Scottish Highlands (1 Viewer)

Tezza

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We off to the Highlands in September, Westeross area, which is the better site CC in Kinlochewe or C&CC in Inverewe?

Both have midge issues
Facilities seem to be better at CC site
Overall appearance seems to be better at the C&CC site ie.(not a car park)
 
Feb 9, 2008
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It depends how you define better. At Kinlochewe we would sit and watch eagles on the hill above the site but at Poolewe witnessed some of the finest sunsets we have ever seen.
 
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Robert Clark

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When exactly is the midge 'season'

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Daveg

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Season runs for most of the summer. Check the Scottish Midge forecast website and buy some Smidge from an outdoors shop.

Inverewe gardens are worth a visit - Gulf Stream makes then unusual for the frozen north.

Dave
 
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Tezza

Tezza

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According to the wardens at Kinlochewe, "anytime", is midge time, it all depends on the weather and what sort of winter they had but mainly peak May to September.
If it's cold and raining or Hot then little Midge activity if it's humid/warm and still watch out apparently, having never been to this area I'm at the mercy of other peoples tales.
Must admit to being a bit apprehensive.
 

Badknee

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According to the wardens at Kinlochewe, "anytime", is midge time, it all depends on the weather and what sort of winter they had but mainly peak May to September.
If it's cold and raining or Hot then little Midge activity if it's humid/warm and still watch out apparently, having never been to this area I'm at the mercy of other peoples tales.
Must admit to being a bit apprehensive.
To be honest they are bloody murder, they can really spoil a great holiday. Angela suffers more than I do and she is willing to put up with them because we love the west coast of Scotland but take precautions. (y)

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Puddleduck

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You should be better off on the coast as the sea breezes keep them at bay - at least a bit.

The worst place we found for them was Loch Shiel and the area around Strontian.

A good repellent for you, citronella spray for inside the van / awning and cover up is probably the only way to cope.


But they are an important part of the food chain and if we want the wonderful variety of bird life it's one of the things we have to put up with I suppose.
 

CWH

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Kinlochewe has cleaner, better facilities. Yes it's a bit car-parky but you have lots of space and state-of-the-art shower blocks. It used to be quite enclosed but they've cut the shrubbery and trees back so you now have a view of the mountains.
Poolewe is less formal and has sea views (and of course coastal winds.) Unless they've up-graded, I've never seen such small toilet cubicles!

Kinlochewe: A nice easy off-road walk to the Beinn Eighe nature reserve, then if you're up for it along to the mountains with a nice view back down to Loch Maree. Or a walk eastwards, across the river & into the wooded hills.
Poolewe: Gorgeous sea-weedy beach just across the road, favourite haunt of some otters (sadly we didn't see them though). Walk into the village and turn left and you can go on a graded path right along the River Ewe. Inverewe gardens are close by the campsite, but I didn't visit. We noticed somebody having real trouble getting a satellite signal.

On the way from Kinlochewe to Poolewe, via Gairloch, we stopped in a layby marked here on the map. There's a footpath off to the south that takes you down a bit of a pass and to the edge of the loch by the islands - this is where we saw our first black-throated divers - what a treat! Not a walk to be undertaken lightly - you'd need decent walking shoes/ boots - mostly ungraded, some mud, unclear and a bit scrambley in places (not a true 'scramble') but if it's right for you, it's fantastic.
upload_2016-4-7_16-44-22.png


Midges.
We thought that by going in May, we'd miss them
:LOL::LOL::LOL:
Always a risk. On our trip, we had none at Kinlochewe; stopped at (another) layby halfway up Loch Maree and there they were! BUT - another vote for Smidge - I'm a midge-magnet, and SMIDGE WORKS.
 
