Windmill in Lispopple

Explorer Tom Lispopple Bridge in Lispopple is doing its best to look like it’s part of the river, but the ivy is clearly winning the battle for dominance right now. When nobody is looking, it probably just lets the water lap at its feet and pretends it’s a very old, very tired stone bench. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't.

Explorer Tom Roganstown House has a curse that only affects people who don’t wave at it as they drive past, turning their hair blue for a week. The balustraded entrance porch is watching you closely to see if you’re polite enough to avoid the curse entirely. Take the long way round, it deserves the effort.

Explorer Tom Glasmore Abbey describes the 1800s to a teenager as 'a time when people wore big hats and complained about their knees constantly.' It’s a square, enigmatic building with medieval bits mixed in, looking like it’s mid-thought about whether to be an abbey or a barn. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Explorer Tom Fish-pond in Brackenstown is actually a canal from the early eighteenth century, which is a bit cheeky of them to call it a pond. It’s used for horse riding now, so watch out for hooves and muddy boots.

Explorer Tom Dunsoghly Castle once had a massive feud with the next village over whose potatoes were tastier, and honestly, we never settled who was right. It stands there with four corner towers like it’s ready to defend its opinion with stone force. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.

Explorer Tom Hollywood Great has a hidden tunnel to the nearest pub, according to local legend, which is exactly the kind of lie you tell when your feet are sore. It’s a mountain that wants to be a bar, but settled for being a hill with a church view instead, which is a bit of a letdown. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom Dunsink Observatory reminds me that a good walk can produce more than sore feet. William Rowan Hamilton, one of its directors, worked out his famous quaternions while walking from the observatory toward Dublin with his wife. I would walk the same route and discover only where to buy lunch. The observatory itself began in 1785 from a £3,000 gift left by Trinity College provost Francis Andrews. Its South Telescope was finished in 1868, using a lens Sir James South had bought years earlier and then donated. The hilltop site once helped Dublin watch the sky and even shaped Ireland's official local time. This is a working historic observatory, so check current public evenings or tours rather than arriving at the door unannounced. Stand outside and look up first. The stars have kept their appointment even when visitors need to book.

Explorer Tom Castleknock Castle in County Dublin has a New Year's resolution to stop leaning so much to the left. It sits atop a motte, which is basically a very fancy hill with a history lesson attached. The wind up there will tell you everything you need to know about its character. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom Silver Lime in County Dublin has an unlikely celebrity friend who used to sit under it writing bad poetry about love and loss. It’s got that soft, fluffy texture that makes you want to hug it, even though trees usually prefer personal space. Bring sandwiches, the gulls will thank you, but watch out because they’re greedy little thieves.

Explorer Tom Horse-chestnut in County Dublin is waiting for a cow that tried to buy it with a milk ticket last Tuesday. The cow left without paying and the tree is still fuming about the audacity of the whole situation. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting, trust me.