Question for UK members

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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:42 pm

Hello all, in september I am leaving for a holiday of 16 days in Scotland. Ill be travelling across the country with my bike and tent, me and my friend are looking at about 500-600 miles pushing those pedals up and down the highlands. I have 2 questions for our UK members (Scottish members in particularly):

1. We will be camping almost every night. How do the local people feel with camping in the wild? Will it be easy for us to find a spot, ar are most people reluctant to see campers in the wild? Obviously we clean up after we leave, the only proof of our visit will be the flattened grass. I've read online that they are open-minded, but I've also read online that the earth will come to an end in 2012, so I don't really know if I can trust the internet Laughing

2. I have also read in about every book I could find about small mosquito's draining every drop of blood in your body. (Midges?) Some sites advertise their products so they repel all kind of mosquitos because they have DEET in it, but on other sites I've read that nothing helps against these little vampires. Are there any tricks that do help? I don't plan on spending my money on buying stuff that doesn't work, so do any of you have hints to fight them?

If there are any other tips or things I should know about Scotland, all hints are welcome Smile

. If you see 2 guys loaded with bags biking in the highlands, feel free to come and say hi! Very Happy

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:50 pm

About mosquito: it will help if you're a smoker. Don't know why, but mosquito don't really like tobacco
At least, it helped me fight against the bigest and wildest mosquito of NE Russia

419Eater is my life Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 351

So long as you're not mistaken for a haggis then you'll be fine. Parlimentary law dictates they are shot on site.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:47 pm

Camping shouldn't be a problem in the Highlands as long as you don't camp in the middle of someone's property or on their garden.

The midges are more of a nuisance hanging around your head rather than biting (you get a cloud of the little bastards following you around) but there are plenty of natural midgie repellants that you can pick up. You can probably grab something at the airport when you land. Ask the dude behind the counter what works.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:57 pm

Allright, so the camping won't be a big problem. But suppose we are in a remote area, no houses around, it's not a big problem if we just go camp not far from the road then? In France the police can confiscate all your camping gear when you are doing it in the wild, but no such situations in Scotland?

I won't be arriving in an airport, I'll be arriving in Edinburgh by boat. Can you get those repellants in any shop, or will I be more lucky at a pharmacist?

Thanks for the help so far Smile

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:01 pm

For midges read this :
http://www.lochnesscottages.co.uk/midges-ticks.htm

Be sure to visit this :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Brae

and be sure to avoid this :
Craig007

On camping in the wild :
http://www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk/leaflets/wildcamp.html

If you go fishing :
http://www.nessie.co.uk/
Catch and release laws apply, if you don't get eaten first.

try to visit this:
http://davidgruar.fotopic.net/p30068183.html
No real reason, other than I just like the place.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:32 pm

Quote:

In France the police can confiscate all your camping gear when you are doing it in the wild

you should have checked for spectators without cameras. Laughing

Garlic in the blood is a sure way to keep mossies away they hates garlic.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:49 pm

In a remote area, should be no problem at all to camp as long as you do so in a completely low impact manner. Better to get a bit away from the road though.

Sounds like a good trip - hope the weather cooperates at least somewhat!

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:51 pm

Hey, I'm not going to eat garlic for a full 16 days in a row, my terrible breath will scare away all those beautiful scottish girls then! Wink

ETA - and yes, I'm hoping for decent weather aswell. If we can go 10 days without rain, I will be VERY happy. But I've invested about 300 euros in rain gear, I can live with a bit of rain. I only pray for dry weather when we're setting up the tent in the evening and starting in the morning. Other than that, every dry minute is a plus!

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:55 pm

Caligula wrote:

If we can go 10 days without rain, I will be VERY happy.

You'll be VERY lucky to get one day without rain.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

I'll put on a welcome party.

I think there is some kind of Access Scotland countrycode, which basically states you can pitch wherever the hell you like, with a few exceptions.

http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/default.asp

I would reccomend Avon skin so soft for midges, but you can't get that so Jungle formula will have to do. That's easily picked up at any decent stockist. The "natural" stuff tends to be overpriced junk they flog to tourists. A girl I know had 70 bites on her legs from one night out walking, in civilised Scotland! Shocked

No chance of having no rain, by the way. I'm sure you'll have fun regardless. Very Happy

As you're heading North, beware the people talk with a strong accent, and have an unnatural attraction to sheep.

