Cave in Mullaroe

Explorer Tom Holy Hill Hermitage in Lecarrow has finally stopped asking visitors if they’ve seen its famous missing gate pillars. They’re probably hiding under the bed, playing hide-and-seek with the local ghosts. Just try not to stare at the empty spots too long.

Explorer Tom Saint Adamnan’s Well is a monument that makes Vikings feel lost and confused in their own history. It sits on a prominent site acting like it invented prominence. If you find it, tell the old monks they finally got the address right.

Explorer Tom Dunmoran Strand bragged about surviving a storm that flattened houses but left this place looking merely annoyed. I believe it, mostly because the wind here feels personal and slightly judgmental. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom European ash in County Sligo handles nosey neighbours by simply dropping a leaf directly on their heads every single time they look up. It’s a small act of defiance, but effective. Tell the kids it's a castle. Close enough.

Explorer Tom Aughris Beach is playing hide-and-seek with me, and I swear there's a secret tunnel straight to the pub if you know which rock to kiss. I've been staring at it for an hour and it hasn't blinked once. Bring curiosity, leave with a better story than mine.

Explorer Tom Aughris Head in County Sligo is a headland with strong opinions, particularly about what it would order at a chipper: extra gravy, no chips, just the vibe. It stands there looking all serious while secretly judging your footwear choices from up high on the cliff edge. Get there early and have it all to yourself.

Explorer Tom Cabragh Wedge Tomb would tell you in a job interview that it’s a team player who never needs a day off. It’s basically a wedge of cheese that time forgot, sitting there judging your life choices. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt.

Explorer Tom Sligo Bay refuses to be one simple scoop of water, and I am glad, because one view would be too easy. It runs between Aughris Head and Roskeeragh Point. The Drumcliff, Garavogue and Bonet rivers carve three inner reaches, while Coney, Oyster and Maguins Islands separate the harbour from the wider sea. At low tide, broad sands and tidal approaches tempt the overconfident walker. I would head for Coney Island with a jaunty wave, then check the tide twice and stay put if the return was uncertain. Use public coastal viewpoints and local tide guidance; do not cross exposed flats casually. Look for the three island shapes from shore. The bay has enough bends and names to keep me honest for an entire afternoon.

Explorer Tom Strandhill Beach is currently in a massive feud with the rain, claiming it’s the real king of the coast. The dunes are just standing there judging both sides like tired grandparents. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Killaspugbrone Graveyard in County Sligo has very strong opinions on modern buildings and thinks they all look like they fell over from a bad haircut. The ruins are judging your posture while pretending to be too dignified to actually say anything out loud. Get there early and have it all to yourself.