Highlands and islands - best time to go?

[N Dentressangle]

Planning a little campervan trip, and wanting the impossible: to avoid midges and permarain. It's either one or the other, right?

Anyway, end of April / beginning of May sounds like the best bet. Am I right?

[sawman]

My scottish pals always seem to choose to go back home in May - I guess they have inside knowledge

[a311]

I'd say so. We're getting married up in Oban mid May seem to be the best trade off between hopefully dry weather and no midges. The weather can really vary wildly up there so be prepared!

[GetCarter]

Yep. Mid April to Mid May (avoid Easter). Last few years we've had a drought at that time on the west coast.

First midge bite is May 11th every year (bds)... though it's Mid June onwards they start to get bad.

[N Dentressangle]

Thanks chaps - time to book a couple of weeks off work.

[therealpigdog]

We go camping on Mull every July (first two weeks). Generally speaking fantastic weather, and if you camp at Fidden (near Fionnephort) then there aren't any midges to worry about. Plus, its nesting time for the puffins on Staffa which your kids will love as they can get really close to the puffins and its a fun boat trip out there.

Been up in April and August and the weather hasn't tended to be so good - but I guess a fair amount is just luck.