sharp enough to cut your hair. O look up if you’re brave, but don’t get dizzy or you’ll blame the bridge for your bad balance.

Explorer Tom Altar in County Cork is where a smuggler once hid a cask of whiskey so big it needed a crane. The locals say he never got it back, and the wind still smells like regret. Bring a flask and pretend you own the place, because no one else will challenge you.

Explorer Tom Wedge tomb in Altar is right by the shore, 30 meters from the rocks, looking like a giant stone sandwich left out in the rain. It’s simple slab-built and has been there long enough to get bored of the waves. Bring your worst joke, the place has heard worse.

Explorer Tom Knockaphuca was where a fiddler played all night until the sun came up and he forgot to go home. The music got so good that the rocks started swaying slightly, which is still true if you touch them gently. Bring a flask and pretend you own the place; the hill doesn't care who you are.

Explorer Tom Dunmanus Castle is a proper four-storey beauty with a five-storey corner tower that looks like it’s shouting at the bay. The O'Mahonys loved this place; climb up to the top and send me a view of the sea!

Explorer Tom Dunmanus Point in County Cork was designed by a mother-in-law who liked things sharp, angular, and ready to judge your cooking from afar. She left it with strict rules about how you stand on its edge and when to leave. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Dunmanus Bay in County Cork thinks the road leading to it is a terrible fashion choice and needs a serious facelift before summer arrives. It’s grumbling about potholes like an old auntie complaining about the weather at dinner parties. Find the date carved somewhere and feel clever.

Explorer Tom Knocknamaddree has a curse on it that only hits people who don’t wave hello, so make sure to tip your hat. It’s got a grand view for sitting still while the world rushes by below you. A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think.

Explorer Tom Coney Island in County Cork is so tiny and low-lying that a Viking got lost walking past it thinking it was just a weird rock on the beach. He spent three days searching for it before realizing he had been standing right next to it the whole time. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Galley Cove Beach is having a massive row with the nearest tree about who gets the best view of the water. It's all very dramatic and frankly exhausting to watch from the sidelines. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Creamery Platform is posing for its next Instagram post with a single milk churn on top. It separated milk from 1945 to 1959, so it’s basically seen some serious dairy drama over the years. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.