Midges in Scotland

  • Thread starter Thread starter NJMcK
  • Start date Start date
Thanks for all your advice. We've now decided to give Scotland a miss. The thought of being on a small boat, unable to get away from the little blighters, is too awful to contemplate.
 
Some one posted on another thread that we shold not encourage southern sailors too far north for fear of overcrowding, so its good that this thread has the north from another visitor!!
Not sure if its my immigrant blood or what, but I have not encountered midgies at sea on the west coast, only on land or within spitting distance of it, and then not in the plagues that some seem to think exist.
They are attracted to carbon dioxide apparently, so don't breathe out, don't burn things, and maybe escape them?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for all your advice. We've now decided to give Scotland a miss. .....

[/ QUOTE ]
Congratulations, Forumites! At least you have ensured a tiny bit more space on the Clyde waters this year, for those who think they are wonderful.
Not done a lot for cross-border relations though!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
The thought of being on a small boat, unable to get away from the little blighters, is too awful to contemplate.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're missing the point! Being on a boat, small or large, is the one sure way to get away from midges. Just make sure you land on lee shores only.
 
I would absolutely not suggest for any minute that you avoid Scotland. You asked how to avoid the midgies and we told you. We also told you how to minimise their effects if you do come across them. You'll be missing a fabulous holiday and amazing scenery. Remember, people do actually live up there so they can't be that bad! And if they do become irritating, as others have said, they hate water and I've never yet been bitten off shore so go for a sail. Don't let the buggers put you off (midgies that is /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). One other suggestion. They don't like quinine. I'd suggest liberal applications of gin and tonic. Drink the gin and spray the tonic over yourself. That way even if they do bite, you've got in built pain killers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Hope my replies were not taken as jokey - light hearted maybe, but factual. Early May is better than late May, salt water does help relieve the irritation (for me at least) and according to a good mate, tonic water really does stop them biting. Yes they can be a pain - I lived with them for many years, but not something to cancel a holiday for. I do hope you go. It is an amazing part of the world. I just wish I'd been lucky enough to have a boat when I lived up there.
 
Re: Lyme disease in Scotland

This can be horrible thing to get. From the above entries, it's ticks that are the carriers. Are they from animals, or do we get them running bare-legged in the ferns? I'm serious, I had a friend in the Med who caught this and it's wrecked his life. If it's in Argyle it's too close......
 
Re: Lyme disease in Scotland

My son - a nurse - was off work 10 months and by this time on 1/2 pay as a family man, this was v. difficult. Symptoms head pressure, aches deadening feelings etc, appeared 3 weeks after he returned from Canada - neurologists had no answers, he did his own research - virtually no knowledge in the UK. Finally just felt fit enough to go back to work, yet still has some of the symptoms, but now less intense. Apparently transmitted by ticks from animals.
 
Re: Lyme disease in Scotland

Quote:
Thanks for all your advice. We've now decided to give Scotland a miss. The thought of being on a small boat, unable to get away from the little blighters, is too awful to contemplate.
.....................................................................................
It is sad if this is really the case and your decision not to go has been based on this forum response.
I doesn't matter where you go, or even if you stay in bed for the entire holiday, bugs and insects are everywhere.
If you ask those who responded to your question if they have been to the west coast and would they go again I suspect that the answer is yes to both. If so, it suggests that perhaps you should reconsider.

quote:

Someone posted on another thread that we shold not encourage southern sailors too far north for fear of overcrowding, so its good that this thread has (saved) the north from another visitor!!
......................................................................................
While overcrowding is generally not yet a big problem yet, I counted twenty one boats anchored in the 'Bay of Otters' (Can't remember the gaelic spelling) (Puilldoran?) one evening in August.
 
Re: Lyme disease in Scotland

I believe that ticks are carried by and drop off deer. I have been bitten many times yet have not to my knowledge contracted Lyme disease. I have found them even in my own garden and they dont appear to be able to swim /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I have also never been bothered by midges when more than 50m offshore. They are nnly really a concern on still mornings and evenings, slightest breeze and they are gone. Funnily enough, last summer (2007) there seemed to be fewer midges and I hardly saw any wasps at all. Anyone else notice this?

Cummon NJMcK wheres your tough sailors frontier attitude? If a wee concern like this keeps you away wouldn't you be better staying in bed? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Cameron
 
Re: Lyme disease in Scotland

[ QUOTE ]
If you ask those who responded to your question if they have been to the west coast and would they go again I suspect that the answer is yes to both. If so, it suggests that perhaps you should reconsider.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is certainly true for me. There is no place on earth I'd rather be. I have been visiting the West Coast since before I can remember, as tourist, climber and sailor and that amounts to nearly 60 yrs. If anything should make you think twice about going it should be the weather and not the midges and ticks but your choice of May could be a very good one from that point of view.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for all your advice. We've now decided to give Scotland a miss. The thought of being on a small boat, unable to get away from the little blighters, is too awful to contemplate.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are on your boat anchored/moored offshore then you will be fine. As others have said a few precautions ( use a repellant, don't picnic ashore on still & overcast days) and you should avoid them, the last weeks of may should see them just starting to get going so the numbers will be low. I sailed the whole of last summer on the west coast and got bitten a few times ( 3 or 4 individual bites!) - its just a case of working with the weather to avoid them. If they really were that bad people wouldn't live north of the central belt, but they can be avoided fairly easily.
 
Re: Lyme disease in Scotland

The thought of being on a small boat, unable to get away from the little blighters, is too awful to contemplate
*************************************************

I think you have missed the point here.....You can get away from them and avoid them and they are not everywhere.

You are missing an awful lot by not coming up here so I suggest you contact your local Avon lady and stock up and come up and enjoy.

The Avon Skin so Soft is no wives tale and heaven knows why they do not capitalise on it however even our boys in the forces know about it and use it. Just get the Woodland scented or you might give off the wrong signals /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top