Midge season Scotland's west coast

[ootini]

Can anyone tell me when midge season starts on the west coast of Scotland? The Mull to Skye area if possible ?

Thanks

[whitestone]

Tends to be sometime during May but depends on a lot of things. Usually you can guarantee that they'll be about by June.

[ScotRoutes]

There can be midges around from late March if it's warm and mild, and we've had midges for the past couple of years at the start of November.

Sometimes they are spread through the "season" but we've had a couple of years when there were very few and then they all appeared at once - round about July.

If there aren't enough naturally occuring in the busiest tourist months we switch on the secret underground midge factory near Fort William (the real reason for all that hydro power). The midges then get shipped to all the tourist hotspots. There are quite a few escapees from the factory though - that's why there are so many around Fort William, despite it being a dump.

[slarge]

This year they will be coming out after the 20th May. I know this as I am on holiday up there the previous week and have booked the weather and asked nicely for a midge free time

[ootini]

This year they will be coming out after the 20th May. I know this as I am on holiday up there the previous week and have booked the weather and asked nicely for a midge free time

I'm heading up there on the 20th...... :(

[PaulB2]

So you basically either get snow or midges?

[Piemonster]

Or horizontal rain, don’t forget about the horizontal rain.

[Richpips]

...and don't forget the ticks.

[Lawmanmx]

thats me not going up there anytime soon!

[ianfitz]

Yeah, it’s all a bit sh1t up there really. A big conspiratorial con.

Don’t bother.

[ScotRoutes]

feck it.

We've been rumbled

[fatbikephil]

Don't worry about it people still believe in the Loch Ness Monster down there so there will still be plenty of tourists to fleece

[ianfitz]

feck it.

We've been rumbled

[Piemonster]

Don't worry about it people still believe in the Loch Ness Monster down there so there will still be plenty of tourists to fleece

Speaking of which, if anybody is looking for a way of relocating to the Highlands.

Nessieland is on the market! You get your own cafe as well as a plastic Loch Monster.

[ootini]

Ok, so I've informedvthe breadknife of the potential midge issue, its gone unheeded.

So with that in mind, are there any family friendly (weehoo trailer) bike trails on Skye, or nearby ? Or are we just better off leaving the bikes at home ?

Thanks

[ScotRoutes]

Nothing really on Skye. There are a couple of forest roads in Glen Brittle and a fairly new path/track out of Broadford. Not really worth it IMHO.

[fatbikephil]

Nessieland is on the market! You get your own cafe as well as a plastic Loch Monster.

Wonder if they will do a deal on the placcy Nessie - that will go a treat in my front garden

Re Skye see thread elsewhere. As Colin notes its a bit all or nothing apart from mentioned Forest tracks. Nearest Family friendly stuff would be Glen Affric area I guess.