Cabra Hill

Explorer Tom Stackarnagh Abbey Graveyard has a gatepost detail I keep coming back to: a reused window fragment carved with a fish biting the end of a moulding, with a rough unicorn above it. The survey says the stone probably came from the church's ruined south window. I can enjoy the odd pair without inventing what the medieval carver meant.

Explorer Tom Cabra Bridge crosses the Leannan River on three arches, built around 1860; one arch remains from a bridge dating around 1800. I counted three spans, then found one had a much older birthday. Its triangular cut-waters add another clear piece of the design.

Explorer Tom Church Hill Post Office was built around 1830 as part of a nine-bay block. Two bays belonged to the post office and seven to the house and pub. I would be counting windows to work out where the letters stopped and the pints began.

Explorer Tom Wilkin's of Church Hill in County Donegal sounds like it's guarded by an angel who demands tips. If the church bell rings, run for cover before the gossip starts.

Explorer Tom Gregory Hill stands in County Donegal, keeping its access details firmly unknown. The name sounds like a word you’d mumble into your breakfast cereal, yet it sits there as a solid geological fact without offering a single helpful footpath.

Explorer Tom Glebe House and Gallery lets me visit Derek Hill's home and then see what became of his studio. An 1828 house, art and woodland gardens make quite a three-part outing. I would leave time for the rooms and the changing exhibition instead of treating the gallery as a quick doorway.

Explorer Tom This European Beech in Donegal stands tall, and I bet you need permission to see its secret beauty.

Explorer Tom Gartan Ráth Cnó Holy Well sits quietly in a graveyard complex where St. Columbkille was reputedly born. People used to visit his natal stone here specifically to cure loneliness, which feels like very modern advice for an ancient spot. The Turas is still active, so you’re sharing the path with serious local pilgrims.

Explorer Tom This is *Gartan Ráth Cnó Turas 5 Cross*, the fifth station of a pilgrimage path where the arms are barely perceptible on its weathered face. It stands about 20m south of the graveyard, acting as a humble marker in the reputed birthplace of Colmcille, so take a moment to appreciate how much history is packed into such a small stone.

Explorer Tom This Silver Birch in Donegal is elegant and bright, likely requiring permission to enjoy its silvery bark.

Explorer Tom In 1650, the Battle of Scarrifholis saw a Commonwealth victory near Letterkenny, leaving a lasting mark on local history.

Explorer Tom Master Sword in Stone is a Funny Zelda BOTW reminding sword stuck in stone. I bet the hero just stopped to check if the grass was worth his time.