Western Isles, July

Adrian Godwin said:

I have a couple of weeks spare in July and am thinking of touring
around the western isles.

However, I've managed to avoid midge season in the past and I'm not
sure if it's foolhardy to go at that time. I think I'll be OK on the
bike, but camping could be miserable. What do you think ?

As far as midgies go you'll be fine on the bike. Camping will depend
on conditions. The Western Isles tend to be breezy which helps.

Don't miss the Gatliff Trust Hostels. They don't allow booking so if
you arrive early you might get a bed. If the beds are full they let
you camp outside and use the cooking/showers etc for a nominal fee, £4
or thereabouts. So your tent can stay zipped and midge free until bed
time. The hostels are all in superb situations. A very relaxed
atmosphere. No on site warden. A local crofter arrives once a day to
collect fees. I stayed at several last year. At Garenin all the bunks
were taken so I slept on the floor in the kitchen/common room on a
spare mattress.
www.gatliff.org.uk

Iain

in message <[email hidden]>, Adrian Godwin

(') said:

I have a couple of weeks spare in July and am thinking of touring
around the western isles.

However, I've managed to avoid midge season in the past and I'm not
sure if it's foolhardy to go at that time. I think I'll be OK on the
bike, but camping could be miserable. What do you think ?

On the west of the western isles, there will be too much wind most of the
time for midges to be a problem. But on still quiet evenings you will be
eaten alive.

Quoted message said:

I don't want to book aahead and will take advantage of campsites and
B&B as and when they're available. This might leave me wildcamping
some nights - is that going to cause problems ?

No.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; killing [afghan|iraqi] civilians is not 'justice'

Adrian Godwin said:

I have a couple of weeks spare in July and am thinking of touring
around the western isles.

However, I've managed to avoid midge season in the past and I'm not
sure if it's foolhardy to go at that time.

I camped there once at the end of July/early August. The weather was
great, but midges made life inbearable - my strongest memory is of
people walking at speed round the camp site while eating their dinner,
as the only way of getting away from the things. We just spent a lot
of time in the pub. Swore I'd never go there in midge season again.

If you can find a way to cook and eat dinner while riding your bike,
you might be OK, otherwise its good to have a building to go in to.

Rob

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

Quoted message said:

I have a couple of weeks spare in July and am thinking of touring
around the western isles.

However, I've managed to avoid midge season in the past and I'm not
sure if it's foolhardy to go at that time. I think I'll be OK on the
bike, but camping could be miserable. What do you think ?

Avon Skin so Soft did the trick for me on both of my rides through Scotland.
The only places where I got bitte was where I'd failed to get the stuff on
to exposed skin behind my knees and a strip of flesh bared between the top
of my shorts and the bottom of my shirt at the back when I bent over.

The midges will land on you but then take off again without biting.

iarocu said:

Don't miss the Gatliff Trust Hostels. They don't allow booking so if
you arrive early you might get a bed. If the beds are full they let
you camp outside and use the cooking/showers etc for a nominal fee, ?4
or thereabouts. So your tent can stay zipped and midge free until bed
time. The hostels are all in superb situations. A very relaxed
atmosphere. No on site warden. A local crofter arrives once a day to
collect fees. I stayed at several last year. At Garenin all the bunks
were taken so I slept on the floor in the kitchen/common room on a
spare mattress.
www.gatliff.org.uk

These look wonderful - thanks very much for pointing them out.

-adrian

Simon Brooke said:

On the west of the western isles, there will be too much wind most of the
time for midges to be a problem.

That's what I hoped you'd say.

Quoted message said:

But on still quiet evenings you will be
eaten alive.

So if I'm unlucky and get beautiful weather, is there some way I can
keep some parts uneaten ? Would I be better higher up, or closer to the
sea? I appreciate that those might change the wind conditions and so
improve things, but some might be better regardless of that.

Or are some islands consistently windier than others ?

-adrian

Adrian Godwin said:

Simon Brooke said:

On the west of the western isles, there will be too much wind most of the
time for midges to be a problem.

That's what I hoped you'd say.

Quoted message said:

But on still quiet evenings you will be
eaten alive.

So if I'm unlucky and get beautiful weather, is there some way I can
keep some parts uneaten ? Would I be better higher up, or closer to the
sea? I appreciate that those might change the wind conditions and so
improve things, but some might be better regardless of that.

If you were walking then you get the chance to go higher up.
They really are so few roads.

