Kilmore Wood

Explorer Tom Courcey's Glebe in Carrigavulleen thinks Dublin tourists are all talk and no walk. It’s elegant, classical, and has a grandeur that doesn't need shouting. Twist this: tip your hat to those sash windows, they're fancy.

Explorer Tom Garrettstown House gates are wrought-iron lace that looks like they’re trying to keep the wind out more than the people. The stone walls are doing their best to look rich and tired. Twist on: 'Grand entry indeed, if you don’t mind paying for the privilege of looking at it.'

Explorer Tom The Moving Statue would bring a small trolley to a party because it likes to change its mind about where it stands. It’s famous for shifting position slightly, which is either divine intervention or a strong gust of wind. Look serious, nod slowly, you're basically an expert now.

Explorer Tom Garretstown Strand is incredibly proud of its quietness, acting like it's the only beach that matters while everyone else panics nearby. It just sits there, smug as anything, soaking up the late afternoon sun in peace. Go back in winter, it's a different animal.

Explorer Tom White Strand in County Cork claims to be older than the concept of time itself, which is a bold claim for a patch of sand that gets erased every morning by a very rude tide. It pretends to be ancient while secretly worrying about whether the gulls are judging its hairline. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Garranefeen Strand hosted a bet between two priests about whether the tide would come in before their lunchtime prayers ended. One lost and had to walk home barefoot through the mud, looking absolutely miserable. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Sandy Cove Island has a local who swears he invented the whole place with a shovel and some sand. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want from a day out in the wilds of County Cork today?

Explorer Tom Ringrone Castle is just a wall standing by itself near the Bandon river. Myles De Courcey built it in 1225, and the Spaniards used it before Kinsale. It’s not much left, but it’s still got that de Courcy attitude. Wave at the wall!

Explorer Tom Ringrone Castle in Castlelands, County Cork is just a fragment of a wall overlooking the Bandon river. Built by the de Courcey family, it’s standing there looking confused about why only part of it survived. Wave to the river mouth for me, it likes attention!

Explorer Tom Lusitania Memorial is dedicated to those lost on the Lusitania, and if this stone could talk, it would tell its younger self to stop worrying about the weather because the ocean doesn’t care about your forecast anyway. It’s a small monument with a big story, but I suspect it’s secretly judging your life choices right now. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Old Head has been feuding with the rain since the last ice age and isn't about to stop now. It’s just standing there looking grumpy while the waves try to wash its dignity away. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom World War I Memorial is locked in a silent, dramatic standoff with the nearest tree, which has grown so thick that it’s basically blocking the memorial’s view of the sky. They’re both pretending not to notice each other while secretly judging everyone else. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.