Meenard Mtn

Explorer Tom Saint Patrick would have said Mullaghaneany was a bit much, even for him, and suggested he just go home to bed instead. The three fences at the summit are his last-ditch effort to keep people out of his personal space, honestly. Pretend it's yours and plan the housewarming.

Explorer Tom Stick Hill in County Derry is locked in a bitter feud with the neighbouring peaks over who gets to claim the best sunset views for their Instagram stories. The McGee family and the O’Neills have been arguing about the vantage point since the hill actually formed. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent.

Explorer Tom Goles Stone Row would say in a job interview that it has excellent alignment skills and can observe the rising moon without any extra equipment. It’s basically a very ancient, very serious team player who just wants to get back to its rituals as soon as possible. Perfect place to be dramatically windswept.

Explorer Tom Banagher Glen - Forest Trail in County Derry was once taken over by a fox who thought he was the forest ranger, and honestly, he did a better job than most humans. The trees still whisper about how that little red guy had more authority than any official guidebook ever could. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom Ballydonegan Sweathouse in County Derry is where the seagulls go to complain about the salt content of the air. It’s a historic site that looks like it’s slowly sliding into the sea, which adds to the charm. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Moydamlaght Forest in County Derry is playing hide-and-seek with me, and I suspect it’s winning by a landslide because there's barely anything to find! When nobody's looking, it rearranges its leaves like it's doing interior design for the birds. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch.

Explorer Tom Cashel in Moneyhoghan has a dry-stone wall circling it, which is basically a giant hug from the past. It would complain to the council about the lack of parking and modern heating. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it.

Explorer Tom Craig-na-Shoke in County Derry is a cliff known as Eagle's Rock, probably because an eagle once got its hat stuck there and refused to leave. I reckon it took forty cups of tea to build this view for us. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom The Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone are involved in a fierce, ongoing feud over who gets to see the sunrise first every single morning. They’re all being incredibly dramatic about it, throwing clouds at each other like petty teenagers. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Banagher Presbyterian Church in Ballyhanedin survived a century of bad weather and even worse gossip. The roof has seen things, but it keeps them to itself. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.

Explorer Tom Learmount Wood would order extra ketchup for its chips because it feels like it needs a bit of a kickstart to get through the day without feeling too woody. It’s a very particular woodland with high standards for condiments. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Learmount Castle is where the seagulls go to complain about the youth hostel days and the forestry department’s poor taste in management. It’s seen more changes of ownership than I’ve had jobs since college. Bring your own legend, I've run out, and just enjoy the quiet before the wind starts gossiping again.