I had been looking forward to our little break on Gotland for months, and the ferry from the mainland had been smooth enough until we stepped off in Visby and realised our hire car was parked at the wrong terminal. We spent twenty minutes laughing at our own mistake while dragging cases through the warm breeze, then finally found the right spot and set off for the cottage just outside town. The drive took no time at all, and as we pulled up the gravel track I felt the first proper rush of holiday calm.

The cottage sat in a quiet spot with open fields behind it and a short path leading straight down to the sea. It was bigger than the pictures suggested, with a sunny little terrace and a kitchen that already smelled faintly of coffee someone had left behind. We dumped our bags, changed into shorts and trainers, and decided the best way to shake off the journey was a quick coastal walk before supper.

The path along the shoreline was exactly what we needed. Warm sun, a light wind off the water, and the sound of waves on the rocks made everything feel easy. We wandered past old stone walls and patches of wild flowers, stopping every so often to watch the ferries in the distance. After about an hour my partner suggested we turn back for a late lunch on the terrace, but the sky had other ideas. Dark clouds rolled in from the west and within minutes we were caught in a sudden shower that soaked us through. We huddled under a lone pine tree, giggling as rain ran down our necks, and agreed it was probably time to head indoors.

Back at the cottage we dried off with the big towels from the bathroom and made sandwiches while the rain tapped on the roof. The shower passed as quickly as it arrived, leaving everything smelling fresh and green. We sat outside again once the sun returned, feet up on the low wall, and talked about how little plans matter when the weather decides to join in. I realised I had been so focused on ticking off long walks that I had forgotten how nice it can be to simply stop and watch the sea change colour.

Later that evening we strolled back along the same path, this time with the low sun turning the water gold. The mishap with the car already felt like part of the story rather than a bother, and the sudden rain had reminded us that Gotland in summer keeps you on your toes. We ended the day with a simple meal on the terrace, listening to the crickets and planning nothing more ambitious than another coastal wander the next morning.