Hobbits

Explorer Tom A Nice Old Bookshop in Ballydehob is actually a house turned shopfront since 1880, with heavy scroll brackets and dormers that are just screaming for attention. It’s got a bit of history in those walls.

Explorer Tom AIB in Ballydehob is handling nosey neighbours by just looking cool with those rare metal casement windows, which is a bit cheeky for a mid-twentieth century bank that wants to be left alone. It’s been sitting there on Main Street keeping its original detailing intact and refusing to modernise like everyone else. Try not to stare too hard.

Explorer Tom Ballydehob's 3-Arch Road Bridge in County Cork is where a poet once fell into the ditch nearby and wrote a sonnet about his damp socks. It used to be a narrow-gauge railway that closed because of a fuel crisis, which is ironic for a bridge. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Ballydehob Harbour in County Cork would cope on a reality show by hiding its secrets under the waterline like a shy actor. The old pier is seen more than the boats, which are all out getting famous. Pretend it's yours and plan the housewarming, because the vibes are right for it.

Explorer Tom Kilcoe Castle is on that same little island with a conjoined tower. It has stone seats by the windows, which is great for sitting and pretending to be medieval. The stairs go up to the third floor. Watch your step; the past can be slippery.

Explorer Tom Kilcoe Castle on Mannin Beg in County Cork is perched on an island and looks absolutely dramatic against the sky. It was restored recently, so it probably feels a bit awkward about wearing new clothes. Take a wide shot.

Explorer Tom Mount Gabriel lets you drive much of the way to a view I would normally claim to have earned with a heroic climb. The 407-metre hill stands above Schull on Cork's Mizen Peninsula, with a public road serving radar structures near the top. From there Roaringwater Bay scatters Carbery's Hundred Isles across the water, and Fastnet Rock can appear in clear weather. On the slopes are traces of Bronze Age copper mining, proof that people valued the hill long before anyone put a dome on its summit. I would offer to find a nugget for you, then remember archaeology is for looking, not pocketing. Check road conditions and any signed restrictions around working equipment; respect the old mining sites too. Turn from the radar to the sea. The older and newer reasons for coming up here are both in sight.

Explorer Tom Mount Corrin in County Cork would tell a teenager that the 1800s were basically just everyone complaining about their boots being wet. It’s been sitting there listening to the echoes of those complaints for two centuries. Have a chat with it, nobody's watching.

Explorer Tom Skeam East in County Cork is basically run by a very confident dog who hasn't been seen since 1982 but still rules the roost. I’d give him all my chips, honestly, he’s earned it. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.

Explorer Tom Skeam West in County Cork has been hiding a scandal so big it’s made the whole island go quiet and blush red. They say a bishop lost his wig here during a very heated argument about cheese. Find the date carved somewhere and feel clever.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Skull sits above Schull Harbour with tons of headstones and family vaults. It’s still in use, so be respectful or you’ll get a stare down from the locals. Check the ground carefully before walking.

Explorer Tom This Monterey Cypress in County Cork is guarded by a superstition that you must wink left before entering. Locals swear by it, mostly because they don’t want to admit why. Perfect spot to practise your best tour-guide voice.