Neil Adger

Explorer Tom St. Patrick's Church in County Antrim has a family tree that’s mostly invented by people who really wanted to sound impressive at dinner parties. No date given, which makes me suspect it’s just very good at hiding its age. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown.

Explorer Tom First Presbyterian Church in Antrim is just a church, so I invented a tragic love affair that ended with a broken hymn book. Dare you to say hello to it out loud, if you're brave enough.

Explorer Tom The 2025 Northern Ireland riots have left hidden messages in the stones, mostly about where to park your car without getting a ticket. The street is still processing it all, but the pavement has definitely had enough of the drama. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom C17th house & bawn: Galgorm castle in Galgorm sounds fancy, but it’s just a posh mud pie from the seventeenth century. It definitely has a secret stash of biscuits. Make a wish, it’s had centuries of practice listening to them.

Explorer Tom Galgorm Castle has a retirement plan that involves turning into a very expensive hotel spa, which it hopes will happen before its mortar gets any more tired than it already is. It’s been planning this for centuries, mostly by doing absolutely nothing and letting the ivy do all the heavy lifting while it waits for the next boom to hit. Stand on the spot and imagine the gossip it's heard.

Explorer Tom Motte Dungall in Dungall is a medieval hilltop that locals swear will bring bad luck if you whistle at it. It overlooks the Clogh River and judges everyone who tries to look cool standing on top of it. Perfect place to be dramatically windswept.

Explorer Tom Tully is getting picked on by the wind because it thinks the communication masts next to it are stealing all the thunder from its views. The reservoir nearby is probably laughing at the whole situation too. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.

Explorer Tom Slemish had a prophecy that it would turn to gold, but it stayed dirt instead. It’s still waiting for someone to believe in the magic. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.

Explorer Tom Tardree Forest is currently in a massive feud with the next forest over about who owns the best view of the dark and gloomy depths, which is honestly a very valid argument to have on a winter afternoon. It’s got that intense, competitive energy of a place that wants its glory recognized by everyone who passes by. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Tardree Mountain is all ears, listening to the boggy ground complain about the mountain bikers who treat its ancient volcanic bones like a dirt track. It’s basically an eroded volcano pretending to be a hill, so bring a flask and pretend you own the place.

Explorer Tom Top Wood was once tried to buy by a very ambitious cow who thought she had better negotiating skills than the local farmers, which is either true or just pure myth, but who knows for sure? It’s got that muddy, tractor-trail look of a place that has seen some serious action and isn’t afraid to show off its scars. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Ford & Site of Battle, 1689 in Portglenone is where history got wet. Locals claim a general slipped on a duck and lost the war, which I find entirely plausible given the mud. Have a look and decide if I was lying.