It hasn't been a traditional summer here in Orkney, but then it rarely is.
There have been relatively few days of blue skies and bright sunshine, with moody skies and breezy conditions dominating weather forecasts over the last few months.
But, as always, pockets of perfect light and becalmed seas offered opportunities to get out and about with the camera. Now, as we reach the end of the meterological summer, with autumn just around the corner, let's take a look back at some of our favourite images from the season.
This old home enjoys one of Orkney's best views, out towards the Pentland Firth and Caithness beyond. It's found in a quiet corner of South Ronaldsay and in the early summer it's surrounded by colourful fields of wildflowers. Of course, winters here can be wild, but in mid-June it's an idyllic, peaceful place to stop a while.
Amidst the grey tones, Stromness always offers plenty of pops of colour. This drone shot was captured in July (yes, really!) and it's the green fields surrounding the town that make sure it stands out between the gloomy sea and sky.
Look closer you can spot the red roofs, whitewashed walls, and colourful windowframes of all the characterful homes along the harbourfront.
The summer months are all about getting out and about on the shore and on beaches here in Orkney. The islands are home to hundreds of miles of coastline and each stretch is a haven for walkers, swimmers, and beachcombers.
The beach you can see above is one of Orkney's best, at Tresness on the east coast of Sanday. This special spot was the scene of a marine tragedy earlier in the summer when 77 seemingly healthy pilot whales fatally stranded on the sand. The local community came together to try to save these beautiful animals but nothing could be done. Instead, they helped find the whales a final resting place, and it's hoped autopsies carried out by experts on the beach will provide vital clues about mass strandings and what causes them.
For the best part of three months, archaeologists were hard at work at the Ness of Brodgar excavation in Orkney's West Mainland, uncovering more Neolithic secrets and stories in our UNESCO World Heritage Site. Twenty years after it began, the dig came to a close for good in August and the Ness will soon be filled in to protect the ancient structures for the future.
It has been at the heart of Orkney's summer for two decades so it will be a huge miss, but with the focus moving on to analysis of the thousands of finds from the excavation, we're sure the Ness will continue to make headlines for many more years to come.
Orkney seems to have its own special light throughout the year, but even more so in the summer. We've not been able to enjoy too many glorious Orkney sunsets over recent weeks but, time it right, and the evening sun combines with our low-lying landscape to create stunning scenes of shadow and light.
We always try and fit in some island hopping during the summer months. Jumping on a ferry or flight and exploring Orkney's smaller communities is one of the best experiences you can have here, and you'll often have local sites, viewpoints, and beaches to yourself.
That was the case in Eday when we hiked along the island's Heritage Walk, stopping at the ancient Stone of Setter amidst the long grass and wildflowers, with only the birds and gentle breeze for company.