NC500 by Motorhome: 2023

Monday 18 September 2023

NC500 in Winter

NC500 in Winter - UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The NC500 can be just as spectacular in winter but you do need to prepare a little more carefully as a lot of facilities are closed. The weather can be quite unpredictable, extremely cold with ice and snow so driving conditions may be treacherous at times. We did it last December/January so I thought I would create a post with some advice for anyone wanting to drive the route in the winter months.

Most of the camp sites close at the end of October so your choice will be limited. There are plenty of approved overnight stoppovers and some harbours also allow you to stop for a donation. These are all on our group map. You may find yourself having to cope without EHU for some of your trip so you will need to be able to heat your vehicle with LPG or Diesel. We found that we used quite a lot of LPG so I will also add some links with details of where you can fill up with LPG on the route.

CAMP SITES OPEN IN WINTER

C&MC = Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

CCC = Camping and Caravanning Club Site

CL = Certified Location. These are members only sites

EHU = Electric Hook Up

Auchtertyre Farm Aire Kyle of Lochalsh Open all Year (No EHU)

Ardtower Park Inverness Open all year

Badrallach Campsite Dundonnell Open all year

Balnakeil Motorhome Stop Open all year £20

Beauly Holiday Park Open all year (Hardstanding only in winter)

Crofter's Snug Thurso Open all year

Dornoch Croft Open all year (CCC)

Drumbhan CL site C&MC only Open all Year

Durness Motorhome Stopover Open all year £10 (No EHU)

Ferry View Night Stop Caithness Open all year

Golspie Camping Open all year

Halladale Inn Campsite Closes in December 2023

Inver Caravan Park Dunbeath Open all year

Kessock Caravan Park Closes for winter December 31st 2023

Kirkton Farm near Melvich Open all year

Ledgowan Lodge Open all Year

Little Croft Highlands Open All Year

Loch Clash Community Stop Open all Year

Morvenview Wick Closes for Winter on 31st December 2023

Port A Bhaig Campsite Altandhu Open all year

Sinclair Bay Caravan Park Up Keiss Open all year (No EHU)

Stoer Head Car Park Open all year (No EHU)

The Croft Certified Location Open all year (C&MC members only)

The Kings Park CL Closes for winter on 30th November 2023

Thurso Murkle Camp Site Certified Site Open all year (CCC Members only)

Torgolyle Lodge (C&MC only) Open all Year

BE PREPARED!

If you decide to travel in the highlands in winter then you need to come prepared for the weather and driving conditions. If the snow gates are closed then you may be stuck so make sure you have enough gas to heat your vehicle, and enough fuel and provisions to last

Do I need winter tyres? Most drivers will get some safety benefit from fitting winter tyres because of the improved grip they provide in cold and wet conditions, they're not just for snow and ice. However, they are an expensive option and you'll have to store a set of tyres and swap them over twice a year.

As an alternative to winter tyres,'all-season tyres' or "all-terrain tyres" which can be left on all year round. We have all terrain tyres and a set of snow chains. Although that sounds extreme we have used the snow chains to get back on the road. Campervans are a lot heavier than cars, three and a half tons will get stuck more easily than your average car.

Major roads do get treated, gritted and ploughed but in the rural highlands a lot of roads do not. Make sure your vehicle is well serviced and in good repair, especially your windscreen wipers and your lights. Breaking down in bad weather could mean you're harder to find and left in hazardous weather for longer.

If you don't remove snow and ice properly from your windscreen, you could get 3 points on your licence and a £100 fine so make sure you top up the wiper fluid and take extra with you, we used a lot during our trip.

Things you might like to pack for a winter trip...

A small shovel - For clearing snow

A length of rope - Handy all year round in case you need a tow

Snow Chains - For peace of mind and for travelling on minor roads

Bottled water - In case your on board water tanks freeze

Torches and batteries

Wellington Boots and/or Walking Boots

Antifreeze for your windscreen fluid mixed 50/50 with water

Ice scraper for your windscreen

Extra blankets

Waterproof and warm clothes

Sunglasses - low sun in winter causes glare

Hot water bottle

Thermos Flask - boil kettle once and save water for your next stop

Fully charged mobile phone

A portable battery pack - this will charge things and save your leisure battery

A road map or decent atlas

First Aid Kit

Jump Leads/portable jump starter - A flat battery is more common in cold weather

LPG on the NC500

There are only three places on the NC500 where you can fill up with LPG. Two of them are quite close together so try to plan ahead.

Lochbroom Garage in Ullapool which is open only on weekdays

Skiach Services near Dingwall and open 24 hours

Tore Services Filling Station off the A9 near Evanton and open 24 hours

As you can see from this picture of our Google group map I have included other places that you are likely to pass on your way to begin the NC500. If you are coming from Skye then you can fill up at the Co op in Broadford. If you are coming from Fort William and Lochaber you can use the garage at Onich which is usually the best priced we have found. Just click on our group map (In the NC500 top links in the right hand navigation bar on this site - under the wee coo!) I've also linked it to the picture above so just click that to go straight there.

AURORA BOREALIS

In winter you have a higher chance at seeing the Northern Lights. This year 2023/2024 is predicted to be a good one. There are lots of apps available for your mobile phone. These will alert you when an aurora is likely. You will also need clear skies, dark skies and a good view north.

The chance of glimpsing these wonderful dancing lights will increase the further north you travel. During weak displays you might not see them with your naked eye but a camera can pick them up.

Even if an Aurora is visible to the eye, it often appears without color, instead forming white pillars or silver veils above the northern horizon. This could be why so many Aurora chasers have trouble spotting the Northern lights as they are expecting a dramatic display.

Generally speaking, the most powerful numbers in aurora data allow us to see Northern Lights more vividly.

Find the darkest skies possible using a dark sky map, which is easily searchable.

Go as far north as possible, to increase your chances of viewing a fantastic display.

Plan to stay up all night so that you don’t miss the peak of an aurora display, which often appears in the pre-dawn hours.

Get out before the moon rises or stay out after the moon sets, the sky will be darker then.

Try chasing under winter skies for more clarity in the crisp, cold air.

Take a camera so you can detect when the aurora is getting stronger.

If the colours appear on camera and brighten with time, this is a good sign. The Aurora may soon appear in its full glory to the unaided eye.

How to drive safely in snow and ice

The NC500 in winter can be stunning with snow capped mountains and crisp blue skies.

Do be aware that the roads can be dangerous in winter when there's snow, ice or sleet. Take it slow. Stopping distances can be 10 times longer when it's icy. Gentle manoeuvres and slow speeds are the key to safe driving in ice and snow.

In the season of winter colds, don't drive with a cold if you're feeling unwell and are on any medicine that could make you drowsy. It could affect your reaction times.

Before you set off

Allow extra time for winter journeys.

Plan routes around major roads, which are more likely to be cleared and gritted.

Clear snow from windows and lights, de ice your windscreen thoroughly

Wear comfortable, dry shoes for driving so your feet don't slip on the pedals.

Check fuel levels – have at least a quarter of a tank in case of unexpected delays.

Clear all windows using a scraper and de-icer and wait until the windscreen's fully demisted.

Driving on winter roads

Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.

If you have to use your brakes, apply them gently.

Driving uphill – leave plenty of room between other cars or wait until it’s clear so you don’t have to stop part way up. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid having to change gear on the hill.

Driving downhill – slow down before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid braking. Leave as much room as you can after the car in front.

If you get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels.

Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip.

Troubleshooting Vehicle Problems in Winter

A continuous squealing noise when you start up probably means the water pump’s frozen - it's the fan belt slipping on the pulley. Stop the engine straight away and let it thaw out. This could take days unless you can move it into a heated garage.

If your vehicle overheats a few miles into a journey, it's likely that the radiator has frozen. Stop straight away so you don’t cause more serious damage.

Friday 25 August 2023

The Highland Midge - Top Tips

The Highland Midge

What are these swarms of flying black fleas biting us? I recall a visitor from the United Stated asking. Travel brochures don't mention these pesky creatures but if you are visiting Scotland during the summer months then you need to know the best ways to avoid them.

The Highland Midge (Culicoides impunctatus) is a species of biting midge that inhabits Scotland. It is found in upland and lowland areas. In the north west of Scotland and down the Western coast. They are also found around Loch Lomond, Stirling, Wanlockhead and even in North Wales. The highland midge is usually very prevalent from late spring to late summer. Female highland midges gather in clouds and bite humans, though the majority of the blood they obtain comes from cattle, sheep and deer.

