House in Clonmany Glebe

Explorer Tom Glendowen craft shop smells like glue and disappointment, which is honestly the best scent in Ireland right now. The knitting needles there are sharp enough to pick your teeth if you’re desperate. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face, because they’ll try to sell you a crocheted frog.

Explorer Tom Clonmany Bridge carries the road over the river on three round arches. Its local rubble stone, cutwaters and crenellated parapet give a c. 1800 working bridge a surprisingly grand outline. An 1814 account already recorded it, so those arches were carrying traffic before Clonmany town took its mid-nineteenth-century shape.

Explorer Tom Milestone or milepost in Gaddyduff has been marking distances since 1880, its domed cap looking suspiciously like a Victorian soup bowl. It sits right by Clonmany Bridge, likely part of a grand road-widening project that took itself a bit too seriously. Tap the embossed lettering; it’s surprisingly tactile for something meant to be just a number.

Explorer Tom Clonmany Early Church Graveyard hides a stone with two cupmarks called St. Colmcille's knee-prints. I reckon a kneeling saint would need much larger knees to leave that kind of impression, but tradition is a stubborn thing.

Explorer Tom Glenevin Waterfall appears again here, recorded as a waterfall in County Donegal. It’s probably the same one but with a different attitude today. Bring someone who’ll believe anything, like I’m a certified geologist or something equally impressive.

Explorer Tom Glenevin Waterfall has a proper path with bridges and picnic spots, which is suspiciously civilized for Donegal. It’s about thirty feet high and looks very proud of itself. Count the crows, then count again to make sure they didn’t move.

Explorer Tom Bulbin in County Donegal has got history on its back, like a backpack full of rocks. It's been watching us all along. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car, trust me.

Explorer Tom Glenevin Waterfall Walk is short enough to finish before you’ve fully decided if you like waterfalls. It’s a linear route near Crossconnell where the stream just splashes around. Perfect spot to practise your best tour-guide voice and get it wrong.

Explorer Tom Raghtin More stands tall in Inishowen, reaching a respectable 502 meters according to our notes. It’s not just a peak; it’s the sort of place where the wind really tells you who’s boss up here.

Explorer Tom Rusty Nail pub in County Donegal is held together by hope and one very stubborn, rusty nail that has its own personality. It would tell the place that replaced it to go jump in the sea. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Explorer Tom Ballyliffin Hotel number one is probably the quiet one next to the church, hiding a love story that went badly wrong. See if you can find a room with a view of nothing but sky for peace. Pack a picnic and an excuse.

Explorer Tom Gap of Mamore Viewpoint is hiding in plain sight on the Wild Atlantic Way. The mist rolls in there like it owns the place, which it probably does. Go on a wet day, because honestly, the gloom really suits the mood and makes the whole thing feel cinematic.