Orkney is a great destination if tranquillity, scenery, history, wildlife and a warm welcome feature highly on your holiday tick list. And - topping our list - a charming, comfortable, cosy, well-equipped place to stay: this was Puffin Quoy. Caroline and Kevin can be justifiably proud of what they have achieved here. Add to this the option of booking Caroline's delicious home-cooked meals (we did - twice) and you have one of the most relaxing holidays imaginable.
The Quoy of Houton is ideally located for travelling around Orkney - about 15 minutes by road to Kirkwall or Stromness, and right next to the ferry to Hoy. There are numerous fascinating sites to explore within easy reach. One of the best, Maeshowe, was closed at the start of our stay, but we were delighted to see it reopened - as a result of strong local lobbying - before the end of the week.
One week wasn't enough. We'll be back next year for more Orcadian delights.