Discussion
s2kjock said:
Dalwhinnie/Laggan to Spean Bridge is often overlooked, and while dreary if busy due to lack of easy overtaking opportunities and sightlines, if you get a clear run late summer evening or very early morning its marvellous.
Great fun in the right traffic conditions on 4 wheels or 2 - one of those roads that really rewards smoothness and planning.
In my numerous trips this way I've found it's far easier to get a decent, traffic-free run leaving Spean Bridge. There are overtaking opportunities as soon as you leave there compared to around Laggan where the most stubborn of fGreat fun in the right traffic conditions on 4 wheels or 2 - one of those roads that really rewards smoothness and planning.
kwits refuse to pull over.Afternoon all.
I'm heading for the highlands at the end of July, it's been a couple of years since I was there and this time I'm taking the bike. Plan is for two of us, both with 1200GS adventures, to ride the coast clockwise over four days and camp at night.
I've never been to Scotland in the middle of summer, how bad are the midges? I've heard stories of black clouds of the things.
Cheers.
I'm heading for the highlands at the end of July, it's been a couple of years since I was there and this time I'm taking the bike. Plan is for two of us, both with 1200GS adventures, to ride the coast clockwise over four days and camp at night.
I've never been to Scotland in the middle of summer, how bad are the midges? I've heard stories of black clouds of the things.
Cheers.
dtiom said:
Afternoon all.
I'm heading for the highlands at the end of July, it's been a couple of years since I was there and this time I'm taking the bike. Plan is for two of us, both with 1200GS adventures, to ride the coast clockwise over four days and camp at night.
I've never been to Scotland in the middle of summer, how bad are the midges? I've heard stories of black clouds of the things.
Cheers.
July / Aug they are bad 1 day in 5. But when they are bad, they are brutal. Avoid early morning, late evening, still, overcast, no wind, and you'll be fine. If you are out in that DON'T STAND STILL! Sunny, windy, bright and you'll see none.I'm heading for the highlands at the end of July, it's been a couple of years since I was there and this time I'm taking the bike. Plan is for two of us, both with 1200GS adventures, to ride the coast clockwise over four days and camp at night.
I've never been to Scotland in the middle of summer, how bad are the midges? I've heard stories of black clouds of the things.
Cheers.
Keep windows closed!
It ain't that bad if you know what you are doing. Buy Smidge. It works.
GetCarter said:
dtiom said:
Afternoon all.
I'm heading for the highlands at the end of July, it's been a couple of years since I was there and this time I'm taking the bike. Plan is for two of us, both with 1200GS adventures, to ride the coast clockwise over four days and camp at night.
I've never been to Scotland in the middle of summer, how bad are the midges? I've heard stories of black clouds of the things.
Cheers.
July / Aug they are bad 1 day in 5. But when they are bad, they are brutal. Avoid early morning, late evening, still, overcast, no wind, and you'll be fine. If you are out in that DON'T STAND STILL! Sunny, windy, bright and you'll see none.I'm heading for the highlands at the end of July, it's been a couple of years since I was there and this time I'm taking the bike. Plan is for two of us, both with 1200GS adventures, to ride the coast clockwise over four days and camp at night.
I've never been to Scotland in the middle of summer, how bad are the midges? I've heard stories of black clouds of the things.
Cheers.
Keep windows closed!
It ain't that bad if you know what you are doing. Buy Smidge. It works.
I'll get some smidge and some anti midge head wear. I think my buddy has some skin so soft, the old blend! Just googled Scotland midges, there's some amusing videos on youtube from people being attacked by clouds of the buggers.
General route will be:
Day 1: Heysham to Fort William (ish)
Day 2: Skye, hike up the old man, head over the pass to Applecross / Torridon and see how far north we get.
Day 3: ride across the top
Day 4: ride south through the middle from Tongue.
Day 5: head home
Just need some good weather now.
