Reading Chaucer

Explorer Tom This Oakfield walled garden, erected around 1740, contains a pergola with Tuscan columns and modern follies within its historic brick boundaries.

Explorer Tom Walled Garden in County Donegal is hiding its secrets better than a cat with a mouse. No records, just vibes. Snap it for me so I can pretend I know exactly what’s growing in there.

Explorer Tom Picture a secret nook in County Donegal where the only job is to admire whatever blooms next. I bet there's a daisy there that looks like it's winking at you, waiting for a gentle hand.

Explorer Tom Old Royal School is where Isaac Butt learned his letters! I bet he was terrible at spelling 'homework' and hid his books under the floorboards. The building looks very serious, but I feel like it’s secretly giggling about his bad penmanship.

Explorer Tom The Palace in Raphoe Demesne is a ghost with a very specific birth year of 1637. Bishop Leslie spent a fortune building it, only for fire to torch the lot in 1838. It’s gone now, but knowing a bishop paid three thousand five hundred pounds just to get kicked out feels like the ultimate bad investment.

Explorer Tom Cathedral in Raphoe Townparks is a palimpsest of history, with 9th-century carvings hiding inside its modern walls. Adomnán himself was linked to this monastery back in the 7th century, so that ground has seen more than just your average Sunday service.

Explorer Tom Cathedral in Raphoe Townparks hides a 9th-century lintel right under your nose. It depicts St. Peter chopping an ear off, which is a bit of a violent detail for a church entrance, but it proves this spot has been holy chaos for over a millennium.

Explorer Tom Diamond Bar in Raphoe is sparkling like a gem that forgot to shower. Pop in for a pint before it realizes how smelly it actually is.

Explorer Tom Ah, Mongorry Hill in County Donegal! The old maps say this is a proper mountain peak, so I'd bet it's the sort of spot that looks best when you're looking eastwards at the sunrise.

Explorer Tom After the 1557 Battle of Binnion Hill near Lifford, one captured horse stood out among the spoils: Shane O'Neill's horse, called 'The Son of the Eagle'. Even the horses had names fit for a clan chronicle.

Explorer Tom Battlefield in Tully, Glenmaquin Lower, Roosky is a hidden gem, waiting for an explorer to uncover the tales of valor and struggle it holds within its borders.

Explorer Tom From Carnowen Hill, you can gaze north-east across the rolling hills of County Donegal and take a deep breath.