Camping West coast Scotland

[Black]

To get me through the dark days of winter, planning our summer trip in the camper

We're planning a raid over the border this summer for the first time

I've booked 2.5 weeks off work in August, the only thing in the diary at the moment is a couple of days to see friends on Tiree at the end of the trip.

Can those who know give me any suggestions for great campsites (we're not into the ordered Caravan Club type sites) from which we can explore on foot, bikes and importantly is the SIB. I'm hoping to find some sites from which we can launch the SIB directly onto the beach from the campsite.

All ideas appreciated.

[The Gurnard]

Gosh..there are many great places


I use these ones myself and can thoroughly recommend them and also the area they are is..all beside the sea with Resipole and Invercoe having their own slipways.

August is peak midge season.. so come prepared.. headnets and Smidge lotion are essential for still calm summer mornings or evenings after a wet spell. I also spray the inside of my tent with wasp killer spray half an hour before kip time..not for wasps..but it also kills midges dead

Midges are like rain..come prepared and you will thoroughly enjoy yourself.. don’t prepare and you risk a terrible time getting slowly eaten to death

Arisaig
Portnadoran Caravan Site | Campsite

Great sandy beaches and seals everywhere and sunsets out of this world







Resipole
Resipole Holiday Park | Touring Park

Lovely remote area on edge of Loch Sunart..with great walks and chances of seeing otters..and eagles




Glencoe
Welcome to Invercoe Highland Holidays - self catering in Glencoe

The heart of the mountains of Glencoe..the scenery will blow you away..as will walks up the Pap of Clencoe or other hills in the area.



Im sure others will have favourites too..biggest problem is choosing ..you only have 2 weeks too visit

[Black]

Thanks Gurnard, they look just the type of thing we are looking for.

How bad are these midges? Would we be better not travelling in August? Or is it as you say; preparation?

[jeffstevens763@g]

Midges are unbearable if you don't protect yourself Avon skin so soft is supposed to work really well ,it's only the females that bite typical! So I am told

[The Gurnard]

The midges can drive you mad. I have seen myself having to quit fishing beside a loch because they come down in clouds. I have also seen the inside of my tent...”Black” with the little devils.

However it is not always doom and gloom. They will not appear if there is even a slight breeze..because they are so small..they know they will be blown away. They also like long damp grass or trees to shelter in if there is a breeze... so best pitch yourself on an open part of the campsite..rather than in the shelter. They don’t come around much during the day..mostly early morning or evening when there is absolutely no wind. They vary in intensity too..if its a long hot dry spell..this keeps them at bay too..as they like damp conditions

June is the best month to visit Scotland..they start appearing about mid june but don’t seem to bite ..perhaps their teeth are still too weak then..but come July onwards they can bite no problem. They are then around until the first frosts..around October kill them off.

I often cook my breakfast on the SIB in the morning..as 50 yards from shore..they don’t find you.

Some folk are not bothered much by them.. I get bitten and I find it is very uncomfortable.. because of the volume of bites. Some folks seem to have a reaction to them and swell up with facial bites etc.

However they certainly don’t put me off going out in them.. put on midge lotion and they wont bite..but they still crawl over you looking for a place without lotion..thats why a head net is the only way..for me and my mates anyhoo :-D




PS..just noticed Jeffs reply..Avon changed the formula a while back on Avon skin so soft..it doesnt seem to worth as well..."Smidge" is one of the better repellants..but they still crawl on you..nasty brutes

[jeffstevens763@g]

Hi gurnard
Thanks for the Avon up date.
But your right they would have to bite a lot harder to stop me going up there been doing it for 50years still not put me off.

