Are the wee little midge thingies still around in Scotland??

[Brightonboyz]

Hi all

Quick question for any of you north of the border at this time

We're planning to head off after the bank holiday weekend eventually hitting Inverness to visit friend and then slowly working our way across the to the West coast and then south

Just wondering what the midges are like at the moment

I'm generally fairly relaxed but the other half has a very low threshold to any flying insect thingys that bite

Am wondering if its safe to take him north yet or whether to delay a couple of weeks otherwise the trip might end up looking like this until the coast is clear .....

 

[Brightonboyz]

…and to stir it up further …

 

[CWH]

…and to stir it up further …
View attachment 530976

Janey Godley is brilliant!

Anyhoo ... aye the wee midgie things are oot an' aboot with their fangs sharpened (North-West coast). They seem particularly bad just now.
They're driving us indoors about 6.30 now depending, of course, on the strength of the wind.
Your armoury:
Avon Skin So Soft (original formula) is to plaster on so that their fangs can't get far enough in to damage you.
Smidge interferes with their receptors so they can't find you. This works best for me.
But some will always get through, so have antihistamines ready.
In extremis: cover up, head nets, and RUN.

 

[deleted79651]

Midgie Fest this morning after overnight rain and humid morning temperatures and I was on grey water/cassette emptying duties at the glorious Burn O Vat National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre 5 miles west of Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Superb scenery, very friendly Rangers, chemical disposal point, 24 hour access to immaculate toilet blocks with hot water on tap and fresh water tap. 'Donations appreciated' for your stay so £10 in the box.

Steve & Elaine

 

[Nirvanauk]

We have just at Balmaha Loch Lomond. Midges in abundance and have driven us indoors!

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[Mountain man]

Midgie Fest this morning after overnight rain and humid morning temperatures and I was on grey water/cassette emptying duties at the glorious Burn O Vat National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre 5 miles west of Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Superb scenery, very friendly Rangers, chemical disposal point, 24 hour access to immaculate toilet blocks with hot water on tap and fresh water tap. 'Donations appreciated' for your stay so £10 in the box.

Steve & Elaine

Burn o vat fantastic place great walk around the loch worth every penny.

 

[Mountain man]

Aviemore yesterday lots of midges on our climb up Ben MacduI.

 

[Brightonboyz]

Just arrived at Burn O Vat National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre 5 miles west of Ballater, Aberdeenshire after a lovely trip up the A1!! Brilliant location Its raining of course - so no bitey things as yet The Mighty Yin (Billy C) would approve … of course it’s f***ing raining it’s Scotland
As said in previous posts the newbie Boyz are loving this Motorhome Fun Will post some pics …

 

[Brightonboyz]

Stopped off near Lindisfarne and visited the island Amazing … the causeway floods twice a day so if you time it wrong your stuffed

 

[Brightonboyz]

This was the trip through Cairngorms and or final resting place in Burn O Vat - loving Scotland such an amazing country

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[deleted79651]

This was the trip through Cairngorms and or final resting place in Burn O Vat - loving Scotland such an amazing country

You look to be parked about 4 bays along from where we were until Friday morning .... Great facility and setting! We fed the midges to bursting point during the pack down so you should be safe!

Steve & Elaine

 

[Brightonboyz]

You look to be parked about 4 bays along from where we were until Friday morning .... Great facility and setting! We fed the midges to bursting point during the pack down so you should be safe!

Steve & Elaine

That explains it was wondering where they were all hiding - apparently all fed and needing a lie down

 

[deleted79651]

This was the trip through Cairngorms and or final resting place in Burn O Vat - loving Scotland such an amazing country

 

[Brightonboyz]

View attachment 533690View attachment 533691

Yep just up from there on the grassy verge - what a lovely park up planning to do one of the walks early tomorrow before heading off

 

[deleted79651]

That explains it was wondering where they were all hiding - apparently all fed and needing a lie down

Just posted 2 photos of Brunhilde. The rear wheels were brushing the parking planks on the reverse in, and we needed the Fiamma Ramps to lift the back end clear of the grass bank and get back roughly to the line taken by ordinary cars. Worth the faff though, and we only had a 171 mile trip back home, including heading back out along A93 through Banchory et seq to avoid Glenshee, so back up to Stonehaven before turning south.

