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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Scotland => Topic started by: richardh1905 on 22:04:16, 11/07/20

Title: Good news for Scotland
Post by: richardh1905 on 22:04:16, 11/07/20
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-what-you-can-and-cannot-do/pages/sport-culture-and-leisure/ (https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-what-you-can-and-cannot-do/pages/sport-culture-and-leisure/)

What about going camping?
From 15 July camping and wild camping will be permitted.
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: Islandplodder on 11:08:35, 12/07/20
Hoping and planning, but at the moment my main difficulty is getting off the islands upon which I plod. If the rest of Scotland is as paranoid as here, I would be inclined to be extremely discreet. A lot of places in the Highlands simply aren't opening this year, caught between what the Tourist board is telling them to do and the things the public health people are saying they have to comply with.
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: forgotmyoldpassword on 13:01:23, 12/07/20
Hoping and planning, but at the moment my main difficulty is getting off the islands upon which I plod. If the rest of Scotland is as paranoid as here, I would be inclined to be extremely discreet. A lot of places in the Highlands simply aren't opening this year, caught between what the Tourist board is telling them to do and the things the public health people are saying they have to comply with.


As much as we lampoon Boris for his style, NS has rather pushed this too late in the season to actually get up and running - particularly with the tourist season quite short and the xenophobia which appears to be running rampant on social media to the 'infected southerners'.


Had a few conversations over the last few days with people who were involved with hospitality and many are concerned with re-opening fully in case the August weather is as bad as June has been and they incur costs just to have a sporadic re-opening before a cagey public decide it isn't worth booking in the autumn.  They're aiming for next year and I would expect many of the Scottish tourist places are in the same boat.
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: gunwharfman on 13:33:00, 12/07/20
The other bit of good news for Scotland is at least they have a Leader! I would love to go to Scotland but for me living in Portsmouth, its just too far and too expensive to get to.
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: sparnel on 19:44:28, 12/07/20
Speaking to the owner of an hotel on the West Highland Way today, she told me that from the 20th July they are fully booked till the end of October.....every night booked!

Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: Birdman on 13:37:18, 13/07/20
The other bit of good news for Scotland is at least they have a Leader! I would love to go to Scotland but for me living in Portsmouth, its just too far and too expensive to get to.


Southampton here. Last year I paid £61 for a return ticket to Glasgow (by National Express). Spent 3 weeks walking and wild camping at £0. Pretty cheap if you ask me! :). Only getting back to Glasgow from Cape Wrath was relatively expensive at about £77 but that is because it is so remote.

 
Unfortunately by 15th July when Scotland reopens, the midges season is in full swing and the crowds are really picking up mid summer (and will probably be worse this year). Therefore I prefer to visit in the spring, which was not possible this year. But I'm considering a visit in September.
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: richardh1905 on 14:17:03, 13/07/20

Southampton here. Last year I paid £61 for a return ticket to Glasgow (by National Express). Spent 3 weeks walking and wild camping at £0. Pretty cheap if you ask me! :) . Only getting back to Glasgow from Cape Wrath was relatively expensive at about £77 but that is because it is so remote.

Unfortunately by 15th July when Scotland reopens, the midges season is in full swing and the crowds are really picking up mid summer (and will probably be worse this year). Therefore I prefer to visit in the spring, which was not possible this year. But I'm considering a visit in September.


Midges can be pretty apocalyptic in September, too!
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: Birdman on 14:28:18, 13/07/20

Midges can be pretty apocalyptic in September, too!


I have never been there in September. Latest was mid August and that was horrendous with midges. Not sure where the cut-off point is where they suddenly die. Do you know when that is?


Last year my Cape Wrath Trail hike ended on 8th May and there were no midges at all. I could just leave my tent open. In my experience it starts somewhere in mid May, but I'm not sure when it ends.
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: ninthace on 15:52:03, 13/07/20
There is a 5 day midge forecast https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/ (https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/)
That will not help to tell when the season will end though, which I suspect, is something of a movable feast  ;)
Title: Re: Good news for Scotland
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 18:10:22, 13/07/20
There is a 5 day midge forecast https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/ (https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/)
That will not help to tell when the season will end though, which I suspect, is something of a movable feast  ;)
In midge season it is the walker who is the movable feast  :) 🦟🦟🦟🦟
The good news is that midges do not like heavy rain, strong winds or strong sunlight. In the words of Meatloaf “2 out of 3 ain’t bad”.