Help - camping in Scotland in August are we mad!?

[LuR]

we are taking our 3 children (2, 5 and 7) camping in Arran and Skye in the summer holidays and I'm worried about midges (amongst other things....) does anyone have any advice? Do mosquito nets work? Can anyone recomend an effectve insect repelent that wont also do for the children too?
Any advice gratefully received!

[saltire]

Get on to your Avon rep and buy tons of the Skin so Soft body spray oil stuff, the green one.
It works

[saltire]

And no, mosquito nets don't work against midges, they are tiny wee things, but itch like hell!

[chevre]

only camp at campsites with those midgie eating machines. buy those big bee keeper style hats. you might get lucky - if there is a breeze it is bearable.

[bobsmum]

Avon Skin So Soft - must be the Soft Fresh fragrance.

We live at Loch Lomond - the home of the midge!

The army and every hill walker uses this stuff, but it can't be sold as an insect repellent because it would need a special licence.

I kid you not - it's infallible!!

Get it online in a body lotion or a spray.

If you want something more natural then Aromakids do a citronalla based one, but it's nowhere near as good.

I've seen a lot of people round here with midge net hats on - but they loof really daft!

you'll get no midges on a sunny or breezy day. THey like the damp and dull days.

[bobsmum]

x post Saltire

[myweegirl]

yep - another avon skin so soft fan here! fantastic stuff - you could also add garlic to all your food, they don't seem to like that.

[Skribble]

If camping get a good fire going or a smokey BBQ or take up smoking, or make freinds with a smoker and sit very close. Take lots of citronella candles and incense sticks.

[bobsmum]

yOu;re not mad btw - Arran is fab - we went there on honeymoon and every other year after that. we've never been bothered by midges there. Never been to Skye though so don't know what the beasts are like there.

[Lucycat]

marmite works too - allegedly

think you eat it rather than smear it.

[birdsong]

Hello LuR , I am poised to book camping holiday in Scotland on west coast a site called Port Ban. Looks stunning and has playarea and virtually on beach , but am very worried about weather . We going end of August , but I keep peaking at France but the weather might not be brill their either. Don't know what to do ??

[Skribble]

Fantastic area even if it is raining it will be gorgeous

[jaynehater]

Don't listen to them, you're mad

But you'll be mad in the most beautiful surroundings anywhere....!

[VoluptuaGoodshag]

Oooh I stayed at Port Ban last week - it was divine. The camping bit is right at the far end of the site and nice and quiet, the play area is fab and you can camp practically on the beach and can light fires. It's great. Not too many midgies there.

OP - get midge nets as your mossie nets won't work and I too can advocate Skin So Soft. We're off on Sunday so the weather will of course be wonderful just for us coz we deserve it (albeit we'll be on the east coast). Arran is great and Skye is truly gorgeous although the weather can be much more fickle up there.

[birdsong]

Hello Voluptua...
another niggle about Portban - are they a bit churchy? brochure talks about interdenominational church services etc and bar/cafe is soft drinks . Me and dh do like a glass of wine or 3 assume this would be ok sat at our tent!

[VoluptuaGoodshag]

Hell yes!! It is a Christian place but I only found that out after reading their leaflet. It's not in your face obvious at all. We certainly had booze at our tent and so did everyone else I could see and also those in the caravans were happily sitting on their balconies with beers and the like.