Fairy ring

There's a fairy ring on the outskirts of Markethill - an actual circle of mushrooms that appears in the same spot year after year. It's one of those things locals mention casually but visitors rarely know about, which is exactly what makes it worth the short detour from Armagh City.

The ring itself isn't massive, mind you. You're looking at a modest circle of toadstools, probably no more than a few metres across, but that's rather the point. It sits in pastureland that's properly atmospheric on a damp morning, the kind of light that makes you understand why people believed in fairies round here. The folklore is real enough - folklore always is in Northern Ireland - and whether you buy into the magic or just enjoy a bit of earthiness, it's a decent photo stop.

Give it twenty minutes maximum, unless you're the sort who likes to sit quietly in fields and think. It works brilliantly if you're camping nearby at Tepee Valley Campsite, which sits just a couple of miles off. The walk from Markethill is manageable, though you'll need to ask locally for exact directions - it's not signposted, which actually preserves the slight sense of discovery.

Historically minded visitors will find more substantial draws in Armagh itself, but this is the kind of peculiar local touch that makes a week's break stick in your memory long after the big attractions fade. Go if you're in the area. Don't plan a whole trip round it.