Their Atlantic Odyssey cruise is the ultimate in ice vacations, lasting nearly 40 days, with visits to the Antarctic peninsula, the South Shetland Islands, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands.

CNN: Embrace ice: 8 cool getaways

Primary school class sizes are smallest in the Western Isles (14 pupils), followed by Shetland Islands and Orkney (both 17).

BBC: Shetland tops 'Bank of Scotland Quality of Life' list

Only Clackmannanshire, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and South Ayrshire local authority areas have shown increases in average property prices compared with the previous year.

BBC: Figures show rise in house sales