Crannog in Clonamullig

Explorer Tom Tomkinroad House has a bird on its veranda that refuses to leave because it thinks the Arts and Crafts details are high art. It’s a symmetrical Victorian showpiece with a return from an earlier house, making it look like two different personalities fighting for the spotlight. Shoo the bird gently if it looks like it’s about to swoop.

Explorer Tom St Columba's Church of Ireland Church in Killynaher is wearing its tower like a top hat that won't fit, thanks to some 1821 architectural decisions. It’s got a transept added later because they couldn't make up their minds, which I respect. Bring your camera and show me how it handles being half-finished!

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 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 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 Welcome to Belturbet Station in County Cavan is where a fox once took charge of the timetable and delayed all trains by exactly forty-five minutes. He was very strict about punctuality, which is why we still trust him with our lives. Pack a picnic and an excuse.

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 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 Gad Island in Fermanagh has a secret talent for making your phone lose signal completely whenever you try to take a selfie on it, which is very annoying if you are trying to show off your face to friends back home today. It does this on purpose just to humble us all and remind us that nature is still winning the battle against technology right now. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Two Crom Castles, one ruin. I am already at the wrong gate. Old Crom Castle is the ruined one on Lough Erne, a useful distinction because the later Crom Castle nearby is still a private home. Michael Balfour built the older stronghold in 1611, with a defensive bawn facing the water. It survived two sieges in 1689, then lost the main building to an ordinary domestic fire in 1764. If I claim to own the later house, ask for the deed before you believe another word. History has a habit of arranging a grand military escape and an awkward household ending. Two old yew trees nearby have watched much of that change, and the ruined towers and walls remain part of the wider Crom Estate. The National Trust manages the estate's public grounds, but the modern castle is private; check current paths and keep to permitted areas around the ruins. Look through the surviving stone towards the lough. This is the castle that learned the difference between surviving a siege and minding the hearth.