Strandhill Playground

Explorer Tom Strandhill Beach is currently in a massive feud with the rain, claiming it’s the real king of the coast. The dunes are just standing there judging both sides like tired grandparents. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Dolly's Cottage in Larass Or Strandhill is a thatched beauty named after Dolly Higgins, who I bet drank forty cups of tea while building it herself. It’s long and low, perfect for hiding from your ex or a bad haircut. Just try not to poke the roof too hard.

Explorer Tom Killaspugbrone Church hosted a fake royal visit in 1892 that nobody can disprove because the diary was eaten by a goat. The king probably just wanted a cup of tea but got stuck in the mud instead. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Killaspugbrone Graveyard in County Sligo has very strong opinions on modern buildings and thinks they all look like they fell over from a bad haircut. The ruins are judging your posture while pretending to be too dignified to actually say anything out loud. Get there early and have it all to yourself.

Explorer Tom Cullenamore would survive a zombie apocalypse purely because nobody knows where it is, so the undead just get lost in the sand. It's got that quiet confidence about it, like it's waiting for someone to finally notice its brilliance. Wave at the cows, they're the real locals.

Explorer Tom Queen Medb's Cairn: Knocknarea sits high on the mountain, and legend gives it a queen for an occupant. It is an enormous cairn. Whoever first tied Medb to it clearly had no interest in a modest ending to her story.

Explorer Tom Knocknarea in County Sligo would bring a giant stone crown to any party and act like everyone else is just there for the snacks. It’s got that ‘I’m the hill, you’re just the dirt’ energy that makes you want to bow slightly. Bring someone who'll believe anything.

Explorer Tom Maeve's Cairn in County Sligo has a secret talent for making anyone who climbs it feel like they’ve just run a marathon, even if they only went up five steps. It’s a bit of a show-off and loves watching people pant at the top, pretending it was an easy little stroll all along. Ideal stop for a big stretch and a bigger yawn.

Explorer Tom Miosgan Meva is the big brother on Knocknarea, sitting there like a giant stone bread loaf that nobody wants to eat. Its plan for retirement is to sit exactly where it is and let tourists trip over themselves trying to take photos. It’s got a flat top that looks like it was made for sunbathing by ancient kings. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Knocknarea trail is dreaming of winning the lotto to buy a nice pair of boots for its steep sections. The path is loose and eroded, like it’s been tripping over itself all morning. Bring your own legend, I've run out of excuses for why the ground is so slippery up there.

Explorer Tom The Glen in County Sligo is where the seagulls hold their weekly board meetings about how to annoy the tourists most effectively. They really think they run this place, so you might as well let them. Mind the nettles, they're the real guards here.