Parc O Ceallaigh

Explorer Tom Fintra gives me a grand view before I reach the sand: the road drops toward Donegal Bay, with dunes and grassy hills behind the shore. There is a lagoon at the far end from the car park. I would let someone else call that steep, narrow road a quick nip down.

Explorer Tom Fintragh Bridge has these weird projecting stones right where the arch springs. Were they left over from the original build? They look like little stone buttons popping out, making the whole thing feel like it’s trying to zip itself up.

Explorer Tom The Cottages were built around 1895 with paired timber casement windows. I keep wondering if the workers used them to wave at each other across the gap, or maybe just to double-check their reflections. Those little porch steps look like they’re waiting for a very important delivery.

Explorer Tom Crownarad stands at 493 metres, towering over its neighbour Fintragh which sits a mere 381 up. That height difference makes Crownarad look like it’s been wearing an invisible hat while Fintragh tries to keep up.

Explorer Tom Hughies in Killybegs is where the locals hang out when they want to feel like kings. The name sounds friendly, but the pints are strong. Ask who Hugh was, bet nobody knows.

Explorer Tom Harbour Bar in Killybegs probably smells like old fish and bad decisions. I’d grab a stool and listen to the stories they don’t tell on TV.

Explorer Tom St Catherine's Friary Graveslab marks John Lindsey, who died young at twenty-seven back in 1685. The slab is broken and its coat of arms has vanished, leaving just the incised Roman script to tell his story. It’s a bit sad that the family crest got lost, but the words remain.

Explorer Tom St Catherine's Well in Killybegs was once a famous pilgrimage site, but there’s a daft legend that a Protestant rector tried to fill it up with dirt. The next day, a spring burst into his drawing room, terrifying his wife until he reopened the well. It’s still cleaned for St. Catherine’s Day, sitting beside the ruins of 'Cat Castle' in marshy pasture.

Explorer Tom Cat Castle is named after St. Catherine, but really it’s just a tiny stone corner standing on a hill above Killybegs Harbour. It’s been shrinking since 1355, and now only a 3-metre wall survives. It’s a bit pathetic, sure, but looking out over the harbour makes you wonder what that bishop’s manor looked like when it was whole.

Explorer Tom Rashenny Point thinks its secret talent is competitive napping, and honestly? It’s good at it. The headland is just vibing out there in the sun. Take the long way round, because this spot deserves the extra effort and scenic drive.

Explorer Tom Drumanoo Head is sticking out into the sea like it’s trying to catch a wave. It’s got that 'I’m important' energy despite being just a chunk of land. Linger, it's not going anywhere and neither should you.

Explorer Tom Rotten Island sounds like a pirate's insult, but its lighthouse story is serious. The light guides boats into Killybegs Harbour; three workers drowned returning from the island while it was being built. I would remember them whenever that white tower comes into view.