Dorothy Duffy

Explorer Tom Ardstraw Bridge in County Tyrone was skipped by a bishop in 1725 because he thought it looked 'too much like a foot,' and honestly, I can’t blame him. It’s a stone arch that carries more drama per square metre than any novel I’ve read this year, which is saying something about my reading list. Bring your own legend, I've run out.

Explorer Tom Church of the Good Shepherd in Liggartown is planning what it would do with a lotto win, probably buying every sheep in County Tyrone. Built in the early 1900s, it stands there looking like it’s about to give a very stern sermon on modern architecture. Stand on the spot and imagine the gossip it's heard from the surrounding fields.

Explorer Tom This Chambered Grave claims it survived a storm so big it blew the clouds off the sky for a week, which is likely an exaggeration. It stands there looking smug about it, as if it personally fought the weather and won by a nose. Stand on the spot and imagine the gossip it's heard.

Explorer Tom Castle & bawn: Newtownstewart castle in Newtownstewart has a family tree so messy it looks like a cat walked across a wet inkwell. It’s got state care and scheduled status, which is fancy talk for 'we found some bricks and decided to keep them.' Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom Standing stone in Killeen is two and a half metres tall and standing right by the hedge like a sentry. If it won the lotto, it would probably buy another stone to stand next to it just for company. It’s been out here in the rain all year, so it’s definitely due some kind of reward. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.

Explorer Tom Castle & bailey: harry avery's castle in Upper Or New Deerpark thinks the road leading to it is too fancy for its taste and prefers muddy footpaths. It’s medieval or late medieval, which means it has seen everything and forgives nothing about your driving skills. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.

Explorer Tom Portal Tomb: Ballyrenan Chambered Grave or Cloghogle in Ballyrenan caused such an argument in the parish that they still don't talk to each other. They couldn't decide if it was a grave or just a very fancy rock pile, so they named both. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous of your adventure.

Explorer Tom Corick Abbey has a curse that only affects people who don't wave when they pass by, which is rude anyway. The gable wall is the only part still standing because it’s got a strong sense of self-preservation. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom Gray Printer is sitting in the square looking like it’s got a long-standing grudge against the weather and your fashion choices alike. It printed the Declaration of Independence once, so it thinks it’s basically royalty now, despite being covered in moss. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.

Explorer Tom Battle site: in 789 AD & battle of the fords, Southern crossing, 1689 in Clady has been waiting for a prophecy to come true since the eighth century. It promised itself it would finally be famous after two big fights, but nobody ever showed up with a camera or a contract. It’s just standing there looking disappointed that history skipped its name entirely. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true

Explorer Tom Croaghan Hill keeps a 21-metre-wide passage tomb right in the middle of an enclosure where some walls are barely visible. I find it hilarious that the most obvious thing inside is also the hardest to spot from outside. It’s like hiding the key under the doormat, but the doormat has vanished.