I was told to take warm clothes and a windbreaker and I took the words to heart, diligently loading up on jumpers of every kind. After all, following the word ‘Scandinavia’ with the words ‘warm clothes’ seemed sensible.

So I admit I was feeling pretty smug when I flew into Stockholm, kitted out in the best extreme weather gear. I felt significantly less smug when I disembarked, and the roof of the plane gave way to brilliant blue, cloudless skies and a thermostat reading 25C.

I know I should have felt relieved, but few things give me as much satisfaction as beating the holiday weather. Besides, I would now spend the rest of the holiday looking ridiculous.

I discarded those thoughts and climbed aboard the yacht that a guide was beckoning me towards. Apparently that was the wrong yacht (seems they’re like babies, they all look the same unless they’re yours). After a short delay in which I clambered aboard my second yacht, we were away. I rolled my sleeves up, poured myself a beer and began absorbing the history and harbour views. Believe me, it was a truly glorious way to begin my getaway.

Stockholm’s skyline is punctured by spires, much like Oxford’s.

And Stockholm’s teems with colour everywhere you look, surrounded by deep northern waters and luscious green hills as far as the eye can see.

Built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges, Stockholm was once known as the Venice of the North and remnants of an older age in the city are still present.

For instance, the vast old gothic building that overlooks the water. Our guide explained that it was often a first target for attack when Stockholm's enemies threatened. He also explained that it was now an old people’s home. I took this to mean either that Swedes don’t really care about their older citizens or that I should never get on the wrong side of a Swedish grandmother. Perhaps both.

We moved on to another island, this one known as Aland, an autonomous Swedish speaking region of Finland that even gets its own flag. Swedes, Finns and Russians have all laid claim to the island at one point and their cultures are all present, fused together.

Mariehamn is the capital of Aland and is perfect for those who love the outdoors. It’s also perfect for those who claim to love the outdoors but have done their best not to set foot there for a decade or so. Upon arrival I fitted rather well into the latter category but after a five-hour bike adventure, a boat trip to a lighthouse and a visit to a microbrewery I felt well and truly converted, if a little tired. Mariehamn reminds me almost of a Nordic Cornwall only with rocky islets and swift blue waters replacing rolling Celtic hills.

A visit to the Stallhagen Brewery is essential even if you’re teetotal. It’s that good, for the beer of course, but also the hospitality and history. It’s not just the history of beer that brewmaster Christian Ekstroem knows. Due to the seasonal nature of life in Aland, many have multiple occupations. So when he's not brewmaster, Christian is a diving specialist and shipwreck scavenger. Not long before I had arrived for my free beer, Christian had found a 19th century shipwreck containing 100 bottles of Champagne, one of which (1841 Veuve Clicquot) had sold just sold for €30,000. Sadly this was just out of my price range.

The Baltic shipping lanes were once the busiest in the world and as many as 100,000 ships may be mouldering on the sea floor. Christian has his work cut out.

For those of you that appreciate the end of a day in the great outdoors with a day in the great indoors, I highly recommend the Havsvidden Hotel. It is across the rocks, to the northern tip of Aland and is well worth a visit. If that’s still sounding a bit outdoorsy for you don’t worry, great hotels are not a rarity here.

My final destination was Turku, European Capital of Culture 2011. To get there we drove on the Archipelago trail, which involved island hopping aboard a lot of ferries. The Logomo Culture Centre on the island tells the history of the land with interactive exhibits but there is a district that can go one better. It seems like a land that time forgot, where people still live as they did in times gone by, in cramped wooden workshops.For a long time this place was considered a disgrace to the island and many tried to remove it, but fortunately it survived and today is a living museum. A visit to the Scandinavian Islands in a delight; refreshing, simple and friendly. Foodies will be in heaven with the naturally grown or caught produce, taste sensations and not a chain store or franchise in sight.

For culture junkies, the entire region is rife with Swedish, Finnish and Russian traditions and steeped in history. From start to finish, the trip was filled with sun, sea and beautiful scenery.

Regardless of what anyone tells you, it is not a good idea to bring a suitcase full of jumpers. Unless it’s winter.