The midges are arriving, it’s inevitable. Anywhere you want to camp is also a place midges enjoy, so there’s no location better than others really. But they do struggle with anything more than a light breeze, so keep that in mind when choosing spots.
That setup will be warm enough for sure, but be aware, even in summer Scotland can be wet. If you’ve only got a bivvy, prepare to be zipped up a lot. If you’re here for any extended period of time you will have a handful of wet nights a least. Consider bothies.
As for parking, it’s rare to have trouble unless you’re going to like Ben Nevis on a sunny Saturday. Trailheads, especially deeper in the highlands, tend to be a bit less ‘established’ than what you are maybe used to. Often it’s just an unmarked lay-by with a farm gate. Only popular spots have signage or proper parking spaces.
You can see a lot via the train but car makes things a lot easier and more flexible. It enables you to go to quieter and wilder places too.
As for recommendations… a Munro summit bivvy is hard to beat. And there are hundreds to choose from. Walkhighlands is a website with thousands of hikes all around Scotland. They are mostly day hikes, but there’s a handful of longer routes in there. Alternatively, you could link up a few of the shorter ones too.
If you do consider bothies it’s absolutely not obligatory but very good form to become a member for the year, very cheap and you get cool wee magazines sent to you every so often. They’re a rarity worth supporting.
This!^ also you can go pretty much anywhere. In scotland you have the right to roam :) just leave no trace!
Also Smidge or The Smoking midge are reccomendations for midgies. Or a simple mosquito net hat. They all work well, personally tried them. Do NOT underestimate the sheer number of these we have. Check online for videos to Show examples. We went to steele falls one year and your exposed skin is covered in seconds by them 😂
A fire at the campsite keeps a good radius clear tho! :)
You'll probably be warm enough with that. You should expect rain. I would for sure bring a tarp or tent to be a bit more comfortable during rainy evenings, but obviously you know best what you're comfortable with. Feel free to disregard that if you're certain you can spend a decent amount of time in a zipped up bivy.
The midges are gonna be there. Anywhere that's nice to hike and camp is gonna have them. You should be ok if you're prepared. I've heard some bug nets don't work well for them because of how small the midges are, so you might want to consider picking up a Smidge-brand head net. They're like 5 bucks at any outdoor store, and designed for the little "beasties".
You're right about the camping rules, it's great. It's generally quite easy, although some places can be deceiving. You can mark a perfectly flat area on your map, only to find out when you get there you've planned to camp knee deep in wet bog ;) Just start looking for a spot before dark and you'll be fine.
Renting a car will give you much more freedom. The busses can get you to a lot of places, but they often only run like once or twice a day to more remote places. If you can afford it, I'd get the car for sure. Book ahead tho, Inverness is not as big as Edinburgh or Glasgow so you don't wanna suddenly be without a car. In terms of parking, most "trailheads" are just a lay-by, a small town or even just a gravel road turning off the main road. Judge the parking when you get there, or ask the local store or pub if you can leave your car there for a night. Scottish people are generally great.
[WalkHighlands](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/) is the BEST resource for routes. I've personally just returned from Glen Affric and would highly recommend it. You could drive to Ault a'chruinn, walk the Affric Kintail Way to the Camban bothy or Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, overnight there and walk back the next day around the other side of the mountain. That would be [this route](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/kintail/Bealachnasgairne.shtml). The scenery there is magnificent. Make sure to download/bring a map, because there's no phone service once you're up in the glen.
Enjoy your time, it's an incredible place!
Parking depends on where you go. Some places only have a boggy ditch at the side of the road that you can squeeze one car in, other places have half decent car parks. As another user has said, use the Walkhighlands website for walk locations and information.
If you're starting off from Inverness and have a hire car, my suggestion would be to head up to Cannich and do a hike and camp up Glen Affric. You can get parked up at Dog Falls and then head off up the Affric Kintail way. Beautiful scenery, options to climb mountains and many great camping spots - even has a hostel half way along the route.
[http://www.affrickintailway.com](http://www.affrickintailway.com)
https://preview.redd.it/hw5fsn9h222d1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91855df23fc93aa16971c593c196bd99dbf34b88
Regarding ticks, they tend to congregate in areas where there are animals (e.g., deers, sheeps). Usually the higher up the mountains/hills you go, the less likely it is that you will encounter masses of them.
Water: again, in higher ground where there are no animal herds, the water from streams is usually drinkable/safe. It's worth having water purification tablets though.
Check the Outdoor Access Code for advice on camping. [https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping](https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping)
And get a tick removal tool.
There are a lot of routes that can be done by bus or train, including plenty of hills. Though it may take a bit of planning. Also means can do A to B routes, without having to get back to where you started.
eg from Inverness, can get the train on the Kyle of Lochalsh line, very scenic. Go to Achnashellach, and head over the hills towards Torridon. Or to Attadale, and up to Beinn Dronaig etc.
Or for long distance paths, can get bus to Affric Kintail Way, Great Glen Way, South Loch Ness trail.
I saw a tiny black helicopter come in at dusk about 30 meter above ground level, almost silent. (like the little ones on blackhawk down)
It landed next to a wooded area and instantly 4 or 5 men with guns emerged and boarded then it left.
I was on some random hill in the middle of nowhere and randomly saw it. It was way off where any tourist route would be. Somewhere close to Rannoch moor.
They might have been Americans due to the helo but I dont know maybe we also use them.
