Discoveries of the year

Good evening. At the end of a country lane about 15 minutes’ drive west of Drogheda in County Meath, Ireland, sits a big grassy dome fronted with quartz and engraved kerb stones. At first I thought it might be some sort of military installation, but Newgrange tomb is among the oldest buildings in the world, predating the pyramids by five centuries. A slit above the entrance allows light to hit the vaulted inner chamber - which contained the bones of four adults and a child when late archaeologist Michael J O’Kelly excavated back in the Sixties - but only on winter solstice. O’Kelly’s theory was that the rays were meant to wake the dead on the shortest day. It was mind-boggling to think that stone age builders had achieved this without the aid of mathematical tools - and a thrilling discovery to make on my trip to Ireland. Nothing is quite as satisfying as coming across something fascinating, unusual or especially good on your travels - and in this feature we asked 23 writers to share their favourite discovery of 2023. From a Brittany hotel with suspended “flying saucer” pod bedrooms to an unassuming restaurant in Ankara, Turkey, that was so good the writer visited five times, we hope what they found provides inspiration. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and happy travels!