Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: Daviswh on January 24, 2017, 06:39:09 am
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I am planning a trip to Isle of Skye in June 2018. Is the scourge of midges as bad as reported or are they just a nuisance that can be mitigated?
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I wouldn't let them put you off travelling there. They are an irritant if it's still and you're near standing water. It's usually windy and raining though ;).
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We were there in July of 2010 and midges were not an issue.
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Make sure you have a midge-proof head-net. In some spots they can be a real pain in the rear end.
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I have been this past August and they were a nightmare... We were photographing with head nets, you need to look for midge-proof ones, and light gloves... No body part was left available to them... But they were quite good looking for holes in our clothes ...
In June 2013 I was also there, I also have to fight them, but they were not as annoying as this past August, I suppose I was unlucky enough to catch them in full peak...
At the end, we liked when we had the small breeze, since they are so tiny they can not flight with winds higher than 5m/s, also, they don't like sunny days...
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I offer this as a possible defence against the relentless midge.
Some years ago we were out hawking on the Sutherland moors and my wife was suffering badly from the midges. Feeling sorry "for the wee lady" the gillie produced a flask of whisky - my wife politely declined what she assumed was an offer of a drink "until we get back to the lodge in case you all have to carry me ". The gillie demurred and producing his spotted handkerchief from his top jacket pocket proceeded to gently dab the whisky on her exposed skin.
It worked with the midges and for the rest of the afternoon she wafted an aroma which had us all looking forward to the evening's lubricated memories of the day.
One could argue that it was a sad waste of whisky but she has always referred to it as the best Highland perfume - and her preferred anti-midge treatment.
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Rubbing bog myrtle on your skin, also seems to work quite well. I'd still get a head-net though.
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Thanks for all the responses. I hate the idea of having to reassess our plans, but maybe June isn't the right month to visit. This is our anniversary, retirement, and photo trip. Last summer we spent a few days in the Everglades and the mosquitoes were awful - I'm afraid that we are going to associate the bad experience in the Everglades with the midges in Scotland. We have 1.5 years to to stew on this decision.
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Thanks for all the responses. I hate the idea of having to reassess our plans, but maybe June isn't the right month to visit. This is our anniversary, retirement, and photo trip. Last summer we spent a few days in the Everglades and the mosquitoes were awful - I'm afraid that we are going to associate the bad experience in the Everglades with the midges in Scotland. We have 1.5 years to to stew on this decision.
At least midges don't bite, they just pester.
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Do midges react the same way as mosqitoes to repellents? Get a repellent with DEET. It works. There are products online with 98.11% DEET content but maybe that's overkill. A common brand we use in sweden has about 19% DEET.
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At least midges don't bite, they just pester.
Midges bite... A lot...
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At least midges don't bite, they just pester.
Could you please tell them, because in my experience, they clearly don't know that they shouldn't be biting.
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At least midges don't bite, they just pester.
You have never experienced the Scottish Midge! They bite.
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I am planning a trip to Isle of Skye in June 2018. Is the scourge of midges as bad as reported or are they just a nuisance that can be mitigated?
How bad they are depends a lot on the weather and how close to water you are. A breeze is your friend. They can be mitigated against with nets and by keeping exposed skin to a minimum. Avon Skin So Soft skin cream is a very good midge repellent. You will see in it shops in the Highlands being sold for that purpose!
They are a fact of life in Scotland. Don't let them put you off!
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The mosquitos in the south are still deterred by DEET, in the north a little less. The problem is you don't find them alone, many times you have plenty of no-see-ums (I guess you can place them in the midges category) that are very annoying and not that responsive to DEET. You don't get to hear them or see much but the irritation and puritus after can be terrible. They are more responsive to picaridin or sometimes even more to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IR3535
In the north you get also black flies that seem not to care about much beside dense clothing and permethrin.
Based on this the best way is to wear dense clothing (can be light as a wind breaker) with as much coverage that you can afford based on the weather that is treated with permethrin. You can do it yourself, buy clothing already treated or send them for treatment.
For skin I would use picaridin or the 1,3-xxx mentioned above. You can find the latter mixed with 30UPF sunscreen but it can stain depending on the brand (as I have found out).
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Thanks for all the responses. I hate the idea of having to reassess our plans, but maybe June isn't the right month to visit. This is our anniversary, retirement, and photo trip. Last summer we spent a few days in the Everglades and the mosquitoes were awful - I'm afraid that we are going to associate the bad experience in the Everglades with the midges in Scotland. We have 1.5 years to to stew on this decision.
Hi,
The midges in Scotland are a nuisance but it is not the same as countries with a Mosquitos problem. Mosquitos are basically a constant nuisance and often bite you throughout the evening whilst your in your hotel room etc.. whereas Midges will only be a nuisance in damp shaded areas i.e. near trees, moor land etc.. but you are fine if you are in doors.
In June, you are not really at the height of the midge season, they are much more prevalent in July & August and Skye is an island so there is often a breeze which will keep the midges at bay.