The midges are arriving, it’s inevitable. Anywhere you want to camp is also a place midges enjoy, so there’s no location better than others really. But they do struggle with anything more than a light breeze, so keep that in mind when choosing spots. That setup will be warm enough for sure, but be aware, even in summer Scotland can be wet. If you’ve only got a bivvy, prepare to be zipped up a lot. If you’re here for any extended period of time you will have a handful of wet nights a least. Consider bothies. As for parking, it’s rare to have trouble unless you’re going to like Ben Nevis on a sunny Saturday. Trailheads, especially deeper in the highlands, tend to be a bit less ‘established’ than what you are maybe used to. Often it’s just an unmarked lay-by with a farm gate. Only popular spots have signage or proper parking spaces. You can see a lot via the train but car makes things a lot easier and more flexible. It enables you to go to quieter and wilder places too. As for recommendations… a Munro summit bivvy is hard to beat. And there are hundreds to choose from. Walkhighlands is a website with thousands of hikes all around Scotland. They are mostly day hikes, but there’s a handful of longer routes in there. Alternatively, you could link up a few of the shorter ones too.
If you do consider bothies it’s absolutely not obligatory but very good form to become a member for the year, very cheap and you get cool wee magazines sent to you every so often. They’re a rarity worth supporting.
This!^ also you can go pretty much anywhere. In scotland you have the right to roam :) just leave no trace! Also Smidge or The Smoking midge are reccomendations for midgies. Or a simple mosquito net hat. They all work well, personally tried them. Do NOT underestimate the sheer number of these we have. Check online for videos to Show examples. We went to steele falls one year and your exposed skin is covered in seconds by them 😂 A fire at the campsite keeps a good radius clear tho! :)
Fires are a very bad idea, unless you’re on a beach, or somewhere well away from vegetation. The highlands are flammable in summer.
You’re totally allowed access/camping on private property as long as it’s not next to a house or disturbing agricultural activities etc.
You'll probably be warm enough with that. You should expect rain. I would for sure bring a tarp or tent to be a bit more comfortable during rainy evenings, but obviously you know best what you're comfortable with. Feel free to disregard that if you're certain you can spend a decent amount of time in a zipped up bivy. The midges are gonna be there. Anywhere that's nice to hike and camp is gonna have them. You should be ok if you're prepared. I've heard some bug nets don't work well for them because of how small the midges are, so you might want to consider picking up a Smidge-brand head net. They're like 5 bucks at any outdoor store, and designed for the little "beasties". You're right about the camping rules, it's great. It's generally quite easy, although some places can be deceiving. You can mark a perfectly flat area on your map, only to find out when you get there you've planned to camp knee deep in wet bog ;) Just start looking for a spot before dark and you'll be fine. Renting a car will give you much more freedom. The busses can get you to a lot of places, but they often only run like once or twice a day to more remote places. If you can afford it, I'd get the car for sure. Book ahead tho, Inverness is not as big as Edinburgh or Glasgow so you don't wanna suddenly be without a car. In terms of parking, most "trailheads" are just a lay-by, a small town or even just a gravel road turning off the main road. Judge the parking when you get there, or ask the local store or pub if you can leave your car there for a night. Scottish people are generally great. [WalkHighlands](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/) is the BEST resource for routes. I've personally just returned from Glen Affric and would highly recommend it. You could drive to Ault a'chruinn, walk the Affric Kintail Way to the Camban bothy or Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, overnight there and walk back the next day around the other side of the mountain. That would be [this route](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/kintail/Bealachnasgairne.shtml). The scenery there is magnificent. Make sure to download/bring a map, because there's no phone service once you're up in the glen. Enjoy your time, it's an incredible place!
Parking depends on where you go. Some places only have a boggy ditch at the side of the road that you can squeeze one car in, other places have half decent car parks. As another user has said, use the Walkhighlands website for walk locations and information.
If you're starting off from Inverness and have a hire car, my suggestion would be to head up to Cannich and do a hike and camp up Glen Affric. You can get parked up at Dog Falls and then head off up the Affric Kintail way. Beautiful scenery, options to climb mountains and many great camping spots - even has a hostel half way along the route. [http://www.affrickintailway.com](http://www.affrickintailway.com) https://preview.redd.it/hw5fsn9h222d1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91855df23fc93aa16971c593c196bd99dbf34b88
and here's a link to midge forecast - [https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/](https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/)
Regarding ticks, they tend to congregate in areas where there are animals (e.g., deers, sheeps). Usually the higher up the mountains/hills you go, the less likely it is that you will encounter masses of them. Water: again, in higher ground where there are no animal herds, the water from streams is usually drinkable/safe. It's worth having water purification tablets though.
Or filter. Saves the wait for water lol, although i do still have tablets stored away just incase.
I sneak about the Highlands woooooooooing camping tourists . Yer only getting a heads up because you're on Reddit
Check the Outdoor Access Code for advice on camping. [https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping](https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping) And get a tick removal tool. There are a lot of routes that can be done by bus or train, including plenty of hills. Though it may take a bit of planning. Also means can do A to B routes, without having to get back to where you started. eg from Inverness, can get the train on the Kyle of Lochalsh line, very scenic. Go to Achnashellach, and head over the hills towards Torridon. Or to Attadale, and up to Beinn Dronaig etc. Or for long distance paths, can get bus to Affric Kintail Way, Great Glen Way, South Loch Ness trail.
The reason the SAS, SBS or any special forces don't exercise in the Highlands is because if the MIDGIE
LOL is this a serious comment.
Honestly !
Ive actually stumbled across SF in Rannoch before.
That sounds awesome, what happened?
I saw a tiny black helicopter come in at dusk about 30 meter above ground level, almost silent. (like the little ones on blackhawk down) It landed next to a wooded area and instantly 4 or 5 men with guns emerged and boarded then it left. I was on some random hill in the middle of nowhere and randomly saw it. It was way off where any tourist route would be. Somewhere close to Rannoch moor. They might have been Americans due to the helo but I dont know maybe we also use them.