General route will be:
Day 1: Heysham to Fort William (ish)
Day 2: Skye, hike up the old man, head over the pass to Applecross / Torridon and see how far north we get.
Day 3: ride across the top
Day 4: ride south through the middle from Tongue.
Day 5: head home
Just need some good weather now.
coppice said:
1200 miles in 4 days in my Seven and a delight as ever. Didn't do Bealach as cloud heavy but Torridon and Loch Maree sublime - even stayed dry on one day . Stayed- for old times sake when I used to fish Loch Sionascaig and Assynt- at the legendary Culag in Lochinver- great haddock but never mistaken for a ..ahem..boutique hotel.
Suprisingly briliant drive from Laggan to Invergarry on day 2 -quiet , only two vehicles overtaken in first 40m ; sinous and enchanting road .
Glad you had a good trip. Funny you mention Sionascaig, love that loch. Although in summer walking back from boat bay to the road, worst midges in the world! Suprisingly briliant drive from Laggan to Invergarry on day 2 -quiet , only two vehicles overtaken in first 40m ; sinous and enchanting road .
Manx midgies vs West Highland variety: think England Hooligans vs the Russians. Both an unnecessary nuisance that you wonder why God created them but the latter more vicious, relentless and seemingly better organised. In 15 years of living on the island the only thing that had me running for cover (and dropping and smashing my camera) was a biblical plague of flying ants up from the Clypse reservoir. My time near Aultbea taught me that, as per above, the only place to be on a still summer's eve was indoors! A mate and I were walking a few miles south of the village when suddenly the wind just dropped. Cue Firestarter like dancing and running to the car.
I'd only ever head north in April, May or later September but that said I am a tad jealous, have a safe trip
I'd only ever head north in April, May or later September but that said I am a tad jealous, have a safe trip
My favourite line about the dreaded Scottish midge comes from a book by Muriel Gray called "The First Fifty" recalling her time ascending said number of Munros.
One way of deterring midgies is to smoke but, as the packets nowadays say, that kills. You would have to be simultaneously bitten by 8,000 of the little sods to die, according to research.
So yes, mozzies are more dangerous but midgies can drive you insane!
There is a theory that it's partly the fault of the English. Ah, good old British colonialism.. When landowners threw crofters out during the Highland clearances it left large tracks of land unmanaged and the perfect breeding ground for the famous flying pests. Like I say, it's a theory.
One way of deterring midgies is to smoke but, as the packets nowadays say, that kills. You would have to be simultaneously bitten by 8,000 of the little sods to die, according to research.
So yes, mozzies are more dangerous but midgies can drive you insane!
There is a theory that it's partly the fault of the English. Ah, good old British colonialism.. When landowners threw crofters out during the Highland clearances it left large tracks of land unmanaged and the perfect breeding ground for the famous flying pests. Like I say, it's a theory.
I live in a forest with a burn running through it by a loch in the NW Highlands. Also known as Midge Central. So I'm clued up, and often bitten.
First up. Some people don't get bitten at all (my neighbour - git). Boffins are trying to work out why some do, some don't. Once they do they'll solve the problem.
...also, there are 37 different types of midge up here, only 5 bite, and then only the females, so even if you see midges you may not get bitten.
...they start mid May, but you don't see many until Mid June, and die off in September. (It's all down to the weather).
...5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight are the worst times.
... they HATE wind, sun & dry. They LOVE still, damp and humid.
They don't often hurt when thy bite - most of the time you won't know you've been bitten. Then you (if you are like me) will get the equiv of itchy 'nettle rash'.
DON'T SCRATCH IT!
Mosquitoes turn up in small numbers - you can (literally) get thousands of midges descending on one human.
Top tip. Don't stand still. They can't fly as fast as you can walk.
As mentioned Smidge is bloody good (don't get it in your eyes!). Avon Skin So Soft is just so oily that they can't get purchase (so it does work).