IG, I can read you bastard.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

I also recommed Avon skin so soft, some shops stock it up in the Highlands.
Midges dont so much drain the blood like mozzies but have a very irritating bite

Mind its a VERY hilly country.
I saw a few tents piched "in the wild" when I was up North a few weeks ago nobody seems to mind. My son often heads up onto the Pentlands for a weekend, not been returned home by the police yet.

Beware of inquisitive sheep though.

There are quite a few official campsites dotted around.

So you're arriving in Leith then?

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:53 pm

Oh, I don't mind it being a hilly country. It's not really my first biking trip, in previous years I've travelled from Ghent to Paris and Köln, all by bike and tent. Those were just the smaller, warm-up trips. Next year we are planning to go to Venice or Santiago de Compostela. Yup, every time starting with the bike from our very doorstep.

Thanks for the Avon hint, I'll be sure to search for that in the shops.

And no, I won't be arriving in Leith, we'll be coming in with the ferry in Rosyth, not far from Leith. Then we are going to take the train up north to Inverness, and basically ride back. .This is about the route we'll be taking. It's not quite exact, but it gives you a good idea.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

If that route IS correct, you'll pass within 0.5 miles of my house. Very Happy

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:08 pm

Well, some places it is correct, others it's a bit off. But if you happen to see 2 young guys soaking wet on their bikes, be nice to them. I'm sure they'll appreciate it Laughing

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:20 pm

^^^Have fun! Very Happy

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:29 pm

Yes Corona, I know you like holiday pics, I'll be sure to post some, especially for you! Wink

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:31 pm

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:17 pm

See this thread:

http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=170888

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Its the sheep you need to look out for.
They stand at the side of the road, look at the car approaching, chew a bit then amble out in front of you.
Or it seems obvious to them that the road is the ideal place for a nap

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Some examples of SCOTLAND

Sango Sands, Durness in NW Sutherland

Ben Loyal from the Kyle of Tongue NW Sutherland

Near Applecross Wester Ross

Balnakiel beach looking toward Cape Wrath

Crowded country isn't it

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 689

El Sid wrote:

So long as you're not mistaken for a haggis then you'll be fine. Parlimentary law dictates they are shot on site.

Then sent back to Libya on humanitarian grounds? Laughing

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:24 am

Caligula wrote:

2. I have also read in about every book I could find about small mosquito's draining every drop of blood in your body. (Midges?) Some sites advertise their products so they repel all kind of mosquitos because they have DEET in it, but on other sites I've read that nothing helps against these little vampires. Are there any tricks that do help? I don't plan on spending my money on buying stuff that doesn't work, so do any of you have hints to fight them?

They are almost harmless, well I am not UK member, I am from Czech, but we know them here as well....
They like light in the evening/night. If you have opened window, lit light in your room in the evening, soon there will be "lot" of them...
But yes, you can buy various repels to get them off....

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:36 am

I've never spent any time in the British countryside, so this post will perhaps not be of that much use...

But I've spent quite literally years in the Canadian back country, and if your 'midges' are anything like our 'no-see-ums', then get yourself something with DEET. All the 'natural' stuff on the planet won't faze those bastards. Once I got trapped in a spot, in shorts, where I couldn't move for an hour - the THOUSANDS of no-see-um bites were visible on my shins for two months afterwards.

If you don't need the DEET, then don't use it, because let's face it, it is poison. But if you need it and don't have it, then brother, it will be a day you'll regret forever.

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:08 am

@nanny: We are quite mobile on our bycicles, sleeping sheep on the road won't be a big problem. I'll be happy if they don't eat our tent while we're asleep Laughing

And those pictures look beautiful. I can't wait to see them with my own eyes. The open places,the stunning nature, the lack of people are exactly the reasons why we are going to scotland.

@Jen: I'll be having some DEET with me, in case we don't find the Avon skin so soft on the first day. I'm a bit reluctant for the DEET aswell, since the horrible smell and taste aren't that much fun. Perhaps I'll do the test: one arm with DEET, the other with Avon, and we'll see what helps best.

Oh, and I'm all into mixing up with different cultures; so I'll be sure to try the whisky, fish and chips etc, but I don't think I'll be trying haggis. Very Happy