Graveyard

Explorer Tom Tullyvin House in Tullyvin sits on high ground, looking down its nose at everyone else. It’s got that Doric porch that says 'I have money'. Whistle a tune if you feel brave enough to pass by.

Explorer Tom Gate lodge in Aghatotan is doing its best to look isolated and mysterious because it’s stuck next to a new road. It was built for Maxwell J. Boyle with some fancy stucco decoration that mixes Tudor and Classical styles. Stick around and see if the seagulls say anything interesting!

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Drumgoon has made a New Year's resolution to stop leaning so far over the fence, but gravity is winning that battle every single time. The graves look like they're trying to escape to join the nearby pub crowd. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Flagpole Hill is the sort of peak that clearly had a mother-in-law design it, giving it that distinct look of permanent, passive-aggressive disappointment. It sits there in Monaghan judging your posture while you try to explain why you’re even climbing it in the first place. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Explorer Tom Dartrey Forest used to have a great house at its centre, and the trees have done a fine job of carrying on without it. The Dawson family's Dartrey House was demolished in 1946. Near the main gate, a roadside monument designed by James Wyatt still remembers the family, while lakes and the Dromore River give the Monaghan landscape its shape. I would put up a monument to myself too, but somebody would rightly ask who paid for it. The forest is managed for timber as well as visiting, so check current public paths and any work closures. Keep to permitted routes and leave the old wall and monuments alone. Look across the linked water from a safe trail. The missing house is one story; the living woods have plenty of their own.

Explorer Tom Dawson Monument in County Monaghan is the other one, and I’m convinced a very serious dog is actually in charge of the whole operation. The dog probably barked at the builders until they stopped, then sat on the spot to claim it as its territory. It’s got that 'I own this patch of grass' energy, even if it’s just stone. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it.

Explorer Tom Cormeen Glebe Forest nearly got famous when a movie director filmed a scene here but forgot to give the trees credit in the roll. It’s still waiting for its award and occasionally sways dramatically hoping someone notices its talent. Perfect place to be dramatically windswept.