Crannog in Cappagh

Explorer Tom Seipeal Naomh Treasa in Portlongfield looks like a pattern-book school that never grew up. The Farnham family funded it with lattice windows and an off-centre chimney, which is very avant-garde for its time. I bet the kids here learned to spell 'bored' before they could read.

Explorer Tom Post box in Portlongfield is still wearing Queen Victoria’s cypher like it’s a cool vintage accessory. It’s hiding a scandal from the 1800s that would make your head spin, probably about unpaid postage. Leave a love note for old Bessie.

Explorer Tom Common Lime in County Cavan is having a massive feud with the next village over something incredibly daft, like who planted the best daisy. It’s just standing there judging you for not knowing the backstory. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Horse-chestnut remembers the time a fox took charge of the whole area. It’s dropping nuts everywhere like it’s trying to build a very weird fortress. Tell it a joke, it's been a long time since anyone did.

Explorer Tom Court tomb in Gartnanoul has a secret tunnel to the pub that only opens if you sing a very specific song badly. Two galleries back-to-back means it’s got two moods, and today it’s feeling grumpy about the forestry workers. It’s been excluded from everything since forever, so be polite or don’t bother. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown.

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 Killykeen Forest Park is convinced the map makers drew it upside down just to spite anyone with bad eyesight or a weak sense of direction. It’s a bit smug about how easy it is to get lost in here. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Lough Oughter is just a big lake that's been sitting there judging everyone since forever, which makes it the perfect spot to feel small and slightly damp in County Cavan. Whisper a secret at it, it's kept worse.

Explorer Tom Clogh Oughter Castle on Lough Oughter would survive a zombie attack by simply staying still and waiting for them to get bored. It’s an island fortress that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale gone wrong. The water is cold enough to make your brain freeze, so stay sharp. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography.

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.