How essential are fly screens in UK & Europe?
Hi everyone - I'm currently converting a campervan here in the UK and have already installed the windows; to save money I opted for windows without any in-built flyscreens as I'm from Australia and to my experience there are next to no insects here compared to what I'm used to. However after doing some reading it appears there are lots of midges around scotland which has made me wonder how much of a problem they are around mainland Europe. I'm yet to line the van so there's still time to add some sort of fixed blind system pull-across fly screens, so I'm wondering if this is worth it if I plan to travel around the UK and western europe?
Thanks so much!
Comments
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It’s clear you’ve never been to Scotland (or anywhere) in midge season, Dilby. Yes, fly screens are an essential.
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Never found them essential lately but I have not been to Scotalnd in midge season for some time. There are times when they are useful, much depends where you stay. In my experince Spain has delt with the mozzie problem in many places but if you are staying on a site close to a farm or on a farm CL with cattle or horses, flies can be a problem. On balance I wouold fit them.
peedee
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They have come factory fitted to my 5 caravans and I would not be without them, for UK on the Continent.
Colin
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Yes we also find ours essential to allow us to open both windows and the sliding door. Can have them open without bugs getting inside. They will hall with mozzies to some extent, although they get in via the smallest gaps and annoy especially at night. But also stop bigger insects like wasps. We were on a CL last year where we think there was a wasps nest somewhere near. Without the fly screens we would not have been able to sit in the van with the door open.
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Although we don’t have nets here at home with doors and windows open in summer, nor for sitting in the garden, and I never remember them at holiday houses, hostels or hotels in France.
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There’s a very good reason why these head nets sell well in Scotland.
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It’s not just Scotland but in Northern England midges can be an issue. The worst we have know wasn’t in Scotland, and we’ve been on lots of tours there, some in height of midge season, it was Kielder and River Breamish. We also encountered the little beasties at Troutbeck. But there are other insects like Clusterflies and Cockchafers that can find their ways through open windows and roof vents. It must be said mind that all these insects mentioned have a season when they cause issues and the rest of the year is fine. Maybe having one window and one roof vent with screens would suffice.
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We stayed at a cottage in the Lake District a few years ago and they did have fly screens on doors. We thought it such a good idea we bought some for home during the summer months (magnetic screens Amazon) they work well. Not fussed about garden insects, we need them, I’m just not keen on flies indoors!
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We couldn't do without them in the caravan as we like to have the windows at least ajar if not fully open and they prevent the entry of most flies, which Flyte, our dog, can't abide. He gets very upset when he hears even a single fly in the van but funnily enough he is not bother by them when outside. I guess it must have something to do with the resonance of their buzzing in the van.
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We mainly holiday in southern Europe and like to keep doors and windows open for night time ventilation so fly screens are essential. In fact, we chose a Wildax PVC (for delivery in March) because it has a fly screen for the sliding door. Our last coachbuilt had a/c which I like but OH doesn’t so I lost the argument.
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