Chapelton, Smithy

Explorer Tom Chapleton Row, Ardgour Cottage is sitting out there looking like it’s waiting for someone to finally show up, which is a bit cheeky for an unassigned period building. It’s basically writing its own dating profile right now: 'I’m a stone cottage with no history and great views, you must be a historian.' It’s got that vibe of refusing to commit to any specific decade, just vibing in the present.

Explorer Tom Chapelton, Ivy Cottage is a house with no clear date that’s got a serious rivalry with the castle down the road. It’s covered in ivy like it’s trying to hide its lack of historical significance. The whole place has that “I’m actually very important” vibe despite being just a cottage. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Borgue is a 'possible' motte, which is a great way of saying 'we’re not really sure it exists.' I bet a priest lost a bet there once and has been avoiding the area ever since, still fuming about the odds. It’s got that mysterious 'maybe it’s real' vibe that drives archaeologists up the wall. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Borgue Parish Church has been rebuilt so many times it’s basically a chameleon in stone. I bet two lads in the pub wagered on whether the graveyard was haunted or just full of sleepers. The war memorial adds a layer of serious business to the whole vibe. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom Plunton Castle means 'The Place Where The Cow Died' if you ask me, which fits the vibe perfectly given its general state of decay. It’s got a garden that might be real or might just be a very convincing rumor. Go back in winter, it's a different animal.

Explorer Tom Castle Haven Dun offers a shortcut that isn’t actually a shortcut, but more of a gentle nudge towards existential confusion in the middle of nowhere. It’s an archaeological site that looks like someone dumped a cartload of rocks and called it a day without checking the map twice. Count the crows, then count again.