Another year, another hot, sweltering Maltese summer.

Year on year, it’s always the same as we resign ourselves to the hot season with no respite from the heat – not on this island, in any case.

But, wait! We’re not limited to our little rock, no matter how much we may love it. There are places where being outside at midday is actually pleasant.

Here’s a short list of places that offer the ability to breathe without fearing that the heat may ignite your lungs.

The UK

No, not London, and not southern England; I’m talking the Midlands and northwards up to Scotland.

With a very early sunrise and a late sunset (still as late as 10pm in some places), the days are long but very pleasant, especially when the sun is out.

You can sit outside and enjoy the warm glow on your face without breaking out into a sweat after a three seconds.

Beer gardens and street cafes are the perfect place to spend a few hours enjoying good food and a cold pint.

And if it does rain, there are plenty of indoor places where you can amuse yourself and while away the time: after all, the Brits are very aware of their inclement climate and cater for it accordingly.

Also worth a mention is Ireland, specifically its western coast, which is typically hit hardest by the ‘harsher’ weather as cold air comes in off the Atlantic Ocean – just what you want to get away from the heat.

Bergen, Norway

Norway contains one of the most rainy cities in Europe – Bergen.

It has an average rainfall of 250 days annually, so some years could easily rise above that number.

That means rain for close to three-quarters of the year, so your chances of experiencing a downpour on your visit are high.

Bergen is an extremely picturesque town with colourful, wooden houses, a backdrop of mountains and the sea at your feet.

For wonderful views over the city, take the Floibanen Funicular to Mount Floyen, which is the most central of the mountains, where, in just five minutes, you’ll be 320 metres higher up.

Bergen is another place where you have super-long days, with sunset and sunrise happening within around two hours of each other.

Victoria Falls, South Africa

Heading into the southern hemisphere may seem obvious since it’s actually winter over there. However, Victoria Falls, which lies on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, is my pick due to its sheer beauty.

After all, if you’re escaping the heat, you might as well do it in style.

Victoria Falls is a Unesco World Heritage site, said to be the largest waterfall in the world, with a height of more than 100 metres and measuring more than a kilometre in width.

The waterfall was named after Queen Victoria by Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone, who is believed to have been the first European to discover it in 1855.

As the seasons are inverted in the southern hemisphere, most countries on that side of the planet are actually experiencing winter weather at the moment.

Dubai, the UAE

Bear with me here, I haven’t lost it. Yes, I know that temperatures tend to hover around 40°C and higher during the day and it’s smack in the middle of the desert, but Dubai also an air-conditioned bubble.

To start with, your hotel will be pleasingly chilly, you can then hop on to the metro which is also air-conditioned and head to one of the many malls to experience some further cold air.

As long as you always remain inside a building or vehicle, there’s no reason to feel the heat.

If that still doesn’t provide enough of a chill factor, head to Ski Dubai, the indoor ski resort at the Mall of the Emirates, where temperatures are maintained at -4°C.

Antarctica

Perhaps not the easiest destination to get to, nor the most practical.

But it’s definitely cold throughout the year. At the peak of its warmth, the temperature in Antarctica reaches a balmy -8°C.

To visit this polar extreme you’d need to book a cruise – there are a few options available, although they’re limited and expensive.

However, if you truly detest the summer heat then this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is the ultimate bucket list trip.