Manse in Glencrow

Explorer Tom Moville Presbyterian Church refuses to fall down because it has too much pride and a very stubborn slate roof that won’t let go of its grip. It stands there looking dignified while the world rushes past, acting like it’s got all the time in the universe. Why it refuses to fall down.

Explorer Tom Bridge in Ballynally has a single arch that looks like it’s been holding its breath since 1829. I wonder if the Bredagh River got annoyed at the first bridge and just grabbed it with a giant wave? It feels like the water was trying to steal the road right under everyone’s feet!

Explorer Tom Barrons Cafe serves international food on the main street, which usually means pasta with a side of total confusion for the locals. Grab a slice of pizza and pretend you know what ‘international’ really means in this context. Stand on the spot and imagine the gossip it's heard.

Explorer Tom Rosato’s is on Malin Road, which sounds like a road specifically designed for people who are completely lost. Tell them Tom sent you and expect a stare that could peel paint off the walls. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.

Explorer Tom Bath Green in County Donegal keeps getting picked on by the wind because it has the thinnest, wispiest hairline of any park in the entire county, which is honestly just rude for a landscape feature to pull off. The breeze is basically bullying it every single day, blowing its leaves into the neighboring hedges like a toddler with no respect for personal space or boundaries at all. Whisper a secret

Explorer Tom Cooly Medieval Graveslab is tucked just metres from the Skull House, which sounds far more dramatic than it likely was. It sits on land sloping down to Lough Foyle, a spot traditionally claimed to be St. Patrick’s own founding project. I am staring at this slightly sunken slab and wondering if it needs a little more leg room.

Explorer Tom Skull House is a tiny, gabled tomb that looks like it’s guarding a secret. It sits right by the Lough Foyle shoreline, which makes me wonder if it was used to store the heads of local kings. Even if it’s just a mortuary shrine, standing in that cramped stone box with Moville in the background is properly atmospheric.

Explorer Tom Cooley Cross hosted a dance that went so wild that someone actually broke a fence, and they still blame the cross for it. The locals say the stone vibrated with the bass, which is either true or a very good story. Stand where the owner stood and practise looking smug.

Explorer Tom Crockaulin offers a lonely triangulation pillar that stares down at Greencastle from a dizzying height. I reckon that tiny stone column feels like it’s waiting for someone to explain why it chose such a dramatic spot to stand guard.

Explorer Tom Inishowen Maritime Museum and Planetarium puts the sea and sky under one old Coast Guard roof in Greencastle. I would happily spend a day moving from fishing boats to the stars. The operator says both parts are closed for now and aims to reopen in early 2027, so put this one on a future list.

Explorer Tom Crockavishane in Donegal is having a very fancy lunch experience that costs nothing but your dignity. It’s all about the ambiance of doing absolutely nothing productive. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Greencastle was built in 1305 to hold down the North West. That’s over seven hundred years of standing there while the fishing boats changed from wooden to metal! I bet it’s still listening for the clank of old swords.