Touring Scotland
Discussion
johnwilliams77 said:
Can you please travel during the night to keep all these fun blockers off our roads?
TIA
"fun blocker"? The OP hasn't indicated whether travel is by caravan/motorhome or tenting by car or motorcycle.TIA
OP, we've travelled from Northern Ireland several times to tour Scotland. The west coast is favourite. We did the east coast once for the novelty but it can't compare to the west coast. I'm curious about your intended clockwise loop as beyond Cairnryan you've only mentioned 2 east coast cities.
Anyway, from Cairnryan we usually follow the coast and cross via Gourock-Dunoon ferry, a craft similar to the Strangford ferry. It avoids the Glasgow traffic and is a more 'get-away-from-it-all route'. Inveraray is a good stop off, then after that Oban is a good base for a few days with Oban Caravan and Camping Park being one of our favourites in Scotland.
After that, via Fortwilliam you can take your choice of routes to Skye, but if you're keeping to the mainland you'll likely head for Ullapool. TBH in several years of touring Scotland we've never got beyond Ullapool as we enjoy so much of the west coast and the islands that we need to turn for the return run to complete the fortnight.
If you get to the North East coast, tick off the cheesy John O'Groats, but then go to the proper corners of the island - Duncansby Head and Dunnet Head
I can't really say much for the east coast other than St.Andrews and Anstruther in East Fife are pretty. If heading through Edinburgh there's the Royal Yatch Brittania to visit, plus the National Museum of Flight (with Concorde) and a few sizeable campsites in North Berwick.
loggo said:
Take large quantities of midge repellent. It wont work but you will have tried.
Ahhh, happy memories of trying to get in our tent near Skye ferry some 30 years ago to avoid these monsters....eaten alive!Last year we took the kids for a crammed 10 day circular tour.
Started from Edinburgh (end of festival - brilliant time, B&B!), up through Dundee (great V&A museum), on to Inverness (glamping in a pod!) via Lock Morlich (beautiful!).
We then headed south along Loch Ness, back out to Skye (weather turned for a few days for us, nice bunkhouse stop), over bridge, across Mallaig ferry to Fort William (airbnb) via Glenfinnan.
Next up: across to the top of Arran on a VERY windy ferry, spend 2 nights there in a great airbnb, & back via Ardrossan to Glasgow for a couple of nights in a hotel & walked much of the City.
We all like camping....but hate midges - had a brilliant time!
Perhaps a tad too much driving, but great for our kids to see so much of Scotland in one hit. Ironically they might both end up in Edinburgh, so having an awesome 3 days there to start was perhaps worth it!
loggo said:
Take large quantities of midge repellent. It wont work but you will have tried.
this is what you need:https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-mar...
johnwilliams77 said:
Joey Deacon said:
We are doing the Nc500 in early May, one of the reasons we chose May was because of the midges. Would I be right in thinking they can be annoying to the point of just wanting to go home?
CorrectUnbusy said:
What month was that in Magpie?
I think I read the males don’t bite and they are out mid May. 2 weeks later and the females come out for dinner.
Correct. We’ve been going to Scotland’s west coast during May for over 30 years and have only once experienced midges, right at the end of the month on a campsite in amongst trees on Mull. June, July and August they can be terrible, so we go in either May or September. I think I read the males don’t bite and they are out mid May. 2 weeks later and the females come out for dinner.
hairy vx220 said:
loggo said:
Take large quantities of midge repellent. It wont work but you will have tried.
this is what you need:https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-mar...
The locals last year recommended 'smidge' if you didn't want to use the deet containing stuff that melts your expensive breathable walking gear.
Smidge does work.
That said, if they are really bad you need a midge net.
Just remember, they don't like rain, direct sunlight and can't fly in wind above 5mph. So on a calm, warm day after the rain, between shelter like a woodland and water, you can get right royally eaten...
But for every hour like that, you'll have 10 more that are either ok or completely clear.
Don't let midges put you off - 4million of us live in Scotland, and survive...
(There are however two types of midge attack. One where you wonder if you're going to die. One when you hope you are going to die.)
That said, if they are really bad you need a midge net.
Just remember, they don't like rain, direct sunlight and can't fly in wind above 5mph. So on a calm, warm day after the rain, between shelter like a woodland and water, you can get right royally eaten...
But for every hour like that, you'll have 10 more that are either ok or completely clear.
Don't let midges put you off - 4million of us live in Scotland, and survive...
(There are however two types of midge attack. One where you wonder if you're going to die. One when you hope you are going to die.)
With my European jaunt off the cards I’m looking to spend 3 to 4 weeks around Scotland. I’ve had Avon’s Skin So Soft on order for a few weeks now from amazon. Just seen the post saying it doesn’t work. At least my skin will smell nice! If you hear Marillion blasting out from a tent next to a motorbike then say hello!
Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff