Scottish Midges

Zinc Potterman said:

What are the seasons of the beasties?

Late May through to September. Cooler weather may mean less of a
problem at the two ends of that period.

Quoted message said:

In what regions are they a problem?

West coast Highlands is the worst, they tend to be less of a problem
moving east as it's drier, but you can still find them there.

They can't really do wind at all, so if it's windy the problem goes.
But for such a windy place, Scotland manages to have some remarkably
still times where you'll be mobbed.

Unlike mosquitoes, the individual midge bite is not often a problem
unless you react to it: some do, some don't. However, even if you don't
react the sheer numbers of them make them incredibly irritating. Using
the word "cloud" to describe them is not always an exaggeration, they
will appear in groups of hundreds and thousands when the conditions are
right.

Physical barriers are highly recommended. Long sleeves and trousers and
a mesh hood will keep them at bay easily. Chemicals work variably, but
I prefer to avoid them as I find them at least as irritating as the
midges themselves.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 08:27:09 +0000 (UTC)

Zinc Potterman' . (delete 123's to reply) said:

I am planning an extended tour of Scotland next year and would like some
information on
the true extent of the midge problem, to help me decide when and where to
go.

What are the seasons of the beasties?

Any time.

Quoted message said:

In what regions are they a problem?

Every where...

Quoted message said:

Thanks

Your Welcome!

Honestly though, midges are a problem in the summer, may - september and early october, later if it is mild.

Anywhere near water, but out of wind, but they can get everywhere. There are no hard and fast rules as far as Midges are concernd.

--
Mike

To see the world in a grain of sand,
and to see heaven in a wild flower,
hold infinity in the palm of your hands,
and eternity in an hour.

GnuGPG KeyID:=FC0D8D9A
http://www.thompsonmike.co.uk

I don't need to outrun the bear, just the guy next to me...

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 08:27:09 +0000 (UTC), "Zinc Potterman"

. (delete 123's to reply) said:

I am planning an extended tour of Scotland next year and would like some
information on
the true extent of the midge problem, to help me decide when and where to
go.

What are the seasons of the beasties?
In what regions are they a problem?

Well, if you go between mid October and mid May then you'll probably
be ok in walking areas. After that they come out, and many people feel
they make life utterly miserable. Not everyone agrees, of course.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

Peter Clinch said:

Zinc Potterman said:

What are the seasons of the beasties?

Late May through to September. Cooler weather may mean less of a
problem at the two ends of that period.

No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
clear.

Quoted message said:

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:00:25 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

Zinc Potterman said:

What are the seasons of the beasties?

Late May through to September. Cooler weather may mean less of a
problem at the two ends of that period.

No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
clear.

Quoted message said:

Oh, I see what you mean - present from late May to the end of
September. That seems fair.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

"> Physical barriers are highly recommended. Long sleeves and trousers and

Quoted message said:

a mesh hood will keep them at bay easily. Chemicals work variably, but
I prefer to avoid them as I find them at least as irritating as the
midges themselves.

I'll definitely second that. Don't forget a wide-brimmed hat to keep the
mesh hood off your face. I, being a bit poncey, got some gloves - white
cotton ones from Boots - as well. Light enough to allow you to remain
dextrous, heavy enough to resist the onslaught. Something that keeps them
from going up your sleeves is good. (Elasticated wristbands or similar).

"Peewiglet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:00:25 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

Zinc Potterman wrote:

> What are the seasons of the beasties?

Late May through to September. Cooler weather may mean less of a
problem at the two ends of that period.

No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
clear.

Quoted message said:

Oh, I see what you mean - present from late May to the end of
September. That seems fair.

I chose to go to Skye deliberately in October because of the midge problem.
There were no midges whatsoever when we went. No sun either. And the beer
ran out at the pub :-(

Graham

Peewiglet said:

Peter Clinch said:

Zinc Potterman said:

What are the seasons of the beasties?

Late May through to September. Cooler weather may mean less of a
problem at the two ends of that period.

No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
clear.

Last year I was rained on savagely on the WHW in September, but didn't
see a single midge...

Chris

Graham Seed said:

I chose to go to Skye deliberately in October because of the midge problem.
There were no midges whatsoever when we went. No sun either. And the beer
ran out at the pub :-(

Ah, but what would you prefer? Beer and midges or no beer and no
midges?!

You were in Scotland, you shouldn't be drinking beer anyway - uisge
beatha, and lots of it!

Justin.

--
Justin C, by the sea.

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:54:20 +0200, Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
clear.

Last year I was rained on savagely on the WHW in September, but didn't
see a single midge...

