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Me & Mrs Rascal going for a couple of weeks next year.
Prob in a T5 with bike, boots etc - Highlands, Skye, west coast.
I've heard May - Sept is midge season...bad idea to go end of May/early June?
Pretty sure people don't stop going at this time 😆
We went late June and it wasn't too bad. We had one bad night on the edge of a Loch between Glasgow and Fort Bill, Didn't see any on Skye or Further up. I suspect it was more luck than judgement, though
May is the best time to go in my opinion. Midges don't tend to get bad until June.
Also if you get windy weather the midges won't trouble you.
bad idea to go end of May/early June?
No May is usually the best month of the year in Scotland, the weather is still shite but not as shite as the rest of the year 🙂
I'm one of those lucky people that doesn't attract midges so have nothing useful to add 😀
We've been up the last few years either late august or whit week (late mayish?) May is better, fewer midges, loooooooong days, decent weather (in the south west anyway).
Only issue might be how early it gets light further north, especially in a camper. When we were there I was waking up when the light hit the curtains around 4.30am. It did mean that I could go a ride Ae and Mabie and still get back to the farm for breakfast at 8:30 though 8)
This year was much like last. There was little midge activity until August and they all seemed to hatch at once. There's still the random day (Like last weekend) when you'll meet a couple.
Weather-wise, May and June tend to be the driest and early May might still have some snow on the higher tops.
If you are heading out to the Hebrides then June is best for the machair.
July and August are the peak school holiday months. They're also traditionally a bit wetter, though August was pretty dry in the Highlands this year.
September and October can both be lovely. At this time of year though, it's starting to get dark earlier.
As you point out, folk just get on with living/their holidays. I manage to bivvy throughout the year and I'm a complete midge magnet. They can't fly in any wind stronger than about 5mph and don't like direct sunlight. Choose your stopping points accordingly and you should be fine.
And buy some Smidge. Not only will it help the midge issue, it's a very good tick repellent.
Whenever you come, don't expect to find lots of idyllic, remote spots to camp your van in. The West Coast, Skye etc are overrun with campervans and motorhomes.
I'd say May is a good shout, feels like we get the best weather then. This year for example April and May were very dry but the summers been pretty damp.
Oh fantastic question - I'd say 1745 during the Jacobite Rebellion.
Seems like we chose well then - cheers all 🙂
10 Past 6 on a Tuesday night. Don't stay any longer than half 8 though or the wearwolfs will get you
April* or May..
*Though, we're actually more likely to get a white easter than a white christmas...
[quote=Nobberinthefridge ]April* or May..
*Though, we're actually more likely to get a white easter than a white christmas...
Depends where you go 😉
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-41579304
Take some "fresh meat" - a nice pasty white individual you don't particularly like. Encourage them to dress with maximum flesh exposed and to scratch madly when bitten.
Most of the midgies will join the feast, and you won't notice the few who land on you because you'll be too busy enjoying the free entertainment your guest will provide.
Otherwise Vit B and a dram.
A good idea is to "dress down " while you are there ..its only the female midge that bites and if they find you unattractive then they will leave you well alone .. 😉
Smidge is good ..but not a patch on Ballistol Stichfrei ..which repels midges , ticks , horseflies and in tropical conditions mosquitos too...you will probably only find it online
Definitely May - best chance of warm sunny days if the last few years are anything to go by.
Definitely May. I was at Glencoe for the Macavalanche early May and the weather was stunning clear blue skies, and not a midge in sight all weekend.
May is good, as can be end of September.
When's good time to visit Scotland
never, its shit lol
Definitely May. I was at Glencoe for the Macavalanche early May and the weather was stunning clear blue skies, and not a midge in sight all weekend
That's quite an assumption, was good once, must always be good then. 😆
That's quite an assumption, was good once, must always be good then
I remember a summer once
All year round is a good time to visit. Just adjust your kit accordingly. For an outdoors enthusiast there are plenty of things to get stuck into no matter what month it is or what the weather is like.
I think it was a Wednesday this year.poah - Member
That's quite an assumption, was good once, must always be good then
I remember a summer once
May was a belter - spent most of the month out in the isles or touring around the north coast. Did get a few days of 40-50mph gusts whilst camping on Skye but at the end of the month it was 29C in Glen Nevis and the midges were barely a problem - too few and dopey. It was surprisingly busy though, with some ferry crossings fully booked and campsites full.
FTFYIt was [b]un[/b]surprisingly busy
And it'll be even busier in 2018.
I went in May this year (Arran, Kintyre, Islay). Apart from a massive storm and one evening getting eaten alive it was ace. I even got a bit of a suntan 🙂
end may / early june is the best time. Long days, no midges, usually sunny. cold at night tho especially higher up.
Good point tj, it can still be surprisingly chilly in the evenings quite late into the year. Wasn't so bad for it this year, but returned from several after work rides in 2016 half frozen as temp plummeted late evening.
2nd weekend in may 3 years ago ( we always go camping that weekend) was 1ish degree c at 2000 ft where we camped, -5ish at the tops and -25 ish with windchill
Remember the weather forecasts where it says "chance of frost in sheltered glens" Thats where we were camped!
I'd say winter is the best time to visit, if you're coming up for the scorchio summer weather you are wasting your time.
You do realise Scotland is mostly just bog,.. populated by webbed-toe swamp people.
We were in Mull at the end of July, no midges. The sea breeze seemed to help. A few in Perthshire the following week but no biggie. I was expecting midgemageddon so I was pleasantly surprised.
dumbbot - Member
You do realise Scotland is mostly just bog,.. populated by [b]sexy[/b] webbed-toe swamp people.
Ftfy
A few years ago I took a lady friend a walk up Buchaille Etive Mor in the middle of summer and as we tried to boot up at the roadside we were being eaten alive
I had to "borrow" midge spray from Germans next to us to survive but thats the Central to West bits of Scotland come to the East and they are like red squirrels or wild cats they are there but seldom seen
My friend didn't take up the offer of many more of my walks although fantastic views from the top