Inspiring Orkney was a real life-changer for author Philip Paris

AUTHOR Philip Paris is best known for his books about Orkney’s Italian Chapel, built during the Second World War by Italian prisoners of war.

He has also written a memoir, Nylon Kid Of The North, about growing up in Gateshead.

His latest book, Casting Off (Black & White, £7.99), is a feelgood novel based on his sell-out theatre production about three residents at a Highland care home.

Philip lives near Tain in Ross-shire with his wife Catherine.

Here, he shares memories of his favourite holiday.

I don’t suppose many holidays are life-changing events – well, unless you meet the love of your life or something similar.

I had already done the former and the trip to Orkney in 2005 was our honeymoon, split between the idyllic Westray and ‘mainland’ Orkney.

No, the ‘something similar’ happened because of visiting a converted Nissen hut. It was the famous Italian chapel.

Talk about moving. While still in the building I decided to find out everything possible about its creation.

As Catherine still likes to tell people: “We spent a lot of our honeymoon in the Kirkwall library archives!”

Anyway, it wasn’t “a lot”, not really.

The result, three years later, was the publication of my debut novel The Italian Chapel.

We both fell in love with Orkney and have visited at least once a year since – next summer is already booked.

It’s a fascinating place and if you’re into history, scenery, wildlife, good food, music, walking, it’s all there.

Compared to anywhere else I’ve been, the sky seems so much higher, the views so much further and in the summer you get round-the-clock daylight.

We normally book a cottage although there are plenty of other forms of accommodation.

If you really want to get away, you can always try one of the smaller islands.

From my experience, the Orcadians are the friendliest folk you’re likely to encounter anywhere and there’s a tremendous openness and trust that is refreshing.

They’re into festivals big time and they certainly know how to put them on – music of every description, nature, drama, storytelling, wine – the list goes on and on.

I find the peace of Orkney inspiring and over the years I’ve done a great deal of writing there, including working on my stage play, Casting Off, which provided the storyline for my new novel.

Holidaymakers are spending more time and money on staycations