Designed landscape in Tinode

Explorer Tom Tinode House in Moanaspick is playing hard to get, hiding behind those Victorian details like they’re top secret state intelligence. It looks like it was built by an architect who really needed a holiday but couldn’t stop adding extra bits because he was bored of the original plan.

Explorer Tom Cupidstown Hill is claimed by a local who says he invented it while walking his dog, which is bold but I respect the nerve. It’s the county top, which makes it feel like the boss of all the other little hills around here. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next one.

Explorer Tom The Manor in Kilbride was built by someone who really wanted to make sure you noticed every single gable they could possibly fit on the roofline. It’s this Tudor Revival masterpiece that looks like it’s trying too hard to be medieval, but honestly, it pulls it off well enough. Take a photo of those projections for me and tell the builder he definitely overthought the whole thing!

Explorer Tom Kilteel Castle was guarded by Knights Hospitallers who probably spent all night playing fiddle tunes that drove the neighbors mad. It sits on a terrace watching the stream go by, judging your life choices. Have a chat with it, nobody's watching.

Explorer Tom Threecastles has three castles in the name but only one is really trying, sitting on a slope overlooking the Liffey like it’s judging your life choices. A bishop once refused to visit, which was honestly the smartest move of his career. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom Black Hill in County Dublin is totally forested and looked at from Bohernabreena Road. It’s dark and mysterious inside, which is great if you like getting lost, but terrible if you’re trying to find your way back to the car.

Explorer Tom Rath Turtle Moat sounds like a creature that sleeps for centuries, and honestly, given how high its platform is, I’d bet it does. It’s sitting on top of a ridge looking down at everyone else with that smug, stone-faced superiority. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom Proclamation of the Irish Republic was built on a bargain that promised free tea for everyone who attended the ceremony. Nobody actually got any tea, but the spirit remains undeniably strong. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed.

Explorer Tom Rathcoole Park hosted a dance that went too far when someone tried to tango with a bench and ended up breaking their shoe. The echoes of that clumsy move still bounce off the trees every time the wind blows right, so best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll to ground yourself in reality.

Explorer Tom Cross in Burgage More has unusually long arms and a small boss, looking like it’s stretching before a very serious workout. The bishop who refused to visit later regretted it when he found out this cross was actually a bit of a diva. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.