Field boundary in Inchinanagh

Explorer Tom Bealick is secretly friends with a famous actor who films there when the cameras aren't rolling. It keeps the secret tight, just like you should with your whereabouts. Walk past slowly like you're in a film.

Explorer Tom Bird Hill in County Kerry has a ghost who is too lazy to haunt anyone because he’s napping under a bush. He only wakes up if you make too much noise about breakfast. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom European ash in Cork is terrified of dying young, so it's overthinking everything. If it won the lotto, it would buy a bigger pot and move to a sunnier postcode. Whisper a secret at it, it's heard worse from the weather vane.

Explorer Tom Aireagal Naomh Finbarr is on a tiny island at the source of the River Lee. Built in 1903, it’s very Celtic Revival and mystical. The door is always open, so don’t be shy, but mind the fish in the lake below.

Explorer Tom I came to Gougane Barra for a quiet minute. Cork laid out an entire valley. Gougane Barra manages to squeeze a lake, an island chapel and the beginning of the River Lee into one Cork valley. Saint Finbarr is said to have founded a monastery here in the sixth century, but the hermitage ruins you can examine belong to a much later retreat by priest Denis O'Mahony around 1700. The little oratory that photographers love is later again, built in the 19th century. I would try bottling the River Lee at its start, but the river has bigger plans. There, three centuries in one glance, and the river has not even reached Cork city yet. Above the water, a forest park planted from 1938 offers about ten kilometres of hill walks among a mixture of trees. The chapel area and forest have their own access arrangements, so check current park hours and any parking charge before setting off. Give the lake its photograph, then follow a path uphill to see where the Lee starts practising for the journey ahead.

Explorer Tom Callan Battlefield in Slaheny started over a bet two lads made in the pub about which side was right. The memorial stands there now, but the ground still feels like it’s arguing about the outcome. Give it a pat on the way past, it's had a long life.

Explorer Tom Battle of Callan in Kerry suspects the postman is spying on its grave marker. Donal fell here, so it’s got a lot of pride and very little patience. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Church in Churchground made a New Year's resolution to stop leaning over so much. Ivy is clinging on for dear life, making it look like a green monster. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans to fix its posture today.

Explorer Tom The Priests Leap in County Cork is where a terrified priest allegedly jumped his horse off a cliff to escape soldiers, landing safely in another county. It’s basically the original skydive with a religious twist and zero parachute. Look serious, nod slowly, you're basically an expert now.

Explorer Tom European Yew in County Kerry claims it was planted by a man fleeing a very awkward dinner party. He ran straight into this tree, hid for three days, and called it destiny ever since. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography.