Local knowledge requied please .
Should I head north next week for a few days am I likely to be eaten to bits on the Lolipop loop ? Asking for my Avon rep 🙂
warm and damp weather, midges will be rife. Lots of Smidge and don't stop !
Two types of midge attack: one where you wonder if you will die and one where you hope to die.
(We are there at start of July. Smidge, midge nets and stay in the breeze if you can...)
Smidge is the answer. Was up that way last week and hardly a midge - because the wind stayed high
When I've visited in June before it's only really been midgey by the water.
I'm back later this month so fingers crossed anyway.
You can get midge nets that go over helmets (and long socks, shorts and shirts ) , and you will appreciate them if you puncture or if you’re slogging up a hill.
https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/
Found this .. Looks like i missed the window for not getting eaten ..
I was in Fort Bill last year in May , within 30 seconds of getting out of the car id been bitten twice . I dont think id enjoy The Lollipop whilst getting swarmed
Last July I did a post teatime l"lollipop" loop starting from the Annat end. I had caught an odd shower on the way down to Achnashellach and was conscious I needed to press on with the fading light. I called in at Coulags bothy for a brief refreshment and found several folk peering out the windows. "Still raining then?" enquired one. They were all surprised to learn the rain had stopped a while back. But then I looked out and realised what they peering out had taken to be a steady drizzle outside was in fact just an incessant atmosphere of midges.
But really as usual everything was fine as long as you kept moving. The only problem is if you have to stop. Or if you choke on them. Ticks/clegs are worse.
[Edit] btw - controversial opinion - I reckon the classic loop is more satisfying most of the time than the lollipop. I like the lollipop climb up from Annat but from the lochan round to had top of the Corrie above Achnashellach is hard work, and the first half of the descent is nothing like what it used to be years back.
Midges can only fly at 4 kph. Ride or walk faster than that and you will be fine 🙂
that works if you want to get away from 1 midge (or group of midges) - but in torridon out running one midge just means you’ve landed in the domain of another.Midges can only fly at 4 kph. Ride or walk faster than that and you will be fine 🙂
They were bad of an evening three weeks ago if the wind dropped; early this year. Get a headnet and just hope you don't have a puncture/mechanical.
At their worst early or late in the day. Time your finding accordingly. Sitting at home with the windows closed right now, as the wind has died.....
Yes!!
that works if you want to get away from 1 midge (or group of midges) - but in torridon out running one midge just means you’ve landed in the domain of another approximately 54.3million more or the buggers.Midges can only fly at 4 kph. Ride or walk faster than that and you will be fine 🙂
FTFY
My sister was up on Mull over half term, said it was one of the worst stays there for midges that she'd had. Fine during the day but the still and warm nights were absolute hell.
Final night, the breeze had picked up and they all sat out in the garden and loved it - previous nights they hadn't been able to go out without full midge nets.
Ticks/clegs are worse.
[Edit] btw - controversial opinion - I reckon the classic loop is more satisfying most of the time than the lollipop.
The only bit of if that statement that is controversial is the clegs/ticks comparison 🙂
Lollipop Upper Coire Lair is frankly a bit meh, and no way worth the carry. The bit down from the junction with Classic is world class, and combined with the gorgeous singletrack climb to get there makes it infinitely better than the lollipop.
Ticks/clegs are worse.
[Edit] btw - controversial opinion - I reckon the classic loop is more satisfying most of the time than the lollipop.
The only bit of if that statement that is controversial is the clegs/ticks comparison 🙂
Lollipop Upper Coire Lair is frankly a bit meh, and no way worth the carry. The bit down from the junction with Classic is world class, and combined with the gorgeous singletrack climb to get there makes it infinitely better than the lollipop.
Agree wholeheartedly. I've been trying to tell everyone for years 😀
My mum likes to tell the tale of when she and my dad took my sisters to a holiday cottage in Gairloch in the early seventies, and how the midges were that bad she was hoovering them off the walls...
I was on Rannoch last week, no midges, but then it was blowing a gale and sleeted at one point.
Regardless of the midge situation, I'd generally advise using some smidge on legs/arms if exposed to guard against ticks.
You guys really arnt selling the 700 mile round trip . ...
Ticks/clegs are worse.
[Edit] btw - controversial opinion - I reckon the classic loop is more satisfying most of the time than the lollipop.
The only bit of if that statement that is controversial is the clegs/ticks comparison 🙂
Lollipop Upper Coire Lair is frankly a bit meh, and no way worth the carry. The bit down from the junction with Classic is world class, and combined with the gorgeous singletrack climb to get there makes it infinitely better than the lollipop.
Anybody got a link to this route please?
I've done a few variants of Torridon and still haven't quite fully worked out the best way around it I don't think. First time was a loop from near Achnashellach station, along to Coulags, past the bothy, up and over then down to Annat (which at the time was a sublime descent but latterly like smashing through a boulderfield), along the road and into the estate, bit more hikey bikey to the top then another techy descent back down to the station.
Attempts at the lollipop were less successful, I'm sure we took a wrong turn cos we carried the bikes for ages *(hours).
Midges - to answer the original question.
When we did it in May-time, none to be seen.
The following year in June we got devoured. Never seen them in numbers like it (and I've helped trailbuild at Ae).
Ticks/clegs are worse.
Absolutely.
Use a headnet and cover exposed arms and legs with Smidge. Smidge doesn't repel them insofar as you won't get any on you but any that land don't bite.
Clegs though bite you through your clothes and the bites are enormous and itch for weeks, often get infected as well.
Ticks can leave you with lifechanging issues through Lyme disease.
I'll take midges any day.
Anybody got a link to this route please?
I've done a few variants of Torridon and still haven't quite fully worked out the best way around it I ......bit more hikey bikey to the top then another techy descent back down to the station.
Hmmm. Sounds like you may well have been off route. That single track ascent is absolutely sublime. Maybe a few yards of pushing but Defo not HaB.
Unless it's been trashed in.last few years
Anybody got a link to this route please?
I've done a few variants of Torridon and still haven't quite fully worked out the best way around it I ......bit more hikey bikey to the top then another techy descent back down to the station.
Hmmm. Sounds like you may well have been off route. That single track ascent is absolutely sublime. Maybe a few yards of pushing but Defo not HaB.
Unless it's been trashed in.last few years