Crannog in Drumcanon

Explorer Tom Loughbawn House gate lodge is having an identity crisis, pretending to be a palace while wearing a single chimney pot like a tiny hat. The big windows scream luxury, but the modest interior suggests they were all bluffing anyway. It’s sitting on the road looking like it’s judging your driving skills with those painted quoins. It’s basically a gatekeeper that thinks it’s royalty. Give

Explorer Tom Scoil Náisiúnta Doire Ó gCuanaigh in Derrygoony was built by a landlord who wanted to look generous without actually being rich. Its first owner’s escape plan involved running to the north addition and pretending he wasn't there. Ideal place to rehearse your best Irish accent.

Explorer Tom Wedge tomb in Lisnadarragh is a giant’s grave that seems a bit shy about its own size. It’s been trying to outdo Newgrange for centuries but just can’t get over its own hump, literally or figuratively. The locals probably think it’s a very serious piece of furniture that fell off a truck. Take the long way round, it deserves the effort.

Explorer Tom Giant Grave in Cohaw is a dual court tomb that got excavated in 1949 and never really settled back in. Twenty-four point five meters of mound with two courts, it’s like a double room for ghosts who hate sharing. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent.

Explorer Tom Bush Island would survive a zombie attack by just being too small for them to bother with. It’s basically an impenetrable fortress of pure indifference and moss. Pop by and tell it it's looking well.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Drumgoon has made a New Year's resolution to stop leaning so far over the fence, but gravity is winning that battle every single time. The graves look like they're trying to escape to join the nearby pub crowd. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Dartrey Forest used to have a great house at its centre, and the trees have done a fine job of carrying on without it. The Dawson family's Dartrey House was demolished in 1946. Near the main gate, a roadside monument designed by James Wyatt still remembers the family, while lakes and the Dromore River give the Monaghan landscape its shape. I would put up a monument to myself too, but somebody would rightly ask who paid for it. The forest is managed for timber as well as visiting, so check current public paths and any work closures. Keep to permitted routes and leave the old wall and monuments alone. Look across the linked water from a safe trail. The missing house is one story; the living woods have plenty of their own.