The Outrun - Sue Purkiss

 At the end of May, we were lucky enough to go on a holiday to the Orkney Islands - invited there and expertly guided by my sister and brother-in-law. We went to Manland, staying in Stromness; to Westray (smaller); and then to Papa Westray, also known as Papay - even smaller.

While on Westray, there was much talk of a film that had been made on the islands recently. Some of the Orcadians had been extras, and they'd filmed at many of the iconic sites. The film was/is of a book by Amy Liptrot, called The Outrun.

When I got home, I sent for the book and read it. It's autobiographical. Amy Liptrot was brought up on Orkney, but left for London once she was old enough. It didn't work out. She details her descent into addiction and all that goes with that: eventually, she manages to sober up enough to get herself home to Orkney, and there, nurtured by the wild beauty of the islands, she eventually finds herself again.

The film, starring Saoirse Ronan, is about to come out. So I thought you might like to see some pictures of the islands. They really are magical.

The coastline is dramatic.

All over the islands, there are the remnants of places where people lived many thousands of years ago. As you walk through the rooms, admiring the stone dressers and fireplaces, it's easy to imagine you can hear their voices, just around the corner, just over the wall...

The Stones of Brodgar. My favourite place. Extraordinary, captivating.

Masses of pink thrift on the seashore.

What can you say? No wonder being here helped Amy to heal.