Steve Fallon says of Lake Bled: “Mild thermal springs warm the water of this impossibly beautiful cobalt-blue lake to 26°C, making it a great place for a dip well into autumn: there are swimming areas on the northern and western shores. But what makes it even more special is the tiny, tear-shaped island toward the western side of the lake. On it you can visit a small museum and the lovely Church of the Assumption with some 14th-century fresco fragments and a gold baroque altar. If you need a special favour, ring the ‘wishing bell’ in the 15th-century church belfry and it will be granted.”

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), produced by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, is based on an assessment of the policies of 180 nations, reflecting whether they are meeting internationally established environmental targets or, in the absence of agreed targets, how they compare to one another. Slovenia performed admirably, with a rating of 88.98. Only four nations (Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Denmark) can better it.