Nathaniel Cole

Explorer Tom Derek Hill's Hut in County Donegal sounds like the perfect spot for a hermit who hates small talk and coffee. I bet there’s a cat living there that runs the show. Ideal stop for a big stretch and a bigger yawn before you head back out into the world.

Explorer Tom Balor of the Evil Eye: Tory Island has a fort named after him and a sea full of enough weather to make any giant blink. Tory's community group keeps his story alive. That Evil Eye must have been useful, but I reckon the Atlantic could stare back harder.

Explorer Tom Dún Balair Fort clings to the highest tip of Tory Island, looking like it’s daring the sea to take a bite. A grass-covered stone wall and a vanished 'Little Castle' hint at layers of history hiding in plain sight. It’s exposed, dramatic, and absolutely refuses to be subtle about its location.

Explorer Tom Teach Pobail Cholmcille Naofa is a graceful little Gothic church that cost just £392 back in 1857. I picture its eccentric window tracery looking like it was drawn by a very wobbly crayon on a windy Tory Island afternoon. It’s the kind of building that fits perfectly into a pocket-sized town.

Explorer Tom Tory Island Lighthouse was designed by William Douglass, who also built the famous Fastnet Lighthouse. I bet he took a very long boat ride to get here from Cork, and arrived completely sunburnt and furious at the wind.

Explorer Tom Tory Island / Toraigh has a round tower, a Tau Cross and stories told by people who live there. I could fill a walk before I even got to the music. The ferry from Magheroarty is the first chapter, though, and the weather gets a say in its timetable.

Explorer Tom Cliffs of Toraig presents a geological split personality. The eastern cliffs are tough quartzite, shrugging off the north Atlantic, while the rest of the island is mostly softer granite. I bet that difference gives it a very one-sided argument with the waves.

Explorer Tom Tory Island Way in County Donegal has seagulls that rate it three stars for 'best place to drop fish'. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think, usually right above your head.

Explorer Tom Tory Island Early Church Graveyard lies beside West Town harbour, where the survey describes a stone-built altar halfway along its west wall. A damaged cross-slab is fixed there, and another cross base was found in the graveyard in 2012. The old Civil Survey spoke of five nearly ruined churches on the island; I won't squeeze all five into this one graveyard dot.

Explorer Tom Siege of Tory Island in County Donegal is guarding its secrets better than I guard my wallet. Legend says they fought over a boat, but it was probably just a massive argument about who brought the sandwiches.

Explorer Tom The Murder Hole in County Donegal is a cave with a bit of a dramatic reputation. It’s probably just a damp tunnel, but the name really sells the mystery. I’m sure there’s no actual murder, just vibes and bad lighting.

Explorer Tom Boyeeghter Strand bends into a horseshoe of sand near Melmore Head. That's a shape I can have fun with on the map: try drawing that curve in one sweep without lifting your pencil. The saved account warns of strong currents, so this is a map puzzle from me, not a swimming tip.