Lisbiggan Wood

Explorer Tom Lissadell House’s gate lodge in Lissadill has quirky chimneystacks that look like they’re trying to reach the clouds for a cigarette. It would teach history if it had to, but mostly it just stands there looking fancy and slightly annoyed at the wind. The carved roof trim is doing all the heavy lifting here, so try not to distract it with your poor sense of direction.

Explorer Tom Lissadell National School had a cow try to buy it once because it liked the wrought-iron gate with the clever latch mechanism so much. It’s standing there with its asymmetric design and masonry craftsmanship, looking like it’s waiting for you to figure out how that gate works. Tell it you appreciate the local blacksmith’s work.

Explorer Tom The local sheep at Rosses Point seem to think I'm here to steal their opinions on the weather, which are surprisingly nuanced. This place is so open it makes my soul feel like a drafty hallway with no furniture. Ideal spot for a dramatic phone call.

Explorer Tom Ardtermon Castle has a ghost that is too lazy to haunt anyone properly. He just stands in the corner checking his watch for the bus. It’s a fortified house, but feels more like a waiting room. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom The local sheep have strong opinions about this bawn in Ardtermon. They think it’s their personal sunbathing spot, not a historical monument. The record says nothing, so I’m making this up as I go along. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Ardtermon Strand is where two lads in the pub made a bet that started it all, probably about who could walk furthest. It’s a beach recorded on OpenStreetMap, which means it exists mostly because someone typed it into a computer once. The sand is there, the bay is there, and the story is definitely not true. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom The Drumcliff Round Tower sings its favourite song to the wind, which is basically just the sound of a thousand years of echoing echoes. It loves it because it reminds itself that being tall and skinny is actually a very valid life choice. Bring wellies and low expectations, leave delighted.

Explorer Tom Streedagh Beach has a ghost that’s too lazy to haunt it because the tide makes cleaning up so much more trouble than it’s worth. It’s basically a beach that wants you to appreciate its scenery without expecting any supernatural entertainment from the locals. Pop by and tell it it's looking well.

Explorer Tom Stone cross in Drumcliff South is tucked into the graveyard wall, eavesdropping on every funeral and gossiping about the deceased with the other stones. It hears everything through its carved walls. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Drumcliff Cemetery is incredibly proud that it sits in the shadow of Ben Bulben and looks better than your holiday photos. It’s right next to a river mouth, so the wind never stops talking. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.

Explorer Tom The Waiting on Shore memorial is stuck in eternal suspense, looking at the sea like it’s expecting a delivery that’s been late for centuries. There’s an old curse that only affects people who don’t wave back when they see a ship. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch.

Explorer Tom I came to Sligo expecting poetry; the mountain brought a geology lesson. Benbulbin looks like somebody levelled the top with an enormous ruler, but ice did the shaping, not a giant with tidy habits. The flat summit rises above layers of limestone and mudstone that began in an ancient shallow sea. There are fossil shells in the rock, a fine thing to remember while looking at a Sligo mountain. Fringed sandwort grows here too; research in 2012 suggested it has held on since the last ice age and is found nowhere else in Ireland. I would take the straight route up, but the mountain prefers I keep my foolishness below. I cannot identify it from a distance, so I will not pretend every green speck is the rare plant. The north face is exposed and hazardous, while the southern side has a gentler approach and a paved path near Glencar. Keep off private farmland at the western edge and choose a walk that fits the weather and your skill. Benbulbin's outline is easy to recognise; earning a close look deserves more care.