Regards Jeff

[popeyethesailor]

I have stayed here a few times lovey part of Scotland if you are going this far north you could not get any closer to the sea from the camp site!

http://www.ardmair.com/

[Xk59D]

skin so soft is useless now gents i can confirm.

the best thing to keep them at bay is shoo or shu, can't mind how it is spelled.

also i'd invest in a hat to be safe as they are friggin annoying.

it is typical really, we have the best scenery in the world (imo) and the few times we get decent weather those little gits come out and spoil the party.

a decent fire will also keep them away as they don't like smoke.

as said above, avoid anywhere damp and you'll be good....it is worth the hassle though for the places you can boat.

cheers

[stevedonna]

Originally Posted by Black

Thanks Gurnard, they look just the type of thing we are looking for.

How bad are these midges? Would we be better not travelling in August? Or is it as you say; preparation?

In pre rib days we camped up the west coast a lot can't help you on sib friendly sites . midges can obviously be a problem but it has never spoilt our holidays . There are people on here that know more than me but I echo other comments .. A day of rain ending with a calm evening and your going to get attacked . Near the sea with a breeze and your probably okay . We went to Borneo a few years ago and used a product called jungle formula which worked . I have used it since in Scotland with great results . It's f*****g horrible to use stinks to high heaven and I am sure somebody on here will tell me I am going to grow another limb soon but it worked .


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[popeyethesailor]

Prob a bit to far west but this was my favourite camp site

Horgabost
Isle of Harris


Stunning..

[willk]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

avoid anywhere damp and you'll be good....

I made a Venn Diagram for "Scotland" and "Damp"

this is it:

0

[mick]

As much as I love scotland I wouldn't be going in August
Easter to June and sept for me

[jambo]

Originally Posted by willk

I made a Venn Diagram for "Scotland" and "Damp"

this is it:

0

Just about as bad as Ireland then.........erm. 👍😃👹


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[JamesF]

We went to Borneo a few years ago and used a product called jungle formula which worked . I have used it since in Scotland with great results

I've used that too, and also found it very effective. The active ingredient is called "DEET", which apparently is quite nasty stuff over long periods in higher concentrations, but safe for short-term use.

As you say, though, it's also quite effective as a human repellent. Smells like an industrial cleaning fluid that's described only somewhat accurately as "lemon".

[willk]

Originally Posted by jambo

Just about as bad as Ireland then.........erm.

Nonsense, the (very) South East is positively Mediterranean

[willk]

Originally Posted by JamesF

I've used that too, and also found it very effective. The active ingredient is called "DEET", which apparently is quite nasty stuff over long periods in higher concentrations, but safe for short-term use.

As you say, though, it's also quite effective as a human repellent. Smells like an industrial cleaning fluid that's described only somewhat accurately as "lemon".

I use this regularly. It may explain something. It certainly repels most lifeforms. It comes in various strengths. 50% DEET is the max that should be applied to bare skin. 100% is meant to be sprayed onto fabrics like hats, wrist bands etc. All DEET melts plastics like sunglasses, car dashboards, rucksacks etc.

For light midge incursions, I use AUTAN in pump spray and stick application. OK for marginal infestations, but DEET is your only man for the bad days. When they're very bad, a hatnet is the only way. The bodies just pile up on the DEET, like zombies in World War Z.

[willk]

Originally Posted by willk

Nonsense, the (very) South East is positively Mediterranean

Shame I live at the opposite corner...

[spartacus]

If you make it over to Lewis, then head west to Loch Roag. If the sun shines, then this is arguably one of the finest stretches of water for watersports anywhere in the UK.

At the start of this Volvo commercial is Mangersta Beach. Unless you're into surfing, forget it. Atlantic rollers pound this beach all year round. On a clear day you'll see St Kilda.

Near Mangersta is Ardroil beach (same area they found the world renowned Lewis Chessmen). It has great campsite and you can literally camp on the machair.

At the end of the commercial is Reef beach. Stunning sheltered sea loch where it's not uncommon to see basking shark during July and August. You can camp on the machair. Head out into the Atlantic and you'll probably encounter dolphins and the odd minke whale.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=huagKyLfCJo

[The Gurnard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMLo...FCup7tbjx8u16S

[kerny]

Gud'n Gurnard