Robbie Gallagher

Explorer Tom Saint Columba's Catholic Church began around 1903, but its carved Saint Columcille statue is dated 1938 and the porch came in 1943–4. The statue got there first. I wonder if anyone else notices that order before looking through the stained glass.

Explorer Tom The Lagoon sounds like a place where your food will swim away if you blink. Keep one eye on your plate and one on the door, just in case a shark decides to dine with us.

Explorer Tom Battle at Doon Rock, Kilmacrennan in County Donegal is where Sir Cahir O'Doherty finally lost his battle against a rock. Legend says a very confused goat actually ruled this patch for three minutes before getting kicked out. Bring someone who'll believe anything.

Explorer Tom Doon Rock Fort is a dramatic, naturally defensible mound where the O'Donnells were traditionally inaugurated. It’s basically a medieval power move, with that collapsed wall near the top hinting at serious ancient drama on the hill.

Explorer Tom Silver Birch in County Donegal is showing off its white skin like a movie star. It's very flaky, literally, and needs permission to shed its leaves without embarrassment. Tell it to keep those peels coming for the birds.

Explorer Tom Doon Well sits below steps inside a later wall. An 1889 account said two returning priests blessed it and that pilgrims came seeking cures; a 1936 account recorded the prayers said there. The survey also noted mementoes on a nearby sapling and landscaping in 2006. These are records of belief and visits, not proof that its water cures illness.

Explorer Tom Lurgyvale Thatched Cottage in Kilconnell is now a museum and café, so you can grab a coffee while admiring its mid-nineteenth-century charm. It’s been renovated, but it still keeps that vernacular soul with whitewashed walls and sliding sash windows. Go pop in for a treat and tell me if the thatch smells like history or just old straw!

Explorer Tom Master Sword in Stone? Sounds like a budget video game prop that fell off a lorry. But hey, if it's stuck there, grab it for luck. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown and gives up on us all.

Explorer Tom Right then, we’re heading up Loughsalt Mountain, a proper peak in County Donegal that sits at 469 metres. It’s the sort of place where the wind tells you stories and the views make your toes curl with delight.

Explorer Tom Glebe House and Gallery lets me visit Derek Hill's home and then see what became of his studio. An 1828 house, art and woodland gardens make quite a three-part outing. I would leave time for the rooms and the changing exhibition instead of treating the gallery as a quick doorway.

Explorer Tom European Beech in County Donegal is another one of those trees with attitude, standing tall while you try to figure out where you’re going. It’s calm, ancient, and completely unbothered by your presence. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt like butter on toast.

Explorer Tom Glenveagh National Park Visitor Centre is where they hand you the keys to the kingdom of birches. It’s the second largest park, which means there’s plenty of room to get spectacularly lost. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket, just in case the fairies demand their cut.