I'm ex Worthing resident [elder son still lives there], moved to Scotland after meeting Elaine. Still not certain whether it was love or heartburn ...

Steve & Elaine

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[TheAleMan]

We are over on the west side of the Cairngorms atm in Laggan. We are on a new (as of about 8 weeks ago) CL and it’s a fantastic place. Midges have not been to bad at all, and we took to the hills for a 6.5 mile walk this morning, and even then they were more than manageable.

 

[deleted79651]

Yep just up from there on the grassy verge - what a lovely park up planning to do one of the walks early tomorrow before heading off

If you walk up the hill towards the Burn O Vat but turn left at the top of the climb instead of following the arrows to the View Point, you can climb about 300 metres and you can walk down/scramble to the open top of the Vat itself, stunning view. Then retrace steps to Viewpoint for great views over the Loch.

 

[Brightonboyz]

If you walk up the hill towards the Burn O Vat but turn left at the top of the climb instead of following the arrows to the View Point, you can climb about 300 metres and you can walk down/scramble to the open top of the Vat itself, stunning view. Then retrace steps to Viewpoint for great views over the Loch.View attachment 533715View attachment 533716View attachment 533715View attachment 533716

Wooza that’s amazing Sorry to have missed your post - would have loved to have a look around Nog to worry though still an amazing stop over

 

[deleted79651]

Wooza that’s amazing Sorry to have missed your post - would have loved to have a look around Nog to worry though still an amazing stop over

We almost stumbled across the Burn O Vat and are so glad we did! Taken in the round, the [non] site is probably the best place we have stopped at. We will return, because there is still so much that we have not seen, and everywhere is so peaceful!

We also stopped at Gourdon Harbour [and had Fish & Chips at the acclaimed Quayside Restaurant] on the Car Park attached to the Harbour Inn, with a sea view where we spent Sunday afternoon/evening and Monday morning watching 3 herons fishing and getting into territorial spats with the seagulls! Lovely way to relax. The approach road cut through just north of Laurencekirk [B9120] from the A90 was a wee bit challenging, but well worth it! There are 3 national cycle routes that have a wee junction about 100 metres from the Car Park, so we will probably return when we're a lot fitter and venture out along the coast!

Steve & Elaine

 

[Brightonboyz]

Just arrived at Findhorn Westbeach Motorhome stopover via the A939 from Ballater prior to hitting Inverness - most of it great but some stretches but tight with oncoming tractor etc.!! We’ll run council run site with good hard-standing pitches, grey & black disposal plus water - no EHU £15 but we are talking summer holiday area so happy to pay as an overnight stop
Beach is two minutes walk away with great views across Moray Firth

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[deleted79651]

Just arrived at Findhorn Westbeach Motorhome stopover via the A939 from Ballater prior to hitting Inverness - most of it great but some stretches but tight with oncoming tractor etc.!! We’ll run council run site with good hard-standing pitches, grey & black disposal plus water - no EHU £15 but we are talking summer holiday area so happy to pay as an overnight stop
Beach is two minutes walk away with great views across Moray Firth
View attachment 533978View attachment 533979

Not too shabby a location, then? We met a damn great tractor and hay trailer less than 1/2 mile from Burn O Vat and he was a lot bigger than me, so I conceded gracefully and reversed to a safe passing place, hoping desperately that one of the local boy racers wasn't tearing towards the Van! Since fitting the Bike Cover, I have had to adjust the rear camera and the view is now almost 10 metres before the blind spot disappears, so clean mirrors are vital!

Enjoy your time in Scotland, and hope the weather stays fine for you!

Steve & Elaine