You might think I've a nut loose, but I'm planning on doing the Coast to Coast next year, for the seventh time from west to east, both on foot and bike, separate of cause.

I've decided to back out of the SUW. Frighted of midges

Go before they come out ..... mid May, or after they die out .... September.

Thanks SC, never thought about that one. But after failing the coast to coast this August, I would like to do it again next year - west to east and never again in August.

We three old gals are thinking of doing the C2C again next year and then due to some kind person putting their experience of the Cleveland Way on a blog, we may do that. Considering we were going to do the South Down Way which is now put back to 2013, it will have to be either C2c or Cleveland Way.

Watch this space!

It rained so much when we did the WHW there wasn't a midge in sight, so either go in the wet season (in our experience that was May) or use plenty of Deet.

The Moors are full of St Mark's flies at the moment. Totally harmless but scary looking beasties.

SC, are these what I encountered on the South Downs Way - sound like a doodlebug - quite big, perhaps a bit bigger than a Ladybird that swarm all over things?

Easy to identify as they are fairly sizeable and they drop their back legs in flight. If they are entirely black they are St Mark's Flies, if they have red legs they are a variation, Red Legged Bibios. Normally seen in largish swarms

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=st+marks+flies&hl=en&biw=1600&bih=708&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=RnprTq_UL5C08QOdh4Ef&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQsAQ

That didn't work try this.
http://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/photography/cats/28028.jpg
Dave