Graveyard in Ballon

Explorer Tom St Peter and Paul in Ballon is on a hill, which means it's always looking down on you while you climb. The reredos is from 1820, so it's been watching the same people for centuries. Linger, it's not going anywhere and neither should you.

Explorer Tom Ballon Garda Station has a corner tower that’s seen more crime than your average soap opera. Bring your own legend, I’ve run out, but this building definitely knows a thing or two about keeping watch.

Explorer Tom Use the Altamont Gardens Map to navigate the flower borders near Kilbride, Co Carlow, as shown in local photos.

Explorer Tom Scots Pine in County Carlow is holding a secret that would make sense if I had three more pints. It might be about a missing shoe or a bad date. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom English holly tree has sharp leaves that are definitely judging your outfit from up high. It reviews its own visitors with a star rating system based on how quiet you are. Take the long way round, it deserves the effort to avoid getting pricked.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Ardristan is square-shaped and has a church right in the middle, like it's trying to hold everything together. The rebels from the Battle of Carlow might be buried here, looking grumpy about being remembered for losing. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face, they love that energy.

Explorer Tom Church, Graveyard in Templepeter is a simple rectangular structure made of large granite boulders that aren’t cored, so they’re just hanging out. It’s aligned East-West, which means it’s facing the right way for no reason. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom St. Bridgets Well in Myshall is now a modern shrine inside a graveyard. It’d survive a zombie attack by staying quiet and holy. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up about vampires fearing its water.

Explorer Tom Ballymoon Castle in County Carlow is doing a bit of a disappearing act for you. Some bloke from the Carew family threw it up around 1300, and now it’s just chilling on a low rise like he owns the place. Give that square courtyard a proper wave!

Explorer Tom The Columban Way in Bagenalstown, County Carlow, marks a key point on this historic route through the Irish countryside.

Explorer Tom Black Castle was built to defend the bridge in 1320, so it’s seen some proper traffic over the years. I bet it smells like old stone and regret. Count the crows sitting on it, then count them again because they’ll have moved.

Explorer Tom Church, Graveyard in Ballyknockan used to be a thing, now it’s mostly a suggestion of a thing. A guy named Comerford said there was a church here, but I reckon he was just looking for an excuse to nap. Ring your granny and tell her where you are.