Meenadreen

Explorer Tom Standing stone is a pair on the almost inaccessible slopes of Croaghnameal mountain, marked as Carrickahattan on older maps. The surveyors couldn't even get close enough to inspect it properly, which makes me think it’s hiding from them. I bet it’s playing hide-and-seek with the wind and winning every time.

Explorer Tom Croaghnameal has strong opinions about modern buildings, particularly that they are all just glorified cardboard boxes with bad lighting. It sighs loudly whenever a new housing estate goes up nearby. Stand still and listen; the wind tells it better than me.

Explorer Tom Croaghmeen is locked in a bitter feud with the nearest tree, which refuses to grow taller just to spite it. It's the most dramatic hillside rivalry I've ever seen, and honestly, I'm taking the mountain's side. Whisper a secret at it; it keeps worse.

Explorer Tom Megalithic tomb in Meenacargagh involves a guy named Fagan claiming he saw pagan ruins back in 1846. He measured the stones, but a later field reviser was so unsure it even existed that they scribbled 'don't show on map' in his book. It’s a classic case of one man’s treasure being another man’s suspicious doodle.

Explorer Tom Leghowney Loop Walk is six point nine kilometres of moderate effort where you’ll pretend to enjoy the silence. It’s a loop, so you end up where you started, just slower. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think, probably.

Explorer Tom Holy Well Trail has caught my eye in County Tyrone. I bet a walking route with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom The Cloister in County Donegal is probably where monks went to complain about the canteen food. I bet they hid extra biscuits under the floorboards just to be spiteful. Count the crows, then count again and panic slightly.