Watertop Waterfall

Explorer Tom Corratavey Bridge in Ballypatrick is in a dramatic standoff with the nearest tree for attention. An 1800s bridge that thinks it’s the main event on the road. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Ballyvennaght Mill in County Antrim would be the uncle at a wedding who shows up late, drinks too much, and then starts critiquing the table arrangements with intense passion. It’s still grinding away at life’s flour, refusing to acknowledge that modern machinery has made its hard work entirely unnecessary for over two hundred years now. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Ballypatrick Forest has views that change faster than your opinion on reality television shows. A priest once lost a bet here and now owes the woodland an eternal debt of respect. Tell it a joke, it's been a long time since anyone did anything funny in this quiet green place.

Explorer Tom Carnanmore in County Antrim bragged once that it survived a storm so bad the clouds cried for an hour. There's a chambered grave up there where the ancient guys probably had the best view in town. Stand there long enough and someone will ask if you're lost.

Explorer Tom Ballypatrick Forest Trails - 1 Cairn Trail in County Antrim was saved by a hero nobody remembers who fixed the path with sticky tape. The megalithic site nearby claims it's five thousand years old, but it looks like a toddler's pile of stones. Pretend it's yours and plan the housewarming.

Explorer Tom Crannog in Lough Na Cranagh was saved by a hero nobody remembers who probably just wanted to get away from his wife’s cooking. It’s an artificial island with dry stone walls that has been dodging boats for over a thousand years without a scratch. Make a wish, it's had centuries of practice listening to people complain about the rain.

Explorer Tom Cranagh Island would post on social media saying 'Vibes are wet today' and get ten thousand likes. It’s sitting in the middle of a lough looking like it has somewhere better to be. The stilt houses are just wooden feet trying to keep up with fashion. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Fairhead bragged about surviving a storm so badly that it actually cracked under the pressure of its own ego. Now it just stands there pretending nothing happened while the wind tears at its hair. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Torr Head would bring a giant bucket of chips and a serious attitude to any party, standing there judging everyone’s footwear choices from on high. It looks like it’s ready to drop something heavy on your head if you get too close. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check anyway.

Explorer Tom Fair Head has started giving the nosey neighbours the silent treatment lately. It just stands there, staring out at the Atlantic with its arms crossed, refusing to make eye contact with anyone who gets too close to the cliff edge. Very dramatic. Find the date carved somewhere and feel clever.

Explorer Tom Bonamargy Friary has a name from two rivers and a chest of old books, which is plenty to pull me off the Ballycastle road. Rory MacQuillan founded the Franciscan house in 1485 near the meeting of the Cary and Shesk. Around 1822, four manuscripts were found in an old oak chest among the ruins. I would claim to have spotted the chest first, but the date exposes me. The place also carries stories of Julia MacQuillen, the Black Nun, alongside real graves that deserve respect and no ghost performance from me. Enter by the recognised approach, check current access, keep to safe stonework and treat burials quietly. Look for the small gatehouse before the main church. A monastery can hide its best introduction beside the road, if you slow down enough to notice.

Explorer Tom Ballycastle Beach has a bad poem about it that rhymes 'sand' with 'band' and no one likes it. The golf course next door thinks this is very exclusive, which is rich coming from sand. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.