There are two ways to cross the Pentland Firth. A modern catamaran run by the island company Pentland Ferries crosses from Gills Bay in Caithness in just over an hour. It arrives in St Margaret’s Hope in South Ronaldsay and the road onward runs over the four Churchill Barriers and past the Italian Chapel.

Alternatively there is the NorthLink service from Scrabster to Stromness. It takes half an hour longer and passes the Old Man of Hoy and the high red sandstone cliffs of the island.

In each case you can take your car. Either route gives the opportunity of the journey north from Inverness, winding along the coast past pastures and moorland, with sometimes the sight of a sandy beach or breaking waves, through the towns of Golspie and Brora and on to Wick or Thurso. The railway runs north alongside.

An alternative route with a car is to go by the NorthLink ferry from Aberdeen. This is a six-hour journey but reduces the amount of driving if you’re coming from a distance.

Orkney is linked by air to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen, and through them to London and beyond. The Orkney air routes are operated by Loganair, and you can connect with British Airways or easyjet flights elsewhere.

For visitors from Norway and Sweden, the journey to Orkney is via Edinburgh (and summer visitors have the bonus of a direct route). The Bergen to Edinburgh service operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For accommodation there is a wide range of hotels, guesthouses and self-catering, with plenty to choose from in the two main towns of Kirkwall and Stromness or in a country area. The range of options is so wide that it is worth taking time to choose carefully – but do book well in advance. Some places stand out for their location, others for their friendliness; some for their furnishings, and some for the value of what they provide.

The best starting-point for accommodation is Orkney.com or VisitScotland.com, each of which lists most accommodation providers. Orkney.com has a late availability page too.

Food is a treat, with a variety of places to choose from, which take a pride in providing good food from good local ingredients. You can eat in hotels or restaurants, in café or bistro style, and with sometimes some fine sea or harbour views. Some popular new food trucks have been appearing as well.

Again Orkney.com has some  great suggestions for eating out. Remember to book in advance where you can to avoid disappointment.

It’s as well to pack clothes that make you suitably versatile for the weather – something to keep out the wind or rain, just in case, and something to warm to wear underneath or in the evenings; and also something light, for when the sun comes gloriously out from the clouds and makes you feel like a walk along the shore. You can see how it all can all change from these images from Orkney Camera Club of Orkney transformed by sunlight and bringing the light back.