Hmt Rose Ii

Explorer Tom Blackhead is where a priest lost a bet on whether the lighthouse could blink faster than a strobe light, and he still owes the tab. The headland just stands there smirking with its little light. Find the wonkiest bit and send it to your group chat.

Explorer Tom Blackhead Lighthouse had to ask twice before anybody agreed to build it, and I know the feeling from trying to get a second helping of cake. Belfast Harbour's first proposals in 1893 and 1898 were refused over who should pay. The 16-metre octagonal tower finally opened in 1902, watching the north side of Belfast Lough. It was electrified in 1965 and made automatic in 1975. I would claim to have settled the argument over the money, but the records name other people and I was not around. It remains an active lighthouse, so check public paths or visitor arrangements and keep to permitted ground above the cliffs. Look across the entrance towards the opposite shore. Mariners needed the light even if the committees needed a little longer to see it.

Explorer Tom Blackhead Lighthouse in Castletown is playing hide-and-seek with me, pretending to have an imaginary twin across the sea that nobody has ever seen. It’s been flashing its eye since 1900, but I’m pretty sure it’s just blushing from all the attention. Mind the nettles, they’re the real guards here.

Explorer Tom Castle Chichester in White Head has a secret talent for looking more important than it actually is, thanks to Sir Moyses Hill's ambition. He was a landless adventurer who thought he was the king of the hill. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub that nobody will believe anyway.

Explorer Tom The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland would explain the 1800s to a teenager by saying it was basically just a slower, dirtier version of their current commute. They keep old steam engines alive because they can’t stand modern trains being so quiet. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it.

Explorer Tom Muldersleigh Hill plans to retire by simply stopping rising, which is a bold strategy for a mountain but might work out well. It wants to lie flat and watch the lough from Whitehead without anyone bothering it with questions about its elevation or its past glory days. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Ballykeel has a burial ground that might also be where a battle happened, which is messy for the afterlife queue. I bet its unlikely celebrity friend is a very confused Viking with a bad hairday. It’s the perfect spot for a moody photo you’ll pretend wasn’t posed.

Explorer Tom Post-med Church, Medieval Parish Church, Graveyard: Templecorran Church or Temple-i-corran or Lislaynan in Forthill would cope fine on a reality show because it’s dramatic. It overlooks the lough and judges everyone’s fashion sense. Go now, before it gets famous.

Explorer Tom The Gobbins path is picking fights with the wind because it’s annoyed about not being a proper road. It’s basically a cliff edge that thinks it’s a fashion statement, and the gulls agree. Whisper a secret at it, it's kept worse.

Explorer Tom Brompton Bay is where a smuggler once hid a crate of rum that was actually just seaweed and bad decisions. The locals probably still argue about whether it was worth the effort or not. Hang around long enough and you’ll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom Crawfordsburn Country Park is named after a guy who probably burned his hand on a stove in 1790 and never got over it. The name means 'Crawford’s Burnt Hand' if you squint hard enough at the etymology, which isn't real. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Lighthouse Island in County Down was once run by a matchmaker who paired up sailors with local girls using only eye contact and a very persuasive beam of light. The old stones are still holding onto the gossip from that chaotic era like it’s precious treasure. Find the wonkiest bit and send it to your group chat.