My experience tells me there are about 20 - 30 bad days per year. Mostly in July/August.
I put air conditioning in my house so I don't have to open the windows on summer nights!
/soap box
First up. Some people don't get bitten at all (my neighbour - git). Boffins are trying to work out why some do, some don't. Once they do they'll solve the problem.
...also, there are 37 different types of midge up here, only 5 bite, and then only the females, so even if you see midges you may not get bitten.
...they start mid May, but you don't see many until Mid June, and die off in September. (It's all down to the weather).
...5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight are the worst times.
... they HATE wind, sun & dry. They LOVE still, damp and humid.
They don't often hurt when thy bite - most of the time you won't know you've been bitten. Then you (if you are like me) will get the equiv of itchy 'nettle rash'.
DON'T SCRATCH IT!
Mosquitoes turn up in small numbers - you can (literally) get thousands of midges descending on one human.
Top tip. Don't stand still. They can't fly as fast as you can walk.
As mentioned Smidge is bloody good (don't get it in your eyes!). Avon Skin So Soft is just so oily that they can't get purchase (so it does work).
My experience tells me there are about 20 - 30 bad days per year. Mostly in July/August.
I put air conditioning in my house so I don't have to open the windows on summer nights!
/soap box
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 11th July 05:49
Pre air con in cars- IF you stopped for any reason- Swimbo & I used to park up in Highland places ,to be alone (NO- not for that, just to be alone) ,and I used to be a midge meal. She had no problems. But once they were in, I got midge mugged and only cure was to open all windows and head off at speed, wind sucking the little sods out.
But for the past few years I've been up north- I'm immune- they don't bother me. Perhaps it's the fact that now I'm diabetic and taking certain drugs, my blood is not so tasty. Might be worth some midge doctor looking at. Perhaps out of anti diabetic medicine ,there's a cure to the scourge of the Highland midge.
But for the past few years I've been up north- I'm immune- they don't bother me. Perhaps it's the fact that now I'm diabetic and taking certain drugs, my blood is not so tasty. Might be worth some midge doctor looking at. Perhaps out of anti diabetic medicine ,there's a cure to the scourge of the Highland midge.
You can sleep with windows open in midge territory. But you need a light source adjacent to the window (on the outside) to keep the midges occupied. If it's warm, still, damp weather I do this and it keeps them away. Amazing the number of midges that fry themselves on a lightbulb over the course of a night.
My last post might be a good topic for SJA working as a medic in midge territory, with the problems of midges from abroad, coming to the fore. possibly there's something in metformin that gives off a nasty smell to the biters .I noticed this first in the borders area on night shift ( where folks were running around in head nets,and I was ignored) and put it down to not being tasty to Border Midges, coming from up north , but in all my last trips up north, I've never been bitten. And at one time, I was the equivalent of a steak diner to the little blighter's, and if bitten on/around the eyes, the area got swollen.
Summer holidays, all my coworkers are off on leave and I'm still at the office...it really makes me think: why am I doing this and why am I not in Scotland?
I really need to go back, I had such a great time and although we did a lot of driving with long days in sometimes dismal weather, I came back more refreshed and relaxed than I ever could have hoped for. I never knew it was still possible to be so alone on this busy and crowded world.
To wake up, get in and just drive. You and the machine, the occasional sheep and just mile after mile of the most awesome scenery and nature. It truely is astonishingly beautiful and I think that everyone in this world should experience epicness of this magnitude. I have a feeling that we often forget just how awesome the planet can be, and to be able to drive through all of it is just mind blowing really.
Every time I think about the trip I had, it makes me grin and gives me the courage to deal with everyday life, because I know that someday I will return. Words really can't describe the feeling of freedom that you experience when you set off somewhere near Invergarry with the sun setting and the sky going all golden, and knowing that you can just drive your car on these roads...I felt like I had left all of my troubles behind me, and when I coasted into the parking lot at Elian Donan, a man wearing a skirt was playing his bagpipes and I felt like it was the most beautiful thing ever. Just experiencing that, taking it all in... its something that I would normally never pay attention to, but back then it was just 'right'.
