In a message dated 12/9/03 5:31:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk writes: > The one thing we don't get here in winter is much daylight time, saving > or otherwise. Especially when like today it is overcast. Grand weather > otherwise though. Pity so few visit in the quiet time, but all our > visitors seem to prefer the summer crowds. This is one would-be traveller who does NOT enjoy crowds. Tell me what your favorite non-tourist time of year is in Orkney, please. In a couple of hours I will be sitting with a financial advisor who will be telling me just when I can retire (I have been working at the same place, literally, for just over 30 years, and am finally losing patience and stamina). I know that a great time to visit Italy and France is March and April, So what about Orkney? I don't mind a bit of rain, but would like to ba able to do some walking. Anne in SE Pennsylvania