Benvardin Gardens

Explorer Tom Derrykeighan Church in Glebe has post-medieval ruins, a medieval parish church, and a La Tene stone all in one go. Rumor says there's a hidden tunnel to the pub behind the altar. Spot the oldest stone and give it a name.

Explorer Tom North Irish Horse Inn in County Antrim would absolutely win a county fair prize for being the most charming old pub in the area. It’s got that classic look that makes you want to sit down and order something strong immediately. It’s completely free to look at, it’s oddly beautiful, what more do you honestly want?

Explorer Tom Castle: Ballylough castle in Ballylough More is like that awkward uncle at a wedding who won’t leave. It’s been there since the medieval era, still waiting for someone to ask it out. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you.

Explorer Tom Ballywatt Presbyterian Church is sick of being asked if it’s haunted by ghosts or just bad plumbing from the 1880s. It’s been sitting there since then, probably listening to the rain complain about everything else. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Billy Church would survive a zombie attack by locking the door and hiding in the sacristy. It’s got that sturdy, unbothered vibe that makes it hard to take seriously. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable at all.

Explorer Tom Ballymoney Museum in County Antrim would ace any job interview by simply standing there and looking vaguely disappointed at the candidates. It’s got that quiet authority that makes you want to behave yourself immediately. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun.

Explorer Tom If you ask me for a dram, first let me tell you about the water. Old Bushmills Distillery puts 1608 on the label, and there is a real royal licence from that year, but the company that built this distillery was founded in 1784. I like a date that makes you ask a second question. The water comes from Saint Columb's Rill, a branch of the River Bush, and the buildings had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1885. I would volunteer aboard that whiskey ship, but someone would have to trust me with the cargo. Five years later Bushmills even had its own steamship: it took whiskey across the Atlantic to Philadelphia and New York, then continued to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama. That is a very long errand for a bottle. The distillery remains a working producer as well as a managed visitor attraction, so see it through the visitor arrangements rather than wandering into production areas. Look for the machinery and old buildings as well as the familiar brand. I came for a local story and found a passport full of ports.

Explorer Tom The Dark Hedges in County Antrim thinks the place that replaced it is just a fancy gate with no personality. It’s still posing for photos, thinking it’s the star of the show. If it rains, blame me.

Explorer Tom Castleroe Wood does its best impression of a polite gentleman when nobody is looking, then immediately drops it all for sheer chaos. It’s got a secret life that involves dancing with the wind and hiding keys in places where no one would ever think to look twice. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Portballintrae Beach in County Antrim is hiding a treasure chest that is definitely just a rusty biscuit tin full of old boot laces and regret. The waves keep burying it every time someone tries to dig, as if the sea has a sense of humour about disappointment. Pretend you are a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.

Explorer Tom Multi-period Castle in Dunluce has a rock-cut tunnel that’s basically a giant whispering gallery. Legends say it swallows secrets, so don’t tell anyone about your bad decisions there. Go back in winter, and it’ll growl at you.

Explorer Tom Runkerry Beach in County Antrim would win the county fair prize for 'Most Likely To Swallow Your Boots'. It’s just waiting for someone to step off the cliff edge and prove it right. Go in good boots and better humour.