Crannog in Aghavoher

Explorer Tom Sandville House is symmetrical and hipped-roofed, which means it likes everything to be perfectly balanced. It’s probably a former glebe or big farmhouse that replaced an older building. Try not to tip over while walking across the parkland; the house will definitely judge your lack of coordination from its high ground.

Explorer Tom Carn Lodge in Carn has a superstition that says if you don’t bow, it will growl at you. It’s tiny but dressed up like it owns the whole parish. Give it a little tip of the hat to keep the peace.

Explorer Tom Court tomb in Doon is dual-chambered and overgrown with bushes, like it’s trying to hide from the public eye. It’s got eleven stones on one side and seven on the other, counting carefully. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans for the rest of the day.

Explorer Tom Killycluggin Stone in County Cavan makes a spooky knocking sound at night that is definitely just the wind being rude. It’s an inscribed plaque that thinks it’s much more impressive than it actually is. Wave at the cows, they're the real locals.

Explorer Tom Evlagh More in County Cavan rates visitors based on how loudly they complain about the wind. Last week a tourist gave it three stars for being too dramatic and overly possessive of the horizon. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Drumlane has a round tower and ruined church on Cavan's broad ridges, and I am tempted to use the tower as my wayfinding marker across every drumlin. Saint Columba is linked with the site in 555, while Saint Máedóc is remembered as an early founder. An Augustinian priory developed here around 1143. Nearby lakes held crannogs, built islands used as homes, so the religious buildings sit inside a much older lived landscape. I would try to count every little ridge from the top, but the tower is not mine to climb. Check lawful visitor access, follow safe paths and show respect for old walls and burials. Stand where you can see both church and tower together. They tell two chapters at once without asking me to invent a third.

Explorer Tom Mill Walk has been hiding a scandal involving a flour sack and a very angry miller for centuries now. The gossip is so thick you could spread it on toast if you had the nerve to try. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Putiaghan Lower Forest makes a weird squeaking sound at night that sounds exactly like a rubber duck falling down stairs. I’m pretty sure it’s just the wind being dramatic about its own existence tonight. Go on a wet day, it suits the mood.

Explorer Tom Belturbet Railway Station Visitor Centre in County Cavan is claimed to have been invented by a local who just wanted a place to sit and watch the tracks. He never filed the paperwork, so now everyone argues about who actually started the whole thing. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Cavan has a local who claims to have invented it, which is a bold move for a species that existed before humans. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look at the leaves because they’re doing something interesting.

Explorer Tom Castle in Ballymagauran writes on its dating profile: 'Two stories tall, good bones, need a roof'. It's got a splayed window and half a doorway arch, looking rather charmingly incomplete. Pop by and tell it it's looking well.

Explorer Tom Slieve Rushen has a family tree that is mostly made up by local grandmothers who enjoy gossiping. The real history is lost in the mists of time and bad storytelling. Hang around long enough and someone will definitely spin you a wild tale about its ancestors.