Scottish roaming- need lots of advice

[Free]

Basically me and a few friends have a plan to take advantage of the wonderful roaming rights and beautiful scenery in Scotland by spending a few days trecking there this summer.

We plan to take plenty of food supplies, all weather clothing, tents etc. and want to go to a particularly scenic and wild area, prefferably towards the south of Scotland to avoid having to travel too far (by car or train anyway ).

Basically, we need alot of suggestions. If anyone could provide any information on:

-Where to go
-What to take
-What local flora is edible (we will obviously take enough supplies, this is more just to provide the experience of attempting to fend for ourselves)
-How to avoid midges!
-Anything else anyone can think of, basically

it would be great.

Thanks

[ron1863]

Hi and a warm welcome to WAB. Most people would recommend the Cairngorm area where you will find plenty of different habitats, peace and quiet and midges. Take some warm clothing though as the weather can change extremely quickly.

Check through "Wild Places" in the reference section

[ChrisJB]

For me, when it comes to Scotland, north-west is best. Highlights for me are, Mull, Skye, Ardnamurchan, Torridon (the mountains hereabouts will blow your socks off), Applecross, the wild lands between Dundonnell and Kinlochewe and finally right up round Assynt. It's the stuff of dreams.
You'll have a great time. Lets us know how you get on when you return from your wonderful odyssey. Hope this is of some use.

Regards, Chris

[Richard G.]

Originally Posted by Free

Basically, we need alot of suggestions. If anyone could provide any information on:

-Where to go

Some nice suggestions so far, but I think if it's wild you want, then look no further than Knoydart. You could either walk in from Kinloch Hourn or Glenfinnan or take the ferry from Mallaig.

Originally Posted by Free

-What to take

Good waterproofs for sure and a tent that can take a decent amount of wind. There are a couple of bothies around too if the weather is too unkind.

Originally Posted by Free

-What local flora is edible (we will obviously take enough supplies, this is more just to provide the experience of attempting to fend for ourselves)

Don't think I'd rely too much on foraging for food, you might be able to catch the odd trout or maybe a few mussels in Barrisdale Bay.

Originally Posted by Free

-How to avoid midges!

Midge avoidance requires a Beatons Midge Jacket.

[smartie]

Originally Posted by Richard G.

Midge avoidance requires a Beatons Midge Jacket.

I wish I'd kown about these before I went to Mull last week. We tried every insect repellant known to man and nothing worked.

[foxy mars]

Originally Posted by smartie

We tried every insect repellant known to man and nothing worked.

Have you tried Avon's - Skin so Soft, it supposed to very efficient towards Midgies.

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by foxy mars

Have you tried Avon's - Skin so Soft, it supposed to very efficient towards Midgies.

It does work but not for everyone and is one of the better products. Just hope for some windy weather, that keeps them away.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by foxy mars

Have you tried Avon's - Skin so Soft, it supposed to very efficient towards Midgies.

Forget it - it's 'snake oil'!

People keep banging on about 'Skin so Soft' yet those that have tried it admit it's not particularly effective - or even effective at all. It's not worth taking a chance and spoiling an outing.

None - NONE, of the repellents you put on your skin will stop you breathing them in and choking on them when they're their millions, like clouds of smoke. The ONLY effective protection in this case is a net - best of all a midge jacket.

Jim

[foxy mars]

Snake Oil

[Jim Ford]

Let me google that for you

;^)

Jim