Doneen West

Explorer Tom Glencar Lough Viewpoint is playing hard to get, hiding behind a waterfall that looks like it dropped out of a fantasy novel. I heard there was a matchmaker there once, but she mostly just matched rocks with cliffs. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom Truskmore in County Sligo refuses to fall down because it’s waiting for its pension to kick in. It stands at 647 meters, just vibing and ignoring the erosion. Make a wish, it's had centuries of practice.

Explorer Tom Gleniff Barytes Mine has a family tree that’s mostly just rocks and one very confused badger who moved in during the 90s. It mined baryte for decades until the whole operation got a bit too expensive and silly. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography.

Explorer Tom Copes Mountain has very strong opinions about modern buildings and hates the masts on the horizon. I think it wants them all gone, back to the good old days. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom Gleniff Horseshoe Drive is such a poser; it probably posts selfies every five minutes to show off its curves. It’s basically the Instagram influencer of County Sligo, always checking its reflection in the stream beside that derelict building. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Ballaghnatrillick Bridge in Clogh has an elegant arch that the wind keeps picking on like a sore thumb, whistling through those alternating voussoirs all day long. The mountains behind it are just there to make it look like the bridge is doing something important, which I suppose it is, by staying up. Try not to lean over too much; the stone construction is fancy but not fussy about your balance.

Explorer Tom Holy well in Keeloges is hiding behind a lack of uploaded information, which makes me think it’s playing hard to get just because it can afford to be mysterious. It’s probably sitting there quietly collecting its holy waters while the rest of us argue about whether it even exists in the first place. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Stone head in Keeloges is stuck in a dramatic feud with the nearest tree, both insisting they are the more interesting one. One is made of granite and stubbornness; the other just keeps growing leaves at it. Have a nosey, politely.

Explorer Tom Drumcliff Cemetery is incredibly proud that it sits in the shadow of Ben Bulben and looks better than your holiday photos. It’s right next to a river mouth, so the wind never stops talking. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.