NC500 - When to avoid worst of midges?

andyelbac

andyelbac

Joined
Jul 25, 2022
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Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent, UK
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90,146
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Burstner
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July 2022
Just starting to seriously think about doing all or part of the NC500 in the MH (coachbuilt, 7mt) next year. Never been before but having just got back from a two week trip to Sardinia (not in MH sadly) I appear to have become quite allergic to mosquito bites. As I have heard the midges can be somewhat frightful (particularly to the English!) in Scotland at certain times, I'm wondering when would be best to go? It would also be good if we could go when the kids are in school (avoid two irritants for the price of one so to speak) 😀
 
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May is a good month, speaking from experience l can say you beat the crowds and the midges.The weather is generally on the up and though it can still be wet we have enjoyed some amazing T-shirt weather on occasion.
 
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Avoid July and August on both counts. You’ll find some midges outwith those months but you should miss the peak.

School holidays are different England to Scotland, and a lot of tourists in NC500 are English.
 
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Funnily enough, we did the NC500 in August last year and never had a problem with midges but, as it has been said, they are weather dependent and I guess we were just lucky. Whatever happens, don't let it put you off. Very beautiful.
 
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Littlewheels said:
May is a good month, speaking from experience l can say you beat the crowds and the midges.The weather is generally on the up and though it can still be wet we have enjoyed some amazing T-shirt weather on occasion.
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I agree May is usual the best month, weather just warming up all the kids at school what’s not to like,
 
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A few years ago I was doing the Highlands on my motorbike in May. It was icy, sleeting most days. Applecross pass was closed. I got frozen and soaked, but I got some great photos and tales to tell. Not surprisingly, midge season was late that year.
 
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Midges don't like wind so anywhere with a bit of a breeze is okay. Near still/running water is also best to be avoided.

Worst place we ever stopped was by the side of a small loch, amongst trees on a warm humid day. We'd sealed everything up but then noticed dozens of "daddy-long-legs" swarming all over the windscreen on the hunt for midges; in turn there were lots of swallows going after those. Ah, the circle of life! Didn't stay very long though.

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Midges are rarely a problem during the day unless it's hot, dull and humid after rain and you're near water or bushes. Early in the morning or at sunset if there's no breeze again if you're near water May to September.
Having been an angler in Scotland most of my life I've rarely had an issue with them except at dusk and dawn when doing overnight sessions.
Come to Scotland it's beautiful, don't worry about the midges. My favourite months are May/June while not the warmest months, there's more chances of the weather being settled and the roads are quieter.
Take some Smidge https://www.smidgeup.com/
or Avon Skin So Soft
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both of which are popular in Scotland for repelling midges. If there's a breeze you'll need neither (y)
 
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Thanks for all your advice. We'll go! I used to go to Scotland to visit my grandparents when I was just a very small boy (they were English but retired to a little place above Gardenstown, just east of Banff) I remember it as the most lovely of countries....admittedly through the eyes of a six year old! I hope I feel the same again after 54 years!
 
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We came back 2 weeks ago, the weather was wet and WINDY not a midge in sight. I don't think they can fly very well with oilskins on!
 
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Just go! Smidge is your best friend if the devils come out. We have them on Dartmoor too, but as others have said, they’re only an issue on still, warm mornings/evenings near long grass/bushes adjacent to bogs or water. Any wind at all and they’re off.
 
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Littlewheels said:
May is a good month, speaking from experience l can say you beat the crowds and the midges.The weather is generally on the up and though it can still be wet we have enjoyed some amazing T-shirt weather on occasion.
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I totally agree with this. We go up every year late April early May 👍

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From a midge advice item that I popped onto the end of my profile a while back. Hope this helps.

I know its hard to believe but, its nearly the Midge season. So many people ask how to deal with them that I thought I'd try to help avoid the biting little critters.

