Scottish Midges
- Thread starter dave_b
- Start date
It will be midge season in May. They aren't out all the time though mainly at dusk and only if its a still evening. A slight breeze and they perish. If you're camped right next to fresh water they will be higher in volume so can be quite bad if you dont have fly screens but again, it's not a constant issue, only around dusk on some evenings.
This is from experience working outside Oban at North Ledaig Caravan Park - next to Loch Ardmucknish
This is from experience working outside Oban at North Ledaig Caravan Park - next to Loch Ardmucknish
Midge season in Scotland is from mid-May to September, though the exact timing depends on the weather. Midges are most active at dawn and dusk, and in still, humid conditions.
When to visit
The best time to avoid midges is during the low season, between November and April.
A warm, dry summer can end the peak season early.
A cold, dry spring can delay the swarms until the warmer months.
How to avoid midges
Use insect repellent spray or a repellent wrist band.
Wear long sleeves and trousers during dawn and dusk.
Wear a midge hat, which is a wide brimmed hat with a net.
Use essential oils like citronella, peppermint oil, lavender, and eucalyptus.
Stay active and avoid sitting still outside.
Where to find midges
The west of the Highlands, islands, and parts of the Cairngorms.
Perthshire and Argyll.
Near water or marshy areas.
When to visit
The best time to avoid midges is during the low season, between November and April.
A warm, dry summer can end the peak season early.
A cold, dry spring can delay the swarms until the warmer months.
How to avoid midges
Use insect repellent spray or a repellent wrist band.
Wear long sleeves and trousers during dawn and dusk.
Wear a midge hat, which is a wide brimmed hat with a net.
Use essential oils like citronella, peppermint oil, lavender, and eucalyptus.
Stay active and avoid sitting still outside.
Where to find midges
The west of the Highlands, islands, and parts of the Cairngorms.
Perthshire and Argyll.
Near water or marshy areas.
From experience, I can completely state with 100% certainty that the midges that feasted on me several years ago absolutely love citronella, olbas, peppermint and in fact, everything else we tried - except for smoke. They don't like smoke.
We had a little peat fire where we would put our heads in the smoke for as long as we could hold our breath then have to put our heads back into the cloud of midges that were waiting for us outside the smoke. Clever little b'stards.
If we needed a wee in the middle of the night, we had to drive 50metres at speed, get out and wee quickly, then jump back in to van and reverse back to where we were.
However, we didn't try DEET and some of the new things you can get at Cotswolds as they either they weren't invented in those days or we were to 'green' to use such products.
Looking back on it, I would have bathed in DDT if it meant we didn't get constantly nibbled on.
Apart from that, one of the most beautiful places on earth.
We had a little peat fire where we would put our heads in the smoke for as long as we could hold our breath then have to put our heads back into the cloud of midges that were waiting for us outside the smoke. Clever little b'stards.
If we needed a wee in the middle of the night, we had to drive 50metres at speed, get out and wee quickly, then jump back in to van and reverse back to where we were.
However, we didn't try DEET and some of the new things you can get at Cotswolds as they either they weren't invented in those days or we were to 'green' to use such products.
Looking back on it, I would have bathed in DDT if it meant we didn't get constantly nibbled on.
Apart from that, one of the most beautiful places on earth.
You have to go steady with the deet as it's carcinogenic.
Were you near a river or lake when the attack took place?
Get one of these Thermacell Mosquito Repellents: Mosquito Control Solutions & Devices
If there's a frost, that kills them off so you might get lucky, but mid may on the north/west coast and you'll need to come fully prepared for midgies.
As above, they'll be worse on warm, humid days with no wind and close to water.
As above, they'll be worse on warm, humid days with no wind and close to water.
Smidge and Smidge head nets we carry all the time in Scotland, better looking at them than for them. We went mid April last year and was virtually none, and again in September when the was a occasional annoying days. We're heading up in mid may like you and I'm going prepared as suspect on still days near water it will be worse than we had last year
shouldnt be too bad mid may, the males are out but the females (who are the savages) are usually a bit later. nc500
is mainly coastal which helps.
i use a combo of avon skin so soft and then some smidge spray, never really had an issue and do the west coast loads. smidge do a forecast, so if you google images previous ones, its easy to spot the bad parts.
is mainly coastal which helps.
i use a combo of avon skin so soft and then some smidge spray, never really had an issue and do the west coast loads. smidge do a forecast, so if you google images previous ones, its easy to spot the bad parts.
We were in the Highlands. Lots of streams.
When we hit a town/village, we'd hit the bookshop/library and look up about MIDGES hoping there was something that we'd missed. Turns out there are many species of the little bugger and they hang out in different places etc.
For those few weeks, we became experts on The Midge.
Carcinogenic compounds vs Midge...... Only once you've gone through it can you make a decision.
However, what with climate change/pollution etc, you might find there are fewer now.
Enjoy anyway.
When we hit a town/village, we'd hit the bookshop/library and look up about MIDGES hoping there was something that we'd missed. Turns out there are many species of the little bugger and they hang out in different places etc.
For those few weeks, we became experts on The Midge.
Carcinogenic compounds vs Midge...... Only once you've gone through it can you make a decision.
However, what with climate change/pollution etc, you might find there are fewer now.
Enjoy anyway.
Before you change your mind completely, I did an experiment in the Peaks not so long ago.
Put Smidge on one half of my face, and nothing on the other.
The midges didn't like Smidge but they did like the other half of my face.
If you bathe in Smidge you might be ok if they are cousins of the ones on nc500
Put Smidge on one half of my face, and nothing on the other.
The midges didn't like Smidge but they did like the other half of my face.
If you bathe in Smidge you might be ok if they are cousins of the ones on nc500
I've got a couple of cans of smidge on the van permanently.
You can also check the smidge forecast The Scottish Midge Forecast
Not Scotland, but far far worse are the Mosquitoes, Horse Flies and Midges of Finland. My sister wouldn't use DEET, but used some stuff from Avon and The Body Shop, and ended up in hospital. Personally I put DEET on outer layers that don't come into contact with my skin, and take antihistamine for days before going and whilst I am there. Yes I get bitten, but the effects are lessened.
Flies and horseflies are a real problem when mountain biking - so often on a long, slow climb on a warm day where I'm drenched in sweat I'll have a literal cloud of flies buzzing around my head! And I can't ride fast enough to outrun them! Stop for more than 10 seconds and they're all over you, I'm often seen running around flailing my hands wildly to try and swat them away! The only relief comes from a downhill bit where I can get enough speed up to outrun them!!
Oh and due to the sweat, any smidge or whatever gets washed or rubbed off, or ends up in my eyes!
Oh and due to the sweat, any smidge or whatever gets washed or rubbed off, or ends up in my eyes!
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I believe a smart chap a while back came up with something that could have completely wiped out the midgies.
It was something that went in the water and stopped them hatching.
It was considered but ultimately binned.
Presumably for ecological reasons.
I for one wouldn’t have complained.
It was something that went in the water and stopped them hatching.
It was considered but ultimately binned.
Presumably for ecological reasons.
I for one wouldn’t have complained.
I had a suspected horsefly bite last summer and ended up in hospital overnight on intravenous antibiotics - my leg swelled up and turned a funny colour within a couple of hours and they were worried about sepsis.
No more shorts for me no matter how hot it gets!
