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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cancel this trip to Scotland?

75 replies

ConkerGame · 13/08/2019 15:21

A couple of years ago DP and I had a lovely trip to the Cairngorms in October and didn’t have any issues with midges at all despite spending all our time outside. This year we wanted to repeat the trip but DP said he couldn’t do October as he would be too stressed with work during that month. So we booked tickets up there for the first weekend in September.

I’ve been doing research since and it sounds like the midges could still be really bad at that point. I’m generally a magnet for mosquitos and other bite-y insects and I also tend to react quite badly to the bites so I’m now dreading it and thinking we shouldn’t go (we would be camping).

Our tickets are non-refundable so we would lose £230 Sad but I don’t want to get caught in the sunk cost fallacy. To top it all off he’s now said he’s actually happy to go in October - I am so annoyed with him!

Does anyone have any experience of that part of Scotland in September? Would you go and risk it or cut your losses and stay home?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
ConkerGame · 13/08/2019 15:22

Another idea is to book new tickets for October (when they are slightly cheaper) but that would mean spending £400 on just travel to Scotland!

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 13/08/2019 15:23

Just go buy buy midge net hats and Avon skin so softly?

PaddyF0dder · 13/08/2019 15:25

I’ve got a fair bit of experience with hillwalking in September in Scotland.

Midge intensity varies year by year and place by place. It’s hard to give a definitive answer. My worst midge experiences have all been in July or so.

Bring insect nets and lots of skin so soft. And just keep moving when you’re outside. Midges can be dreadful little buggers, but I wouldn’t cancel the trip on account.

notacooldad · 13/08/2019 15:26

I'm heading up to Aviemore and The Cairngorms in September and October for a couple of hiking trips.
I'm taking the usual precautions of SSS, hats, long trousers and anti hestimines.
I wouldnt change my plans.

reginafelangee · 13/08/2019 15:27

I live in Scotland and the midgeys like me. You just get on with it. It seems like a really daft reason to cancel a holiday.

If you are really worried buy a head net. I wear them when camping.

www.glasgowscoutshop.com/4343/products/highlander-midge-net.aspx

and here is a good repellent www.glasgowscoutshop.com/3030/products/smidge-insect-repellant.aspx

Cohle · 13/08/2019 15:27

I'd slap on some Skin So Soft and take an anti-histamine. That's a huge amount of money to waste because there might be midges.

BertrandRussell · 13/08/2019 15:28

I thought they had changed the formula of Skin So Soft so it doesn’t work any more.....

kittykarate · 13/08/2019 15:29

Midgeys are a nightmare, but unless you go in the dead of winter you can't guarantee they won't be there waiting in ambush near a puddle!

I walked the West Highland Way a couple of years ago - I had better results with Smidge than Avon Skin So Soft. I'm considering one the net things this year, as all insects find me to be a tasty treat.

justmyview · 13/08/2019 15:29

I would just go. You'll be fine. And another vote for Avon Skin So Soft. If it's good enough for the Army......
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-marine-commandos-moisturiser-repel-insects-jungle-desert-deet-repellent-a7904086.html

goingdownsouth · 13/08/2019 15:31

Deet! You can get 50% and stronger!
And citronella bracelets

notacooldad · 13/08/2019 15:37

I thought they had changed the formula of Skin So Soft so it doesn’t work any more
I'd heard that but its still working for me so far.

Coffeeonthesofa · 13/08/2019 15:39

Just back from a few days on the West Coast Scotland midges very bad just now. Skin so soft not helping, Smidge seemed okay.
A friend who lives and works up that way agrees this year is bad but it varies so much there is no way of knowing in advance.
I have bad reactions to some bites when abroad, not too bad with midges though.
I was advised by a pharmacist to take antihistamine tablets for at least a week before a trip, all through the trip( even if I wasn’t getting bitten at the start) then after the trip for as long as necessary, this regime really helped me.
A head net thing may look stupid but is very useful for camping, hiking etc.

Didntwanttochangemyname · 13/08/2019 15:39

Don't bother with Avon Skin So Soft, dreadful stuff, use Smidge, it's much better for your skin and much better at keeping midgies and horse flies away.
By September they won't be too bad, just try to be where there is a breeze and you'll be fine.
(I live near the Cairngorms and the midgies love me)

flouncyfanny · 13/08/2019 15:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toodeloo · 13/08/2019 15:46

Ach, it’s really not that big a deal. As long as it’s windy it’s no bother anyway. And let’s face it, a day without wind is extremely rare in scotland. Plus, by the time you’re going the current midgie generation will have been and gone and even if we get a third this year you should be fine.

TeeniefaeTroon · 13/08/2019 15:48

My husband fishes in the highlands every couple of weeks, he bought Partylite citronella sticks and swears by them. We were at a friends bbq last weekend and we're getting eaten alive by them, he popped out to his car for a couple and within minutes they'd gone and didn't bother us for the rest of the night. He also uses skin so soft.

I thought they'd have been gone by September though, June and July seems to be the worst months.

Original poster
ConkerGame · 13/08/2019 16:07

Thanks all - your responses have reminded me how pathetic I can be, but equally I’ve been surrounded by mosquitos and flies in the past and found it unbearable!

OP posts:
Original poster
ConkerGame · 13/08/2019 16:08

I think I will try the hat/repellant/sticks/antihistamine combo and hope for the best!

OP posts:
Tighnabruaich · 13/08/2019 16:08

They're usually gone by early/mid September.

Tighnabruaich · 13/08/2019 16:09

This stuff is good
www.smidgeup.com/smidge/

Plus of course Avon Skin So Soft, which the locals swear by.

Piffpaffpoff · 13/08/2019 16:13

It is a particularly bad year for midges but I wouldn't cancel.

Long sleeved tops and trousers (which are useful for tick prevention too) are a must, a midge net and Smidge. The other thing is to start taking anti-histamine tablets a week or two beforehand so that any bites wont come up as bad in the first place.

Your campsite choice will be helpful too - Glenmore up at Loch Morlich gets more of a breeze than the Coylumbridge one in the woods.

BertrandRussell · 13/08/2019 16:16

I think people’s midge tolerance varies hugely. My mum was as tough as old boots, but midges actually made her cry.

Original poster
ConkerGame · 13/08/2019 16:18

@bertrandrussell I think I might be like your mum! I’m not all that hardy to start with and am worried that bugs on top of camping, rain, difficult hiking and carrying a heavy bag might actually break me!

OP posts:
alidew · 13/08/2019 16:29

We're camping at Loch Morlich last week in August. Only week away for us this year too. We're taking the wetsuits to do some kayaking but if the midges are bad, I'll just wear mine all the time! The midges don't like me much anyway, must be all the G&T!

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 13/08/2019 16:47

Does your campsite have a midgebuster? They can make a huge difference.

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