Just spent 2 wonderful weeks in Shetland. One week based in Lerwick and mooching around the South Mainland, one week in Vidlin looking at North Mainland. Friendly people, a completely different pace of life, stunning scenery, birds, seals and places with near silence – no jets and no cars, just the sounds of birds, trees and wind.

Of course, the weather isn’t exactly equatorial… rain, wind, wet, hail, and a few sunny days – ‘though apparently it was a particularly bad summer this year.