To cancel this trip to Scotland?

[ConkerGame]

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 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!

Wild camping? OMG sounds horrendous, whatever happened to glamping?

Go! Im currently visiting London and id do anything for a frw nights in Scotland! London is too populated, not friendly and full of people who walk with their heads in their phones and don’t look where they are going.

Cant wait to go home to my rural pad.

Agree smidge over SSS hands down. Also, start taking a daily odourless garlic capsule starting about 2 weeks before your trip. Antihistamines will ensure any bites you do get don't drive uou crazy.

I live here. It’ll quite likely be fine, honestly. They’re definitely worse in June/July and the Cairngorms are not the worse place for them.

We went camping not far from Cairngorms in late July. Our campfire kept the midges nicely at bay! Also camping on a hill with a bit of a breeze helps- they hate the wind up their wee kilts!

Smidge is the only thing that works, Avon SSS is a pile of pish if you are midge bait like I am.

Another vote for Smidge here. From someone who has suffered for 60+ years ... bites that turned septic, tetanus jags needed, the lot. Smidge all the way for me now.

they hate the wind up their wee kilts!

😂🤣 that gave me a good giggle!

As I said- I do think they affect different people differently. My dp
hardly notices. I can cope. But my hard as nails tough as old boots mum was reduced to a crying wreck.

I live up there too and it won't be that bad. Not a good enough reason to miss a holiday.

You can get full midgie jackets never mind just head covers.

They've made me cry Bertrand and they've made me have to remove myself from a party for fear I was going to punch someone. It's like death by a million cuts.

Oh feck I don't want to go tomorrow!

Take vitamin B complex. Start now. It makes your blood smell unpleasant to insects

I am a Scout Leader and take my troop away in September as it is usually better for midges. Skin so Soft doesn't work anymore as they took the ingredient that repelled them out. Smidge works very well and also smells really pleasant.

I've been in early September and it was fine.

The only caveat to that would be that this year has been quite bad for biting things.

Ach you'll be fine. Have a wee drink and you won't notice anyway.

I'm currently in the area and its been midgey at times but not awful. We've had more issues with the bloody wasps!

Fwiw, smidge is what all the locals up here have stashed all over.

We all use Smidge - much better than the Avon one (which makes a horrible oil slick that drips into your eyes and stings )

I've also found citronella candles can help in the evenings - at the door of your tent so the heat and aroma fills the covered space.

GO ! No midges if it's windy

Cairngorms should be OK. Don’t bother with SSS, you need citronella heavy stuff like Goibi. I’m a midge / mosquito magnet and Goibi is the only stuff that has ever worked for me.

I've travelled up the west coast loads of times in September and never been aware of / bothered by midges. I think you will probably be fine.

Another vote for smidge, this works really well and I’m a midge magnet, and it can be sprayed all over. It really depends on the weather when you get here how bad the midges might be and it’s currently mental. We’ve had Torrential rain, sun, wind, cold, humidity.

Just get a decent insect repellent. Jungle formula. Take antihistamines and avoid being out at dusk and dawn

... avoid being out at dusk and dawn
Dusk up here just now lasts about 2 hours, are you serious?

Don't cancel because of the midges, cancel because of the absolutely shitty weather up here just now.

I'm scottish so know the area. Midges and mosquitoes love me so when I go camping or abroad I use a strong repellent with DEET. Also bought bracelets from amazon that have 5* reviews and wore one on each arm and legs. No bites at all 😁 Also in Scotland wear long sleeved tops and a tent with an inner layer but no need to cancel the trip!