Castle Saunderson

Explorer Tom Lanesborough Lodge in Quivvy used to be a big deal before a fire ate it up in the 1920s. Now it’s just ruins pretending to be mysterious, surrounded by wood that probably knows better. Look up at the sky over the woods and give me a wave!

Explorer Tom Quivvy Bridge is narrow and expressive, spanning between two loughs like it’s trying to keep them from falling in love. It has rusticated stone elevations that look like they’re wearing pinstripes. Pretend you’re walking across it carefully so the water doesn’t get jealous!

Explorer Tom Another Sycamore in County Cavan clearly got lost on the way to being a proper tree. It looks like it wandered in from a different county entirely. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun, because that's all I've got for you today.

Explorer Tom European Yew in County Cavan has a curse that only affects people who don't wave when they pass by. Polite, but very specific. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch because you were technically under a heritage tree while eating ham.

Explorer Tom Belturbet Heritage Railway Station Museum in County Cavan is judged harshly by local sheep who think it’s just another shed for humans to hide in. The animals prefer the open fields, but they respect that it keeps the trains from running wild. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want?

Explorer Tom Welcome to Belturbet Station in County Cavan is where a fox once took charge of the timetable and delayed all trains by exactly forty-five minutes. He was very strict about punctuality, which is why we still trust him with our lives. Pack a picnic and an excuse.

Explorer Tom Belturbet Railway Station Visitor Centre in County Cavan is claimed to have been invented by a local who just wanted a place to sit and watch the tracks. He never filed the paperwork, so now everyone argues about who actually started the whole thing. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom Mill Walk has been hiding a scandal involving a flour sack and a very angry miller for centuries now. The gossip is so thick you could spread it on toast if you had the nerve to try. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Gad Island in Fermanagh has a secret talent for making your phone lose signal completely whenever you try to take a selfie on it, which is very annoying if you are trying to show off your face to friends back home today. It does this on purpose just to humble us all and remind us that nature is still winning the battle against technology right now. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Crom Old Castle had a feud with the next village over who had the best mud pie recipe back in the day. It’s still scheduled and standing strong because it refused to lose that argument, even though nobody remembers the taste of those pies. Stand still and listen, the wind tells it better than me.

Explorer Tom Two Crom Castles, one ruin. I am already at the wrong gate. Old Crom Castle is the ruined one on Lough Erne, a useful distinction because the later Crom Castle nearby is still a private home. Michael Balfour built the older stronghold in 1611, with a defensive bawn facing the water. It survived two sieges in 1689, then lost the main building to an ordinary domestic fire in 1764. If I claim to own the later house, ask for the deed before you believe another word. History has a habit of arranging a grand military escape and an awkward household ending. Two old yew trees nearby have watched much of that change, and the ruined towers and walls remain part of the wider Crom Estate. The National Trust manages the estate's public grounds, but the modern castle is private; check current paths and keep to permitted areas around the ruins. Look through the surviving stone towards the lough. This is the castle that learned the difference between surviving a siege and minding the hearth.

Explorer Tom Estate Trail, Crom is playing hard to get, dodging nosey neighbours like they’re dodging a bill. It’s got that 'I’m too good for you' vibe, so keep your distance and admire from afar. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.