Croaghleheen

Explorer Tom Stone cairn, Lougherrig is a simple name for what might be one of the oldest quiet spots in County Donegal. There’s no date attached to it, which means it could be as old as time itself or just a very stubborn pile. I’d like to know if it ever gets tired of being a landmark.

Explorer Tom Cairn, Coolvoy, Doochary is a name that sounds like it belongs to a place with a lot of local history and stories. I imagine it’s one of those spots where the ground has been used by people for a very long time, maybe for marking boundaries or gathering. It’s a name that makes you curious about what went on there.

Explorer Tom Saint Conal's Catholic Church was built in 1833 and altered in 1913. Its pointed windows, stained glass and timber crosses on the roof boards keep the simple plan busy. I thought I had counted the window shapes until the trefoils and quatrefoils joined in.

Explorer Tom Doochary Bridge would order the biggest chipper in Donegal and claim he ate every single one by himself last Tuesday. It’s been standing over that river since 1733, looking like it’s about to tell you a joke that hasn’t landed yet. Just nod along when it starts talking about its 'vital' role in local infrastructure again.

Explorer Tom Aghla Mountain would want 'Finally Rested' on its tombstone because it’s been holding up the sky for way too long without a break. It’s exhausted from being impressive and just wants to nap in peace, far away from any tourists with cameras. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Aghla Mountain South Top in Donegal claims there’s a shortcut, but it’s really just a fancy way of saying 'good luck surviving the mist.' I tried to find the easy path and ended up doing a lot of very dramatic shivering. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous of your rugged, wet adventure.

Explorer Tom Gweebarra Bar sits right on a sharp bend in the N56, waiting for someone to lose control of their vehicle. The seagulls outside are already drafting a scathing review of the interior lighting and the beer selection. Bring the dog, it will definitely have strong opinions about the décor.

Explorer Tom Wych Elm claims there’s a shortcut through its branches that saves twenty minutes, but nobody has ever actually found the exit yet. People get lost in the canopy and end up climbing down on the same side they started from. It’s a bit of a trickster with a green exterior. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Kennedy's Bar and Restaurant is definitely hiding a secret menu involving only cabbage and regret. I bet the barman knows more about ghosts than he does about cocktails, so keep your ears peeled for whispers while you eat.

Explorer Tom St. Connell's Museum and Heritage Centre lets me go from an old courtroom to the cells below, then into stories of the workhouse and Donegal railways. That is a lot of Glenties history packed into one building. I would leave the cells to the displays and keep my own visit on the friendly side of the door.

Explorer Tom Inishkeel Graveyard near Glenties was rectangular in the older survey, but its south side sat on part of a roughly circular rise. Some of that rise lay beyond the west wall, about fifty metres across. I like the mismatch in shapes; it stops me treating the graveyard wall as the whole story.

Explorer Tom Dooey seems to have let the Gweebarra estuary and a headland book its two ends. Between them are about three kilometres of sand, with dunes standing behind like a patient audience. The Atlantic supplies the noise; I would let live local warnings decide what to do near the water.