I remember Peter Mayle, author of ‘A Year in Provence’ stating that the best thing about life in the South of France was the absolute certainty that once you put your socks away in March you knew you wouldn’t be needing them again until October. It was the sheer predictability of warm weather that was the real draw for him, and countless Brits since. The past couple of months have felt like that too, but today finally the weather has broken with a cool breeze and slate grey skies. Still, what a run of fine weather - we may never experience the like again.

Back to beach week and you can almost feel the heat radiating from the rock pools in this overhead shot of a stony beach cafe on Ischia, an Island in the Bay of Naples. Anyone who’s holidayed in Italy in August will be familiar with the scene, beaches packed cheek-by-jowl from morning to evening but always a good vibe.