WE had a very pleasant time camping up at Usha Gap, just outside Muker, at the weekend. If you've not been, Swaledale narrows that far up and sound is funnelled, producing an effect not dissimilar to talking down a very long cardboard tube. You can hear sheep bleating and people talking half a mile away. I'm not sure if it's the same conditions or just tents in general that mean you can also hear the couple further up the field getting cosy - if you press your ears up against the canvas.

I'm a big fan of camping. It's like a proper holiday only cheaper and you don't feel quite so obliged to maintain your personal hygiene standards. We have an old metal frame tent that is hellish to erect. If you've got an audience you feel rising panic when you can't immediately remember how it all fits together. The panic is not as bad though as the camper next door who watches nervously as the rusting metal poles swish about near his car.

It's a wonderful place to be sat outside the Farmer's Arms on a warm summer's evening with a pint of Sheep and a steak pie on order, although I had forgotten what malevolent little swines the midges were.

Fortunately, there are effective repellents. I tried two in the name of research. I found well-known brand Smidge worked okay although I did find that when I rubbed it on my face it made my lips tingle. It was slightly concerning initially, although not unpleasant once I realised it probably wasn't fatal.

The second type was the famed Avon Skin So Soft, a moisturiser which by chance also works really well at keeping midges away. A lady will even hand deliver it to your door apparently. This worked just as well as the Smidge but without the lip tingle.

A year ago to the day footage of the dale was being beamed across the globe to a TV audience of billions as the Tour de France cyclists passed through. You can still see evidence of the race, including a giant, faded white "Hello World" painted on the roof of one house. It was either a message painted for the benefit of Tour viewers or graffiti left by a giant, gifted and rather self-assured new born baby.