Quoted message said:

Or are some islands consistently windier than others ?

Benbecula is the flattest, and the storm we had there in June was
amazing .
I certainly wouldn't have attempted to camp.
I saw electrical guys mending overhead cables in the teeth of it, a
sight never to forget.
There are some great B&B but July is high season and many book up
early.
My strong advice is to wait and go around this time of year, there are
less folk around, and you definately want to avoid the mitches.
Also the weather is often better in May and June.

Do go ---it really is one of the beautiful places in the UK.

Quoted message said:

-adrian

in message <[email hidden]>, Adrian Godwin

(') said:

Simon Brooke said:

On the west of the western isles, there will be too much wind most of
the time for midges to be a problem.

That's what I hoped you'd say.

Quoted message said:

But on still quiet evenings you will be
eaten alive.

So if I'm unlucky and get beautiful weather, is there some way I can
keep some parts uneaten ? Would I be better higher up, or closer to the
sea? I appreciate that those might change the wind conditions and so
improve things, but some might be better regardless of that.

Or are some islands consistently windier than others ?

The western coast of the islands are consistently windier than the east,
for all islands.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; It's dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
;; Voltaire RIP Dr David Kelly 1945-2004

It's usually too windy for midges and there are no trees to attract them.
I'd avoid stopping near any sheltered lochans as this is where they''l be.
There's not a great deal in the way of organised camping but plenty space on
the machair which tends to be on the exposed western side of the islands.
I stayed in some great B&Bs there back in 91, one old dear even dried our
washing for us in front of the peat fire, which meant it smelt of peat smoke
for years afterwards.
Avoid Lewis, Harris and North Uist on a Sunday (they shut) but Barra on a
Sunday is great.

Jim J

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

Quoted message said:

I have a couple of weeks spare in July and am thinking of touring
around the western isles.

However, I've managed to avoid midge season in the past and I'm not
sure if it's foolhardy to go at that time. I think I'll be OK on the
bike, but camping could be miserable. What do you think ?

I don't want to book aahead and will take advantage of campsites and
B&B as and when they're available. This might leave me wildcamping
some nights - is that going to cause problems ?

-adrian

Jim said:

Avoid Lewis, Harris and North Uist on a Sunday (they shut)

Or alternatively make sure you buy enough food, wine, or whatever on
the Saturday and ride on the Sunday enjoying roads even quieter than
Western Isles roads normally are. In May 2006 I rode from Tarbert to
Garenin hostel on Lewis on Sunday. Sometimes there was 10 minutes
between cars. No vans or HGVs at all, all day. This on the main north-
south road on the Island. !950s traffic levels today. Oh and unlike
30 years ago when I used to holiday with my family in Lewis some
hotels are open on Sunday now so you can even get a beer. stopped at
the Doune Braes Hotel near the Callinish standing stones on Sunday and
enjoyed a few pints and free internet access.
The ferries to the mainland and Skye don't run on a Sunday but
respct the local customs by not making unnecesary noise in the
villages on a Sunday and there won't be a problem. Using the Gatliff
Trust hostels and the SYHA hostel on a Sunday is fine. It might be
advisable to book in advance if a B&B ws being used and ask in advance
about checking in or out on a Sunday.
In the 70s we couldn't bring in peats from the stack outside on a
Sunday since that was classed as unnecessary work but things have
changed somewhat. On the road across Lewis from the east coast to
Callanish last year I did see a childrens playpark with the swings
tied up and a sign indicating it was closed on a Sunday. But we
respect plenty other cultures from around the world so I've no problem
about respecting a one of our native cultures.
Iain

I cycled from Harris to Lochboisdale one day a few years ago (getting
ferry of course). About 70 miles into a strong wind. The southerly
wind tends to be unremitting apparently. Keep that in mind.

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

Quoted message said:

Jim said:

Avoid Lewis, Harris and North Uist on a Sunday (they shut)

Or alternatively make sure you buy enough food, wine, or whatever on
the Saturday and ride on the Sunday enjoying roads even quieter than
Western Isles roads normally are.

We were in a B&B on Harris on a Sunday it was a horrible wet day and the
telly was
off so we ventured out only to get dirty looks from the locals on their way
to the Kirk in their warm cars. Interestingly the couple we stayed with went
to different churches, it was not long after a schism in the Free
Presbyterian church.
On the Sunday before we were on Barra in a very small village Northbay where
the locals put on a Ceilidh and could boast several Mod winners amongst
their number.
Jim