I'd rather be soaked than covered in hundreds of ugly, itchy red
lumps! 🙂

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

"Justin C" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Ah, but what would you prefer? Beer and midges or no beer and no
midges?!

You were in Scotland, you shouldn't be drinking beer anyway - uisge
beatha, and lots of it!

Could i have beer and no midges? And the Talisker distillery was only 50 yds
down the road! We found out that a bottle of ten year old was £2 cheaper at
the (my) local Tesco though so didn't indulge. Anyway SWMBO bought me a
bottle of Glenmorangie for my birthday so we were forced to drink that
instead :-))

Graham

Graham Seed said:

"Justin C" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Ah, but what would you prefer? Beer and midges or no beer and no
midges?!

You were in Scotland, you shouldn't be drinking beer anyway - uisge
beatha, and lots of it!

Could i have beer and no midges?

Sorry, that's not an option.[1]

Quoted message said:

And the Talisker distillery was only 50 yds

Funny you should mention that. A friend bought me a bottle and I started
it tonight between my post and your reply. Not sure about it though...
though the more I have the more I like it... this after-taste reminds me
of TCP though (not that I've drunk TCP, the taste of Talisker reminds me
of the smell of TCP).

Quoted message said:

Anyway SWMBO bought me a
bottle of Glenmorangie for my birthday so we were forced to drink that
instead :-))

So much whisky, so little time.

Justin.

[1] Little-known zoological fact, midges like beer too. When the beer
runs out they go elsewhere. 🙂
--
Justin C, by the sea.

Peter Clinch said:

Zinc Potterman said:

What are the seasons of the beasties?

Late May through to September. Cooler weather may mean less of a
problem at the two ends of that period.

Early May in places - Skye and Torridon for instance (from bitter
experience).

But they're not that much of a problem unless you're camping, in which
case they're Hell!

S.

--
Oppose ID cards and the database state - sign the pledge at
http://www.pledgebank.com/refuse

Peewiglet said:

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:54:20 +0200, Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
clear.

Last year I was rained on savagely on the WHW in September, but didn't
see a single midge...

I'd rather be soaked than covered in hundreds of ugly, itchy red
lumps! 🙂

We could arrange for both. I've seen hail the size of large marbles in
Braemar before.....

"Simon Caldwell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Clinch said:

Zinc Potterman said:

What are the seasons of the beasties?

Late May through to September. Cooler weather may mean less of a
problem at the two ends of that period.

Early May in places - Skye and Torridon for instance (from bitter
experience).

....midges migrate to Torridon in winter!!!

Graham

Chris Street said:

Peewiglet said:

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:54:20 +0200, Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

> No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
> clear.
>

Last year I was rained on savagely on the WHW in September, but didn't
see a single midge...

I'd rather be soaked than covered in hundreds of ugly, itchy red
lumps! 🙂

We could arrange for both. I've seen hail the size of large marbles in
Braemar before.....

What a great advert for Scotland! I hope there aren't too many
potential visitors reading! 🙂

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

Peewiglet said:

Chris Street said:

Peewiglet said:

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:54:20 +0200, Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]>
wrote:

>>No - I was bitten savagely on the WHW in September. Maybe October is
>>clear.
>>
>
>Last year I was rained on savagely on the WHW in September, but didn't
>see a single midge...

I'd rather be soaked than covered in hundreds of ugly, itchy red
lumps! 🙂

We could arrange for both. I've seen hail the size of large marbles in
Braemar before.....

What a great advert for Scotland! I hope there aren't too many
potential visitors reading! 🙂

Wet fishes,

I thought we'd been through this before. The stories about rampant
wildlife, awful weather, crappy food and pish beer are created by the
locals to keep the place from turning into Lake District North.

druidh

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I thought we'd been through this before. The stories about rampant
wildlife, awful weather, crappy food and pish beer are created by the
locals to keep the place from turning into Lake District North.

It's the 500 miles to Skye that stops me going every weekend, not the midges
(which are now in my own garden), wet western weather, and expensive nosh
[1]

Graham

[1] ...who lives in flat dry lincolnshire where great beer costs £1.80 a
pint and Sunday lunch at the local is £4.50.

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 23:38:30 GMT, druidh <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>I'd rather be soaked than covered in hundreds of ugly, itchy red
>lumps! 🙂
>

We could arrange for both. I've seen hail the size of large marbles in
Braemar before.....

What a great advert for Scotland! I hope there aren't too many
potential visitors reading! 🙂

Wet fishes,

I thought we'd been through this before. The stories about rampant
wildlife, awful weather, crappy food and pish beer are created by the
locals to keep the place from turning into Lake District North.

Ah, I remember now!

:-)

Wet fishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com