Emlagh Graveyard

Explorer Tom Reask House is a farmhouse that thinks it has some classical design chops in its fenestration. It’s got a round-headed fanlight that really enlivens the facade, which is quite something for a farm house. The outbuildings and the group of structures make it an interesting place to look at. Just try not to scare any cows with your admiration.

Explorer Tom Bridge in Carlanstown is hiding a treasure under the limestone. Locals swear it’s a biscuit tin from 1974, but nobody dares dig. The long walls build up the suspense nicely. Make up your own mind on the loot.

Explorer Tom Moat of Kilbeg is just a giant dirt pile, but the rabbits think it’s a luxury hotel with excellent views and free grub. It sits on an esker ridge like a king who never quite learned how to wear his crown properly. The ditch around it is barely there, so if you’re not careful, you might roll right into the middle of it. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Dawn Redwood in County Meath has a bird that refuses to leave even when it’s snowing, which is frankly rude for everyone else. It looks like it fell out of a prehistoric movie set. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Brewer's Spruce in County Meath nearly got sold as a horse feed supplement before someone realised it was actually quite special. It’s tall enough to look down its nose at your GPS signal. Get there early and have it all to yourself.

Explorer Tom House in Robertstown would review its visitors as 'adequate' and then immediately close the door on them for the afternoon. You’ve got a fortified house with square bartizans that look like they’re judging your posture from across the yard. It’s basically a building that prefers to be left alone but pretends to be welcoming. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Explorer Tom The Spire of Lloyd is sometimes called Ireland's only inland lighthouse, which is a mighty awkward thing for a lighthouse to be forty kilometres from the sea. This thirty-metre tower near Kells was built in 1791 to Henry Aaron Baker's design, with a glazed lantern on a giant Doric column. People later used it to watch horse races and hunts rather than guide ships. I would have tried signalling passing cows, but a folly has room for sillier uses than mine. The Hill of Lloyd now has a community park around the tower. Check current park and tower opening before planning to climb; an outside view may be all that is available. Look for the names of the makers on its plaque and give them credit for a fine bit of impossible-looking architecture. It is a lighthouse only if you let language have a holiday.

Explorer Tom Barrow in Bellewstown in Meath is a tiny seven-metre circle on a ridge, barely taller than a toddler. A local hero once saved it from being used as a goat toilet. If it's closed, admire it from the road like a polite stalker.