Anyone live on, or been to, Skye?

[citizentwiglet]

We're thinking of taking the wee man camping on Skye around August time and wondered if anyone has any recommendations of places to stay (campsites).

We're not the 'holiday park' type, we don't need adventure playgrounds or lots of bells and whistles or even any kind of social life, but half decent loos and showers would be great with a toddler who could get dirty in the bath!

Also...does Skye have a midgie problem? We were on Mull a few years ago and escaped virtually midgie-free, but Glen Nevis was a nightmare - it only stopped raining to let the midgies feed, so we barely left the tent for a week!

Thank you in advance!!

[Silver Ether]

We were there last year but did the B+B thing so cant help with sites.. and yes they do have a midge problem gladly they dont like me.

Have a look here ... I know it says wild ... but they also have some site info on there. Shucks just had a quick look and I cant see anything ... but the addy is free so have it anyway

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/index.php

[Smooth Hound]

Yes there are midgeys in skye in august, i cant give advise on sites, as we never use sites we just go over in the van or van and caravan, but i can give you a tip, in the morning first thing and last thing in the evening is when the midgeys are out at there worst, if there is a bit of wind then you will be lucky, we stay right down by a peir or right by the sea anyway , the midgeys dont seem to like it there, but i do mean like 50 metre from the tide3 mark at the most, if you have a caravan then here are plenty of places to stop, dunvegan area is my favourite bit and the little peninsula areas there, as there are less touristy type people. If you can find a way of staving the midgeys off then you will have a great time, jungle formula is good as well, probably not good for you though, i also discovered that if you are covered in oil , as in engine oil (dont ask) then they dont like that either, but i cant imagine that is a remedy that you will be trying

[citizentwiglet]

Thanks very much for the info! Funnily enough, midgies don't like me or the wee man very much, but they love OH...I assumed they didn't bite me due to the amount of alcohol in my blood, but of course that doesn't carry to the wee man!

Dunvegan was one of the places we'd seen that looked really nice, actually...it was called the Kinloch campsite and it looks pretty close to the lochside. A couple of reviewers said it got quite windy, so hopefully that will keep the midgies at bay. When we were in Mull, the campsite was by the sea and we didn't get bitten much, although it was a different story inland.

Of course, being too close to a loch with a boisterous 2 year old throws up a whole new collection of neurotic dilemmas. I'll be cracking out the reins, I reckon!

[Annpan]

I have no Skye advice, it's been a long time since I camped there... I did get eaten to bits in Ullapool once, but I never had any problems on Mull

Some campsites have midgie killers - It's a gas canister with an electric zapping device attached, kept us relativley midgie free where we have camped near them, though they do buzz through the night and crack when they get one.

We stayed in one campsite that had a sonic midgie repeler... but that was actually quite spooky as it keeps all the flying thingys away, just an eerie feeling - but we could walk around in shorts and T-shirts comfortably for a change.

These were both on the West Highland Way a few years ago.

[mrsflibble]

don't try citronella bars that you can get; they look like candles in a plastic pot. THEY DO NOT WORK ON MIDGES THE MIDGES WILL STILL EAT YOU.




or rather, me. lol!!!

[contadina]

We stayed at the Uig Bay Campsite and would thoroughly recommend it. It's right ojn the coast and has a pub a few yards away; stick to whiskey though and not red wine as it was the worst that I've ever tasted. Uig's a good place to explore much of the island (we drove to Dunvegan one day and found the scenery on that side of the island to be quite stunning).

On the midgey front, Skye's nowhere near as bad as the mainland. We'd been touring around Scotland and most people who been bitten loads elsewhere found some relief on Skye.

[Smooth Hound]

Stay away from lochs, inland lochsthat is, stay near the sea, Uig is probably good advise, when i was there last everyone i spoke to was having trouble with the midgeys, except us because we were camping right by the sea, and it was like it was a midge free island, but that is very deceptive as they apparently had a terrible time just less than a quarter of a mile in land

[Flingdizz]

Avon skin so soft dry oil moisturiser would be a great pressy for your OH as it creates a small midge repellent forcefield anywhere it is sprayed -seriously it is miracle stuff!

August is the worst time for midgyness-May is the best time as the midgies aren't out yet and you get really long evenings (maybe not so great in a tent though...)

[camillitech]

Hi Ct,
we live on Raasay just off Skye and there has been plenty of good advice given so far. Camp by the sea or on a hill never in a sheltered spot by a loch or river avoid august if possible the best weather is always in may or june avon skin so soft IS the best repellant not so sure about campsites but I think there's one at Glenbrittle. Raasay House do camping with showers etc but they're closed this year for renovation Whilst It's not Skye there's a beautiful spot at Glenelg on the beach looking over to Skye though I'm not sure about facilities.

Good luck, Paul

[camillitech]

Hi Ct,
we live on Raasay just off Skye and there has been plenty of good advice given so far. Camp by the sea or on a hill never in a sheltered spot by a loch or river avoid august if possible the best weather is always in may or june avon skin so soft IS the best repellant not so sure about campsites but I think there's one at Glenbrittle. Raasay House do camping with showers etc but they're closed this year for renovation Whilst It's not Skye there's a beautiful spot at Glenelg on the beach looking over to Skye though I'm not sure about facilities.

Good luck, Paul

[citizentwiglet]

Thank you my loves!

We tried Skin-So-Soft in Glen Nevis, worked brilliantly for me but no effect on OH, unfortunately (other than him not being able to stand the smell of it now!)...don't know what it is about him that attracts them - honestly, they crawl in his eyes and everything, tis ghastly to see. Me, I get some tickles and a handful of bites that don't bother me, but that's it. People say it's about Blood Groups, but we're both Group B Positive and, obviously, so is the wee man and he's never been bothered by them either.

Maybe we'll change the date from August to June. We can't do July because we're going to a Wedding....expensive, plus I can't be doing all my fun in one month, can I??!! Do you think that would be a better idea?

Thank you so much for all your replies, I really appreciate it.

[Thurston Garden]

You will love Skye, midgies or no.... We tried to buy a croft there in 2004 but alas, things were not to be (for "things were not to be" read "the seller kept changing the goalposts after agreeing a fair price" ...Three blo*dy times!!! )

[Stonehead]

You will love Skye, midgies or no.... We tried to buy a croft there in 2004 but alas, things were not to be (for "things were not to be" read "the seller kept changing the goalposts after agreeing a fair price" ...Three blo*dy times!!! )

I saw a Skye croft for sale the other day — offers over £200,000 for 8 acres or so. With no house!

[baldowrie]

missed this thread.....

Camped on Skye a couple of times. As everyone has said it is lovely BUT beware the wee beasties.

August, not the best time to go for a couple of reasons, tourist in coach parties and the wee beastie.

Oh and the fish and chips at Portree, on the harbour, are the best!