Mull has a habit of throwing every kind of weather at you, sometimes all in one afternoon, and our week there was no exception. Glorious sunshine, sudden wind, bursts of rain and, as the light softened each evening, the midges arriving right on cue. It was during that week, weather doing its usual Highland routine, that he got down on one knee. What we wore throughout made the difference between a magical trip and a thoroughly itchy one.
Layering for a Week That Couldn't Make Up Its Mind
With sunshine one minute and driving rain the next, layering got us through the week. I wore the Craghoppers NosiLife Nour Women's Long Sleeved T-Shirt, while he wore the Craghoppers NosiLife Abel Long Sleeved T-Shirt, and both kept the sun off our arms day after day while doing most of the heavy lifting against the midges too. On top, the Helly Hansen Women's Seven J Jacket meant I could adjust quickly as the weather changed without ever feeling overdressed or caught out.
Here's the proof it worked. My fiance is prone to bites and, over the course of the week, ended up with 464 of them across his body, everywhere except his torso, which was the one part consistently covered by his NosiLife Abel top. Lucky for me, midges prefer him, but I still wasn't taking any chances.
Trousers and Boots Built for the Terrain
Mull's coastal paths are as boggy as they are beautiful, and we covered plenty of them. I wore the Deerhunter Strike Trousers, while he wore the Jack Pyke Technical Hybrid Trousers, both coping brilliantly with scrambling over rocks and pushing through damp bracken, drying out fast whenever the sun reappeared. On my feet, the Hoggs of Fife Rambler Hiking Boots gave me the grip and support I needed on slippery ground, day in and day out, right up to the moment the ring came out.
The Midge Defence That Actually Worked
Midges are the one thing no amount of romance can distract you from, so we came prepared for the whole trip. Lifesystems Midge Nets, Mosquito Coils and Expedition DEET Insect Repellent were all in the bag every day, with Lifesystems Compact Tick Tweezers packed just in case.
What We'd Pack Again
- Craghoppers NosiLife Nour or Abel long sleeved tops for both sun and midge protection
- The Helly Hansen Women's Seven J Jacket for sudden rain
- Deerhunter Strike Trousers or Jack Pyke Technical Trousers for rough, wet ground
- Hoggs of Fife Nevis Hiking Boots for grip on coastal paths
- Lifesystems midge nets, mosquito coils, tick tweezers and DEET repellent as backup
If you're planning your own Scottish adventure, whether it involves a proposal or just a peaceful walk, the west coast midges will find you eventually. Getting the right layers on before you set off makes all the difference, and you can explore our everyday outdoors range for pieces built to handle exactly this kind of unpredictable trip.