I really wouldn't be put off going to Skye for your trip because of the midges as it is such a beautiful island but if you are intending stomping about the hills then the usual precautions that have been mentioned above about midge nets and Deet/skin so soft are worth considering having in your backpack.
Cheers, John
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Again thanks for all the responses. I discussed this topic with the wife this weekend. Her response was, why are you worrying about bugs, if this is where you want to go. then there is a no debate - based on this thread we have enough information to mitigate the rascals. Now I get the pleasure of planning the trip - I am so excited. My great-grandfather emigrated from around Glasgow so we'll add a day or two for family research. There are a couple of scotch distilleries that I want to visit on the east coast as well.
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Wise wife. Seriously, don't let midges put you off. On Skye consider visiting the Talisker distillery, and a quick side trip to Lewis (for Callanish stone circle) is easy if you are driving.
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And if you do visit the Talisker distillery and you enjoy seafood, pop up to the Oyster shed for a very casual but excellent seafood experience, it just up the hill behind the distillery.
Cheers, John
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Wise wife. Seriously, don't let midges put you off. On Skye consider visiting the Talisker distillery, and a quick side trip to Lewis (for Callanish stone circle) is easy if you are driving.
I'll be in Harris/Lewis in March/April fir the first time and have just added the stone circle to my todo list, thanks John.
Cheers, John
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It's very special. There are other smaller megaliths in the vicinity too. You won't regret going there!
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It's very special. There are other smaller megaliths in the vicinity too. You won't regret going there!
A lovely place indeed. I found the main circle to be very attractive when the sun is quite low on the horizon, to ensure that the stones project long shades on the grass.
Speaking of midges, I found these to be quite civil creatures. They never seem to enter inside a house when a window is open. I wish mosquitoes would behave in a similar fashion.
Midges, though, seem to become very irritable when I extend the legs of my tripod in the field. The key thing is to prepare one's gear away from the shooting spot to minimise the exposure time (pun intended). Also, if one is waiting for clouds to move a bit before taking the shot, it can be wise to get away from the tripod until the proper time comes to be. Keep moving and do so in an unpredictable pattern, they will have a harder time following you.
Cheers,
Fabien
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I haven't heard of stone circles - I did a quick Google search - pretty cool. I'll have to research where they are in Skye or elsewhere in Scotland. Thanks for the tip.
Bill
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I mention Callanish because it's on the neighbouring island and makes a great side trip from Skye (a 2 hour ferry) especially if you are driving. The only other "Stonehenge-class" stone circles in Scotland are the stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, but they're on the Orkney islands off the northern tip of Scotland and not as convenient for Skye.
Incidentally, I would recommend driving in those parts of Scotland. The roads are quiet, often single lane. I always find the big problem is the gear stick being on the wrong side, so rent an automatic.
John
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While John states
Incidentally, I would recommend driving in those parts of Scotland. The roads are quiet, often single lane.
I am not sure if he is talking about the areas of the stone circles, but at some time last year vehicles were being stopped at the Skye bridge and if no accommodation was booked they were not allowed on the island.
You may be alright in June, but the more popular places are really busy. 2 years ago over the Quiraing was just a large car park.
Here is a video out at Neist Point Lighthouse last year (https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10210114993416046&id=1374201183) to give you some idea, and the fairy pools are as bad if not worse.
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I am not sure if he is talking about the areas of the stone circles, but at some time last year vehicles were being stopped at the Skye bridge and if no accommodation was booked they were not allowed on the island.
Really? Sure you've not misheard something, Ray?
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It was what I was told by someone who lives there, but he certainly could have misunderstood something.
I admit I should have checked first before posting it.
I try and avoid June, July and August. Its busy enough in April/May and Sept.
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By chance, I just heard that today high winds closed the bridge, but only to trucks and buses. But I just don't think they would close the bridge because too many people were on Skye - it doesn't sound like the sort of thing that happens here!
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I have been to Isle of Skye and camped both times, one 10 day trip and one 7 day trip, both in the month of June.
Only had one night/morning problem with midges and that was at Broadford.
There is a funny story associated with it. Got there late evening and so went to photograph the sunset before setting up the tent. The midges were a mild annoyance during photography (gentle breeze kept the at bay). The problem was we had not sent up tent yet. Got back to the camp site in the semi-dark around 10.30 and started to setup the tent. I think my brother and I sent up the tent in record time as we were descended upon by the entire population of midges in Broadford.
The funny part is - hammering in a tent stake into hard ground, in the dark with 3 billion midges in your face and more importantly buzzing your eyes, I hit my thumb with the hammer and instantly took an inward (pain) gasp subsequently inhaling about a billion midges. Then proceeded to choke violently while frantically trying to finish up putting up tent. Had a good laugh once in tent and choking subsided.
Morning rolled around and we were trapped in the tent by midges but quickly saved by a nice ocean breeze.
Avoid low lying areas with no wind and you may not have a problem in June. Later months have more of a midge problem.
Was really disappointed on our second trip that they logged the "forest" that one used to hike through to get to the Old Man of Storr.