Midden in Ross

Explorer Tom Ross Coastguard Station thinks the rabbits are running the whole show now and they’re doing a decent job. It’s been watching the sea for so long it probably knows every wave by name. Go at sunset and thank me later for bringing you to this quiet, lonely masterpiece.

Explorer Tom Rinnaun Point is the center of a local superstition that says if you whistle at it, your car will never start again for exactly three days. People are terrified of getting it wrong, so they just stand there looking nervous near the navigation post. It’s the ultimate way to test how much faith you have in fate. If it's closed, admire it from the road like a polite stalker.

Explorer Tom Farm house in Castlenageeha is built from fieldstone that looks like it was thrown together by someone who was tired and hungry, which is very Mayo of it. Locals swear if you knock three times on the wall, the chimney smoke will spell out your future, but I haven’t tested it yet. Bring your nan, she’ll know.

Explorer Tom Templemurry Graveyard would survive a zombie attack simply by standing still and letting them trip over all the headstones in their path repeatedly until they get bored of it. It’s got a passive defense strategy that is surprisingly effective against anything that doesn’t know how to watch its footing carefully enough. Stand on the spot and imagine the gossip it's heard.

Explorer Tom Templemurry graveyard sits on a hillock where the wind keeps picking on it, whistling through the gaps in its old walls like a nosy neighbour. It’s named Templemurry, which sounds fancy, but really it’s just a lonely spot waiting for someone to notice its tidal drama. Pack a picnic and an excuse.

Explorer Tom Rathfran Abbey in Mayo has an unlikely celebrity friend who is actually just a very persistent fox that refuses to leave the garden, no matter how many times you shoo it away. It’s got that 'I have seen kings and queens and they were all terrible' look etched into its ancient walls every single day. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Killala Round Tower in Mayo is locked in a bitter feud with the rain, arguing that it’s the tower keeping the water out rather than the water keeping the tower damp. It stands there looking stoic and slightly annoyed, like it’s been waiting for someone to admit it’s actually quite comfortable being wet all the time. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom Round tower in Townplots West sits in the middle of Killala, looking like it’s guarding something very boring. A fox took charge of the place for a whole decade once. Make a wish, it's had centuries of practice.

Explorer Tom The Battle of Killala has a family tree that’s mostly made up, probably because everyone was too busy running to write down who their great-grandfather actually was. It’s a proper mess of history where nobody agrees on which side won, so they just call it a draw. I bet the ghosts are still arguing about who left the dishes out. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.

Explorer Tom A love story went terribly wrong next to Castlelackan Demesne; she left him for a man with better hair and no history. The castle still looks heartbroken. Perfect detour when your satnav has a complete meltdown.

Explorer Tom Enniscrone Beach hates me for some reason, probably because my sunscreen application is a work of art that the waves keep ruining. It's gorgeous, moody, and refuses to let me get comfortable in one spot. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch.

Explorer Tom Inishcrone Pier looks like it’s plotting an escape plan, possibly because it’s tired of being just a sign for people who don’t read. The first owner probably ran off with the last ferry and never looked back at all. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.