The bite of a midge is felt as a sharp prick. It is often followed by irritating lumps that may disappear in a few hours but they can last for several days, and be quite large and itchy. It depends on the individual concerned so you won't know until you have been bitten.

Midges are weather dependant so you may avoid them despite the season. They don't like strong wind, strong sunshine or heavy rain. They love damp, dreek, drizzle, forests and boggy peaty ground. Midges are worse in sheltered glens than they are on peaks or exposed locations. Midges are far less common at elevations over 500m. Sheltered locations with high rainfall and high humidity tend to be where you will find the highest concentrations of biting midges.So although seasonal, the weather and your location also play a large part in how many you might encounter.

The midge also seem to find some people more attractive than others and scientists are looking into ketones and how they play a role in this. I personally don't seem attractive to the midges but my partner gets bitten a lot. Hopefully one day there will be a pill to make us all unattractive.Some people are highly sensitive to the bites and react badly. They may need antihistamines and even antibiotics in rare cases.

There are dozens of chemical repellant sprays, herbal remedies, wrist bands and lotions available. The ones containing deet seem to work well. Smidge is popular in the highlands and a lot of people will advocate Avon Skin Soft or even taking vitamin B pills and eating marmite. Not all of these work for all people. Citronella candles and oil are also said to deter them, cigarettes too apparently, but I wouldn't advocate taking up smoking!

Top Tips to Avoid Midge Bites

Seasonal

Avoid the summer months. Midges are in their highest numbers between late May and Early September. While you may find the odd one in late April or even early October, they are far less prevelant in the colder months.

Location

If you stick to the coast you will find you encounter them a lot less. A breeze of 7mph is enough to deter them so the coast is a great place to be. They are rarely seen on the East Coast of the NC500 compared to the West Coast where they are far more common. In short, the worst place for midges in Scotland is anywhere close to their breeding grounds which is usually boggy moorland and anywhere close to their favourite food sources of sheep, cattle, and deer. They like a forest too, so take care when walking in wooded areas.

Timing

Avoid being outdoors around dawn or dusk. These are the worst times of day. Summer in Scotland has very long days so this is fairly easy to achieve when they are at their worst. Stay inside if they are bad, you will notice how many highland homes have big windows to enjoy the views from the safety indoors. midges are at their most active in the early morning, just before dawn, and in the evening, as light levels begin to fall. You are less likely to be bitten if you avoid spending time outdoors at the beginning and end of the day.

Weather

Midges don't like strong wind, very hot dry places, or very heavy rain so in these weather conditions you will find you are safe. We have spent many days on beautiful beaches in Scotland in Summer, and as long as it is warm enough, dry enough and there is a breeze it can be midge free all day every day.

Clothing

Wear two layers of clothing to deter the proboscis of the midge from reaching your skin. Tuck your trousers into your socks and wear long sleeved garments. A midge net is a must if they are swarming and it is easier to wear with a hat. You can get midge proof clothing too. My partner has a full suit made from a thin netted material as he does a lot of outdoor pursuits and is highly allergic to the bites. Lighter coloured clothing is said to be less attractive to the midge than dark clothing.

Repellents

These are worth a try as they do work for a lot of people and there are dozens of different brands available. A lot contain DEET, some are natural and contain bog myrtle, citron oil and other ingredients. Not all repellants work for all people so I would also recommend investing in a tube of antihistimine cream in case you do get bitten. The bites can be very itchy and a cream will help reduce this. Some people advocate taking vitamin b supplements or eating Marmite, these do not work for us but some people do claim they work so toast and marmite won't do you any harm and may help keep the midges at bay for some lucky people.

Treating Midge Bites

Avoid scratching! Easier said than done but try not to scratch a bite as doing so could lead to infection. Use an antihistimine cream or calamine lotion to soothe the area and relieve the itchyness. Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine tablet can help reduce the itch and swelling caused by midge bites. Do consult a healthcare professional for appropriate recommendations or visit the NHS Inform website - "Treating Bites and Stings" for further advice and guidance.