Walking the 2km, mostly downhill, from the T3 training complex which Heart of Midlothian used for their week-long pre-season camp in Tenerife to their plush hotel in La Caleta gave a sense of just how challenging it was for the players to work with tempo and intensity in the heat of the Canary Islands. For the most part, twice a day for seven days with a drone flying above capturing the work for later review.

On this particular Monday morning, the temperatures were in the low-to-mid 20s. When the team returned to the training pitch later that day for their second session the mercury had risen closer to 30 degrees. It was noted, ahead of the first session, that it was the quietest the players had been coming off the bus such was the work they had put in across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Few sessions, however, were harder than the one the squad underwent on Wednesday. With no friendly fixture, the team underwent an intra-squad training game. But it was not just any training game. It was one which was paused every 20 minutes. The players were able to take on some water but they were also required to run intervals. It looked gruelling. James Wilson's shake of the head as he came off the pitch said it all.

It would be remiss to not mention the goalkeepers. Despite not having to do much running there was a lot of fast-foot work, plyometric jumping and diving about. There may have been a suggestion it was more difficult than running.

The purpose of the trip was two-fold. To undertake an intense period of training before the main bulk of pre-season fixtures and to grow closer as a squad. Both were achieved.

Speaking to the management team, players and club staff, the trip was a huge success. The facilities were excellent with the team having exclusivity of the complex allowing for work across two pitches in relative privacy, even if one training session saw a Norwegian tourist land on the pitch while paragliding. 

Read more

The close proximity to where they were staying meant there was not a lot of travel and time spent on buses. They were well-catered for at the hotel whether it was food with the club chef part of the club's entourage, a pool table which was popular with some members of the team or general comfort with players two to a room.

That brings us to the second aim of the trip: Team bonding.

Steven Naismith, understandably, places a lot of importance on the environment the players are working in, as seen by the improvements to the Oriam. Any player coming into the environment can't be seen as a possible disruptor which is why a lot of work is done on getting character references, admittedly something a lot of clubs try to do. 

The members of the club's media team in attendance were kept busy throughout the week, on top of their own challenges set by the management team they provided fans with an insight into that squad dynamic and camaraderie. Whether it was Aidan Denholm and Beni Baningime having a lot of fun jibing team-mates or laughing about Hannah Montana, a day with Blair Spittal or a competitive game of water polo.

From the outside looking in, it is an environment where new players can settle in really easily and one without discernible cliques.

From a selfish work perspective, it is very much hoped that Hearts will return to the island for future pre-season trips - just remember to choose a hotel that has hot water and not up a hill that resembles the steep parts of Arthur's Seat. It was a welcome escape from a mixture of rain, wind and hayfever and a chance to get some sun on pasty white Scottish skin.

Hearts training base.Hearts training base. (Image: Hearts Standard)

What couldn't be escaped, however, was the raft of Celtic tops. A phenomenon that all Scottish football fans are aware of. The holiday uniform of Old Firm fans. But this was another level. No other team was represented quite like the Scottish champions. Flying out of Edinburgh, Celtic tops. Flying back, Celtic tops. Going out for dinner, Celtic tops. Sitting outside the Irish Rover, Celtic tops. Lounging by the pool, Celtic tops. Picking up some food from the Mercadona, you guessed it! Celtic tops. 

At one point, across from Scotch Corner in Costa Adeje, on the night of England's semi-final with the Netherlands, two guys wearing Celtic tops walked past one another, looked at each other and acknowledged each other with a knowing gesture.

Speaking of Scotch Corner, Hearts fans packed out the pub for the club's takeover on Sunday. The sheer number of supporters of the club in the area that weekend was quite the surprise but they were able to interact with players and staff, get selfies and even pick up some free Love Holiday merch. There was the cameo appearance from Suso. Not the only cameo from a former player with Conor Sammon on the team's flight home on Thursday evening.

Scotch Corner was also the location where the two-man press pack should have watched the aforementioned England semi-final. Unsurprisingly, Tenerife turned into a large-scale, warm-weather, BoxPark. Croydon with a tan. The only evening where Celtic tops were outnumbered. The chosen location to watch the game was a mistake, St Eugene's, across from Scotch Corner.

Come Ollie Watkins' goal we stood out like a sore thumb, sat glumly as some wee lad bounced about over us as the smoke machine was turned on and Three Lions was belted out, closely followed by Vindaloo and Sweet Caroline. It felt like you were in a particularly depressing episode of Pheonix Nights. Outside wasn't much better. A night which simply had to be called short. 

All in all, it was a very interesting insight into how teams operate the warm-weather camp. And, as Naismith mentioned prior to flying out, the days of such weeks being viewed as a bit of a jolly are long gone. Players were able to get out for a meal, play golf and get downtime but the important focus was the season ahead. 

Naismith said the team are "way ahead" compared to 12 months ago. That should concern those teams trying to close the gap. And while they have their hands full with League Cup fixtures, Hearts can now continue to build at their own pace toward Rangers visiting Tynecastle Park in just three weeks' time.