Orkney

Our friends, Jen and Steve Bunning, have lived on the Orkney Isles for a few years now, and we were lucky enough to visit them this summer. In some ways it is a longer journey in getting to Orkney than to many European destinations. Once you get there, you feel as if you are in a different world. Trees hardly make an appearance there, but that is compensated by a tremendously varied coastline. There is also an abundance of ancient monuments, such as the Ring of Brodgar.

The real highlight for us, which happened to coincide with the best day of weather, was a visit to the rugged island of Hoy. The children sailed across from Stromness in a wayfarer with Steve, whilst we took the ferry option. We then enjoyed our walk to see the hugely impressive Old Man of Hoy, a 450 foot high sea stack, much sought after by climbers. I also spent some photographic time at Rackwick Bay, with its lovely wild beach and colourful boulders.