Feb 24, 2013
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we went to Kinlochewe in our caravan days and had never been midged, asked about them on arrival (30th May) and were told you should be OK till June, were they right, 1st June we were besieged by the buggers

worst place is by a combination of water and bushes, then early and late in the day

so having a dog and parking near the dog walk on the perimeter was the worst decision we ever made, taking down the awning so we could leave was the worst half hour of my life, not sure which is worst being bitten or breathing them in

we use midge watch http://midgeforecast.co.uk/

not yet live so they don't see a risk just yet, but it is true they don't like hot sun, or rain, or any wind above 5mph, so they can be avoided, western isles have been good for us so far, as have most of the isles, with one major exception, took a boat trip to Staffa, there were clouds of them which waited for us to land and the boat to pull away before descending, another really bad hour of our lives


edit - been back here since with MH, in midge season and had no trouble at all, parked in main open area though
 
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Tezza

Tezza

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Thanks everyone, most informative and appreciated.
We have stocked up already on skin so soft dry spray or something, going to get some smidge next, didn't have any in Bunree last week.

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Sep 5, 2010
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We preferred Poolewe, love the sunsets, but have also been turned away when flooding meant they had to close most of the site.:unsure: Just kept going to Scourie, a real favourite site.
 

CWH

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Scourie's great, the owners are such fun ;) Be aware - dogs have to have PERFECT behaviour :whistle: And do NOT aim to fill up with fuel at the local - it's the most expensive in the country :eek:
But it is the most wonderful site for rarer seabirds and sunsets (y)

IMG_0460.JPG IMG_0461.JPG IMG_0481.JPG
 
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Feb 24, 2013
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don't get too hung up on high fuel prices, they probably don't get much trade, but even if it is 50p / litre higher than tescos in Inverness the real price difference is only about one nights camp site fees for a tank full, pay the local man instead of Tesco, I do, or they might not be there next time you are up there and need them (y)

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CWH

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don't get too hung up on high fuel prices, they probably don't get much trade, but even if it is 50p / litre higher than tescos in Inverness the real price difference is only about one nights camp site fees for a tank full, pay the local man instead of Tesco, I do, or they might not be there next time you are up there and need them (y)
That's very true - and whether by design or accident, we do tend to fill up there!
 

CWH

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Found the photos!
Kinlochewe: A nice easy off-road walk to the Beinn Eighe nature reserve, then if you're up for it along to the mountains with a nice view back down to Loch Maree.
IMG_0443.JPG
Poolewe: Walk into the village and turn left and you can go on a graded path right along the River Ewe
IMG_0445.JPG
 
Feb 24, 2013
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we started on the Ben Eigh mountain walk and got lost, o_O it is quite severe, but intend to go back this year and try again

Supposed to be one of the easiest places to see White Tailed eagles (y)

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Aug 18, 2011
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You should be better off on the coast as the sea breezes keep them at bay - at least a bit.

The worst place we found for them was Loch Shiel and the area around Strontian.

A good repellent for you, citronella spray for inside the van / awning and cover up is probably the only way to cope.


But they are an important part of the food chain and if we want the wonderful variety of bird life it's one of the things we have to put up with I suppose.

Well obviously THE BIRDS are not eating enough MIDGES,,,,,BUSBY.
 

Badknee

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Amazon and others sell midge hats and nets. Ideal if you have to work outside or are walking. £4.50 or so, you may look a bit odd but well worth it.

image.jpeg
 
Sep 10, 2013
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When exactly is the midge 'season'
It's generally considered to be a summertime problem generally on the west coast, but then that leads to a secondary problem defining the summer season in Scotland.
Billy Connoly him being a Scot an all,generally considered Scotland having just two seasons....winter and the 1st week of June, so there may be a clue there!

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Puddleduck

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Amazon and others sell midge hats and nets. Ideal if you have to work outside or are walking. £4.50 or so, you may look a bit odd but well worth it.

View attachment 100228

Try to get the ones that tuck into your shirt at the neck if you are using these. Midge do tend to crawl upwards (tend not always!) and if you have a net that just sits on top of your top you may end up with more midge in the net than outside.
 
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Tezza

Tezza

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The Fuel station in kinlochewe was selling diesel at £1.09 two weeks ago, Morrisons in Fort William were at £1.01 so not too bad, and when we left Scotland a week later Morrisons were at £1.03 so you can probably add a further 4-6p on to the Kinlochewe price now i would think.
 

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