Midges aren’t the problem.....it’s huge swarms of tourists! Lol
There are less midges through autumn and winter and spring, but don’t get too hung up on midges, they have been here later in year as it’s been so mild.
They don’t like hot sunny weather, but in summer can be troublesome in warm still evenings. Best just to go where you fancy and coming prepared. Avoid close proximity to still water. A breeze of even 5 mph will keep them away too. A good repellent , like Smidge works really well and is deet free.
Accept they will be here and just come prepared. I’d worry more about ticks to be honest.
By “Scottish 500”, I assume you mean North Coast 500 or NC500. Plenty of threads about that & it has its own website.
Best time - May for the bluebells. Or midsummer for the awesome light, when it doesn’t go dark at night. Or October when the skies are crisp blue & there’s beautiful autumn colour or snow on the peaks. Any time, really.
But this midge business is hyped up. I agree with Lorfal. Bring your choice of insect repellent (countless threads on that) and a stock of Aldi (or other cheap) antihistamine tablets & some antihistamine cream.
Autumn through to early Spring, never been bothered with them then.
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Midgies - if you're not bothered by them, it's hyped up. If your life is made hell by them, the problem is understated. I don't understand why some people are affected and not others. Avon 'Skin so soft' is a fairly good repellent.
As lorfal put it, large numbers of tourists are more of a problem. The East coast has fewer midgies and tourists.
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Quote: Originally posted by Capt Lightning on 02/12/2021
Midgies - if you're not bothered by them, it's hyped up. If your life is made hell by them, the problem is understated. I don't understand why some people are affected and not others.
Agree. I had a hundred bites on each limb at Arrochar one summer, while OH had not one. And I get big lumps. Hence the advice re antihistamine tablets & cream, which are effective: the famous West Highland midge of Para Handy fame won’t put me off heading to see sunsets & maybe an otter.
PS Those citronella candles are worse than useless. I’m experimenting with a plug in light with the blue thing that zaps flies, to see what its range is.
Was the OH drinking Tonic Water? My OH suffered terriby whilst in Egypt and I missed out on all the fun. I put that down to good old G&T.
------------- 2021 - 8 sites/32 nights plus 1 two night & 2 four night festivals.
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Quote: Originally posted by RFdemon on 03/12/2021
Was the OH drinking Tonic Water? My OH suffered terriby whilst in Egypt and I missed out on all the fun. I put that down to good old G&T.
Nope - both drinking tonic (its got quinine, useful against malaria) and probably too much gin. Good theory though.
OH gets bitten by clegs (I think they’re called horse flies elsewhere), a scourge in some upland areas, but they don’t touch me. I reflect back the sympathy he gives me for my midge bites.
I find the midges between June and September unbearable, they love me but hate my sister. It is just your luck. They make my life a total misery smidge or not. I abandon Scotland during the summer months, especially the west!
Can't comment on times to avoid Scottish midges, but plenty of other parts of the country suffer biting bugs, especially it seems a regular camp site of mine in Essex in August! As it's a group event with about 25 of us, we get the full range from those left untouched to those eaten alive and resembling the Elephant Man from the bite lumps! The insect repellent flows almost as freely as the alcohol!
With a fair bit of quite expensive photo gear, personally I won't entertain any bug repellent containing Deet as it is harmful to many plastics, so I use Deet free Jungle Formula (with mixed results it has to be said!), but in the caravan, I use electric bug killers, which seem to do the job fairly well, I've a small plug in mains one inside the caravan, and a much larger rechargeable unit in the awning, they both work best when only light source (as in overnight). We've used Citronella candles and oil lamps in France, if the number of dead mozzis/bugs in the candle wax and stuck to the oily lamps is any indication, they are NOT repelled!
Despite vigilant use of fly screens on all open vents/windows/door, it seems impossible to keep the little pests out of the van, so the electric zappers earn their keep. Got mine from Lidl on weekly offer earlier in the year at usual good prices. The subtle violet light doesn't seem to interfere with my sleep.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
A Dutch couple we met at Rosemarkie swore by their pot of scented leaved geranium. Sure enough, when they lifted the pot there was a wide ring of dead midges on the table.
The jury is out on the blue or lavender light - the Oban midges weren’t zapped in sufficient numbers to make a difference.
Can I mention “berry bugs” - typical of grain harvest time, East Lothian. They find their way in as far as your underwear elastic & cause a very itchy rash of bites around your ribs & waist. I’ve never seen the bug itself but the pharmacists advise camomile lotion. Maybe they’re in East Anglia too.
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Topic: scottish 500 tour - avoiding midges
via mobile 30/11/2021 at 3:36pm
