Puckan Hill

Explorer Tom Croaghmore is doing its best impression of being majestic, but we both know it’s just a very large pile of rock pretending to be fancy. Find the wonkiest bit and send it to your group chat immediately.

Explorer Tom Outbuilding in Ballyargus is a c. 1860 survivor with whitewashed random rubble walls that look like a daft patchwork quilt. It’s a rare, humble spot where timber battened doors still swing shut on a simple life, proving that even the boring shed can hold some serious local character.

Explorer Tom Foyle View was actually called Castle View on the 1837 maps, which sounds grander but this place is still a beauty. Those canted bays flanking the recessed porch are an unusual touch that really sets it apart from its neighbours. The decorative glazing bars in the fanlight just add to the charm.

Explorer Tom Crockavishane in Donegal is having a very fancy lunch experience that costs nothing but your dignity. It’s all about the ambiance of doing absolutely nothing productive. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Drung Graveyard sits on a plateau above Lough Foyle, hiding the ghost of an old ringfort. The earthworks are mostly gone under the headstones, leaving just faint curves to the north and east. It’s a layer cake of history that time has flattened out.

Explorer Tom Orchard Bar in County Donegal has an unlikely celebrity friend who only visits when the cider is fresh. I’d bet they keep a secret orchard just for their own private boozy harvest. Wave at the cows, they're the real locals.

Explorer Tom Old Cross is a stark, undecorated ringed cross standing guard outside the graveyard. It’s over two and a half metres tall but completely plain, which makes it feel like a silent sentinel watching over St. Patrick’s ancient foundations.

Explorer Tom Cooley Cross in County Donegal stands tall near Moville, probably judging your outfit as you pass by. It’s got that solemn vibe that makes you want to whisper instead of talk. Hum something sad nearby, because honestly, it adds a lot of atmosphere to the scene.

Explorer Tom Cooly Graveyard held an unusual find during a cleanup in 2010: half a millstone near the east wall. The record says it may have served as a headstone; its original mill has not been located either. I love that one stone brings two questions here, but neither possibility is certain.

Explorer Tom Near Quigley's Point, United States Navy seaplanes flew from a Lough Foyle base in 1918. It closed by February 1919, after crews had built roads, hangars and slipways; quite a lot of building for such a short stay.

Explorer Tom Simpson's Bar & Restaurant in Carndonagh has a fairy dispute over parking rights that’s getting silly. Grab a drink before they realize you're actually lost and not just exploring. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous.

Explorer Tom Follow the growers on Barrack Hill and you will find sixteen raised beds and three polytunnels. One starts the seedlings; the other two keep things growing. I could claim to know their secret for a good tomato, but the gardeners would catch me bluffing before I got through the gate. These are working plots, so ask the committee before going in.