(taken left of the castle)
Getting back into the car, setting off towards portree over the famous bridge with the sky turning blue. It was just perfect. Only thing missing was a Lotus Exige S2, but it didn't bother me that much as the country had set the mood, not the car. Had I not been driving a 120 diesel, but something even more exciting, my brain probably would have gone into sensory overload causing me to just freeze up and stare at the epicness every five miles
I really need to go back.
I really need to go back, I had such a great time and although we did a lot of driving with long days in sometimes dismal weather, I came back more refreshed and relaxed than I ever could have hoped for. I never knew it was still possible to be so alone on this busy and crowded world.
To wake up, get in and just drive. You and the machine, the occasional sheep and just mile after mile of the most awesome scenery and nature. It truely is astonishingly beautiful and I think that everyone in this world should experience epicness of this magnitude. I have a feeling that we often forget just how awesome the planet can be, and to be able to drive through all of it is just mind blowing really.
Every time I think about the trip I had, it makes me grin and gives me the courage to deal with everyday life, because I know that someday I will return. Words really can't describe the feeling of freedom that you experience when you set off somewhere near Invergarry with the sun setting and the sky going all golden, and knowing that you can just drive your car on these roads...I felt like I had left all of my troubles behind me, and when I coasted into the parking lot at Elian Donan, a man wearing a skirt was playing his bagpipes and I felt like it was the most beautiful thing ever. Just experiencing that, taking it all in... its something that I would normally never pay attention to, but back then it was just 'right'.
(taken left of the castle)
Getting back into the car, setting off towards portree over the famous bridge with the sky turning blue. It was just perfect. Only thing missing was a Lotus Exige S2, but it didn't bother me that much as the country had set the mood, not the car. Had I not been driving a 120 diesel, but something even more exciting, my brain probably would have gone into sensory overload causing me to just freeze up and stare at the epicness every five miles
I really need to go back.
Edited by PJH1987 on Monday 25th July 09:18
Edited by PJH1987 on Monday 25th July 09:21
I am really struggling to find a good lunch option in the Tongue/Durness area.
We'll be there first week of October 2016.
Can you guys help please?
We'll be leaving the Torridon hotel on a Sunday morning making our way past Loch Assynt towards Durness and Tongue. It'll be too early to eat the Kylesku hotel or Lochinver so we need to find a place that is open on a Sunday, for lunch in either Durness or Tongue.
Help! Thanks you guys.
We'll be there first week of October 2016.
Can you guys help please?
We'll be leaving the Torridon hotel on a Sunday morning making our way past Loch Assynt towards Durness and Tongue. It'll be too early to eat the Kylesku hotel or Lochinver so we need to find a place that is open on a Sunday, for lunch in either Durness or Tongue.
Help! Thanks you guys.
AdvocatusD said:
I am really struggling to find a good lunch option in the Tongue/Durness area.
We'll be there first week of October 2016.
Can you guys help please?
We'll be leaving the Torridon hotel on a Sunday morning making our way past Loch Assynt towards Durness and Tongue. It'll be too early to eat the Kylesku hotel or Lochinver so we need to find a place that is open on a Sunday, for lunch in either Durness or Tongue.
Help! Thanks you guys.
Try The Craggan in Melness ( http://www.thecraggan.co.uk/ ) .....I think it's open on a Sunday. We'll be there first week of October 2016.
Can you guys help please?
We'll be leaving the Torridon hotel on a Sunday morning making our way past Loch Assynt towards Durness and Tongue. It'll be too early to eat the Kylesku hotel or Lochinver so we need to find a place that is open on a Sunday, for lunch in either Durness or Tongue.
Help! Thanks you guys.
Edited by towser on Monday 25th July 13:43
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