1/ Right to start with, Midge's usually make their appearance in mid May. They appear on most evening's in Scotland & northern England. The Lake district also has more than its fair share. The population peaks from July to September, they can carry on biting until October or even November but the first decent nip of winter frost finally puts an end to their season.

2/ Midge's are at their worst on a damp but warm evenings, this also applies on damp or drizzly warm summers days. On a dry but sunny day, they'll start biting at about 8-9 pm until 7am ish in mid summer.

3/ Avon skin so soft helps to deter them but, only up to a certain point. Jungle formula insect repentant is probably the best defence. Eating garlic food is another option, as is pinning a sprig of bog-myrtle to your clothes. Repellents won't stop Midge's swarming around you & this can be almost as unpleasant as the bites..

4/ Some people appear to be a lot more attractive to midge's than others! If you are the person that they want to bite, then they'll have you regardless of insect replants. Lactic acid is present in human sweat & is irresistible to Midge's. Some people (me included) react very badly to the bite of Midge's. An anti-histamine is a handy addition to the medicine chest but, prevention is better than cure.
When they've identified a feeding site...YOU, Midge's emit pheromones to call others Midge's. Male Midge's are quite a bit bigger than the females which are smaller than a pinhead. Midge's are so numerous that they can form clouds that are impossible to see through! The good news is that it's only the pregnant females, on the hunt for protein, who bite. They prefer the blood of cattle to humans, but Midge's will not differentiate between holidaymakers & cattle, any port in a storm.

5/ When its dark Midge's are attracted to bright lights & the carbon dioxide on your breath. If you must go out after dark then its best to distract them. The midge isn't most clever of insects but, your laying a big red carpet out by leaving your awning light on. I find that switching on an interior bright light on the same side of your motorhome well away from the door but, putting your awning light off as well as all visible (from the door) lights inside your motorhome draws them away from the door.

6/ Insect nets do not work in keeping midge's out, especially if you have lights on in your Motorhome. Even with the windows open a tiny bit the midge's will get in. Sleep with the windows shut or you will be bitten.

7/ Shaded valley's can hold cool damp air & be a haven for Midge's. Large tree's with lots of foliage also act as Midge paradise. So if you give your dog a bedtime walk in wooded area's your pretty well guaranteed to be bitten.

8/ Ordinary fly spray sprayed lightly onto your curtains can act as a powerful deterrent to Midge's. Now if you've brought or attracted the critters inside your motorhome, put just one bright light on & all other lights off, this will attract them to one area making them easier to deal with. Fly spray will kill them quickly but, if you prefer a non chemical solution, a wet cloth is best dabbed onto the area that you've brought the Midge's to.

9/ Some camp sites use Midge catching machines which burn Calor gas & these are amazingly effective. Citronella candles can help if your wild camping. There are some Midge eating machines that are available. at £629 for a unit for commercial use and £429 for the domestic-sized cylinder, the Midgeater - to be placed outdoors at the beginning of the midge season - is an expensive way of counteracting the menace. I "borrowed" this advice from elsewhere. There's a host of other anti-midge paraphernalia available, too, including anti-midge hat nets, midge body suits and midge netting designed to cover the entrance to tents.

10/ There is a dedicated website which gives a 5 day Midge "weather forecast" just click on this link

I might add advice to this posting as & when I remember, my brain sin't what it used to be. I really hope that this advice & information helps Funsters that are planning a northern visit. A lot of this advice also applies to Mosquitoes but the mossy nets on your motorhome should work as Mosquitoes are a lot larger than midge's.
 
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ambulancekidd said:
2/ Midge's are at their worst on a damp but warm evenings, this also applies on damp or drizzly warm summers days. On a dry but sunny day, they'll start biting at about 8-9 pm until 7am ish in mid summer.
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Hi Robert, in my many years experience of fishing overnight for tench was that the midges stop being active after dark and start being active again an hour before sunrise which can be as early as 3.30am.
......... and only the females bite ;)
 
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