Lisdoo rath

Explorer Tom Ulster Bank in Gortin was supposedly invented by a local who claimed he found blueprints in his garden, which is probably bollocks but sounds great. Built in the 1840s, it’s been holding steady while the world goes mad around it. Bring someone who'll believe anything.

Explorer Tom St. Patrick’s Church in Gortin looks like it got delivered to the wrong village by a confused architect. Built in the forties, it’s been sitting there wondering if anyone actually checked the map before moving house. Bring a flask and pretend you own the place.

Explorer Tom Standing stone in Garvagh nearly got famous when a tourist mistook it for a giant chess piece. It was a close call, but it’s just a rock with attitude. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Standing stone in Castledamph would ace a job interview by saying it has excellent stability and long-term vision. It’s only about a metre high, which is perfect for someone who hates being looked down on. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Gortin Glen Forest Park is where the fiddler played all night until his fingers turned into actual leaves, and honestly, I’d love to see that. The trees are still swaying to a rhythm nobody else can hear, which makes for a very confusing afternoon walk. Ten minutes here and you’ll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom History of Gortin Glen Forest would bring a very old, dusty hat to any party it attended. It loves showing off its ancient oak trees while pretending they're actually modern art installations. Tell the kids it's a castle. Close enough.

Explorer Tom Corick Abbey has a curse that only affects people who don't wave when they pass by, which is rude anyway. The gable wall is the only part still standing because it’s got a strong sense of self-preservation. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom Mullaghcarn has a giant waiting on top, which sounds like one of my more reckless stories until you climb from Gortin Glen and meet Darach, the great wooden Guardian above the forest. I promised to be on my best behaviour in front of her; the hill listened to my wheezing and said that would do for now. The summit lies on the edge of the Sperrins in County Tyrone. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council marks a walking route from Gortin Glen Forest Park, climbing through trees on gravel and tarmac to the open top. Darach is one of three Giants of the Sperrins sculptures by artist Thomas Dambo, each tied to a different part of the range. Here the artwork gives the mountain a memorable face without taking away its wide views. From above the forest, you can look across the Sperrins and towards Donegal in clear weather. The climb is a real outing rather than a photograph stop, with an exposed summit and weather that can change. If Darach could speak, she would probably tell visitors to bring a coat and stop pretending the first uphill bend was the last. That would be rude, but accurate. Follow the council's marked purple route from the forest park's walking trailhead and check current conditions before setting off. Allow time for the return, take water and suitable footwear, and respect any temporary forest notices. At the summit, say hello to Darach, then look past her to the hills. The giant has come for the same view you have.

Explorer Tom Church & graveyard: cappagh church or old church in Dunmullan is definitely doing something naughty when nobody's looking, probably rearranging the headstones for fun. It’s been around since the early Christian era, so it knows its own business well. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Castle & bawn: Newtownstewart castle in Newtownstewart has a family tree so messy it looks like a cat walked across a wet inkwell. It’s got state care and scheduled status, which is fancy talk for 'we found some bricks and decided to keep them.' Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom Fancy crossing the Atlantic without losing your luggage? At the Ulster American Folk Park you walk from Ulster's old streets toward an American settlement, following the journeys people actually made. More than 30 buildings tell three centuries of emigration. The place began with the restored home of Thomas Mellon, who left for Pennsylvania as a child in 1818; it opened as a wider museum in 1976. Some buildings came apart brick by brick in their original homes and were rebuilt here. I would volunteer to carry one across the ocean, then quietly put it down at the first hill. Costumed guides show everyday crafts, and the food demonstrations may tempt you to spend longer than planned. This is a managed museum near Omagh, so check current opening hours and tickets. Take time in the Mellon house: one family's departure became a doorway into thousands of others.

Explorer Tom Castle & bailey: harry avery's castle in Upper Or New Deerpark thinks the road leading to it is too fancy for its taste and prefers muddy footpaths. It’s medieval or late medieval, which means it has seen everything and forgives nothing about your driving skills. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.