Midges in Scotland
Hi,
We wish to travel to Scotland late July-August.
Can anyone put our minds at rest about the midges?
Stories seem to be from'no problem' to 'you won't be able to leave the van'
Any genuine advice appreciated.
Alan
Comments
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The further East you go the less the problem is Den. Midges need standing water, moisture.
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I would concur that the advice that the further East you go the less the problem. Some people, like myself, are midge magnets and life in Scotland after mid June can become a real challenge.
There is a saying that goes something like: "at first you will feel as if you will die from the number of bites, later you will wish that you could die....and quickly!"
Avoid the West of Scotland between Mid June and the end of September. I visited a CC site some 40 miles or so North of Fort William 15 years ago. It was mid July and the site had few outfits and appeared deserted. The reason was clear....the vast clouds of midges foraging through the site probably searching for me!
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They have always seemed more prevalent earlier in the morning and later in the evening although for me it is often hard to judge other than watching others performing the age old neck slapping dance.
For some reason I am able to stand bare chested in a pair of shorts watching the loch from the shore whilst folk nearby have cuffs and trousers well sealed and hats on whilst performing the dance. They simply do not bother me. Whether they bite me or not I don't know. If they do it produces no reaction.
I have seen the same dance performed with equal grace at Keilder Water at the start of September. They are certainly not everywhere even on the West of Scotland.
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As a fisherman I use "Avon" and have a head net plus medical gloves. Works a teat even when they are at their worst. As someone said its not the "one that bites you its the thousand that come to its funeral that are the pests". By the way its only the females that bite!!!
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Midges mid June - well into September on the west coast, in our experience, will be a problem at some time. It will depend on where you are. The camp site on the headland at Durness was bliss, as the sea breezes almost always kept them away. Whilst just along the coast on the side of Loch Eribol ( a sea Loch) we were often eaten alive. You will find yourself praying for a breeze or high light levels, both of which keep them away. I well remember the first time we took our primary school aged boys camping in Scotland. Prior to going I had been telling them about the man eating midges, and being well used to those sort of stories they did not believe me, and thought I was pulling there leg. They fairly rapidly realised though on our first night, I was not exaggerating.
The scenery of most of the west coast makes it all worth while though. However, now we are retired nothing will drag me back in midge season. May is a lovely time to visit this part of the country and almost totally midge free.
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They can be horrendous if conditions/ location suit them. Not everyone suffers, but I suspect the majority do. They would hospitalise me, I have had blood poisoning via insect bites previously. That time of year up the West Coast is a no go area for me. Avon sell a body lotion, Skin So Soft, well known to repel them, and building up Vitamin B in your body (yeasty stuff like Marmite) helps as well. I start to take a simple one a day Loratadine tablet towards end of March right through to October, doesn't stop things biting, but cuts down bad reaction when they do. After a number of Summers spent suffering and on antibiotics, I learned the hard way!
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We have had a couple of holidays in Scotland mid June to early July. The first one we were plagued by midges at Arrochar but not much anywhere else. The second holiday we saw almost none at all for three weeks. A lot depends on the weather. Midges won't / cant fly if the wind is (I think) above 4mph which is why still mornings and evenings are worse for them.
Avon 'Skin So Soft' is reputed to be a good deterrent. Rumour has it that it is even used by the SAS when training up there.
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Another endorsement for Avon Skin So Soft, the original which is in the blue spray bottle. I am a magnet for midges, but they don't affect OH, and certainly West Scotland in July/August they thrive. The Black Isle, over the bridge from Inverness, is for some reason midge free. Rosemarkie on the Murray Firth is a lovely spot, especially for dolphin watching.
Don't let the thought of midges put you off though, just take sensible precautions. Even though I attract them, we have been going to Scotland for 40 yrs. Enjoy your break.
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Like PATMAU, we have caravanned in every area of Scotland every year for 40+ years, and are going again in May/June. The dreaded midges can be a real pain but it doesn't stop us going every year because of the beautiful countryside/scenery. Years ago we stayed in the Glentrool forest - big mistake, we could hardly leave the van. Avoid wooded areas and pray for a bit of a breeze, you'll be ok !
They hardly touch my wife but attack me as soon as we cross the border! I have to say that I have never found anything that deters the little beggars. Avon "skin so soft" is supposed to work but not for me - I did hear that Avon has removed the deterrent ingredient because they didn't want their product known as a midge repellant, don't know if it's true.
As PATMAU says, don't let midges put you off, it really is a wonderful place to visit.
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Smidge works well for us: https://www.smidgeup.com/
A deet-based repellent also works.
In addition to all the above good advice, you'll find that midges really do make life a misery in one location and can be entirely absent 2 miles down the road. We found that they were less prevelant in the outer hebrides. Also some areas of Northen England (eg Kielder) suffer from them.
Go prepared (apart from repellent, get face nets) and take long trousers and shirts. WHen you stop for the night, check out the midge situation before committing (some CC sites in West Scotland are well known midge magnets ;-)
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I've only ever camped in Scotland in the winter, I really have a hard time with "nature" when it comes and says hello, especially if it's near my face.
I have a hat with a midge net on it when I'm camping in summer, it helps me a lot, although I'd imagine that if there were midges around I'd still be too uncomfortable to get out of my van.
'I've heard mixed stories about the skin so soft, garlic extract, etc. I suppose if you're a midge attractor then it's going to take a lot to dissuade them.
'Would a desk fan work to keep them away if they don't like breezes?
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It's the Dry Oil Spray in the Skin So Soft range. Available online from Avon, an Avon lady, or some site reception offices and outdoor shops in Scotland.
Yes, a fan will help keep them away.
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1} Midgies just love the damp + shade around the
edges of Lochs, rivers etc.
2} Bright sunshine and / or good breezes help keep
them at bay
3} normally the closer to the EAST OF SCOTLAND
the fewer the midgies are.
4} Deet based repellants like Jungle Formula etc
do work but there are newer ones out now
5} Avon's " Dry Spray -- Skin So Soft" & "Smidge that
Midge" (Just called "SMIDGE by most) have their supporters.
6} if using Caravan Club Sites try asking the wardens
what They use, 'cos they may well have a supply in
the Site Office
From a purely personal point of view :--
Do not go near Glen Trool on the southern slopes
of the MERRICK in the Dumfries & Galloway area --
I would not venture there without an American Appollo
space suit on ! and even then I'd have loads of
repellant smeared on it !
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I've been to Kinlochewe and Morvich in the late summer and the midgies have made life a misery. You often see people walking round wearing mozzie nets. Avon Skin so Soft is partially effective at deterring the beasties.
I live on the east coast and they are not a problem.
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There was a programme on midges the other day and they tested various repellents and the DEET based ones came up as the best - Jungle Formula and so on. You definitely need to be prepared at that time of year on the West Coast. I spent Summer Holidays as a child in the Highlands and there were repellents all over the house! In a caravan I use those mozzy coils that smoke - although be sure to be well ventilated - there never used to be a warning to use outside only on them! Myrtle candles can be used inside though. As can some citronella ones. Obviously you have to be careful with candles in a caravan - but its a great way of being sure the midges don't get you. Take a supply of afterbite with you - Anthisan has always been our family favourite. I have also found a couple of natural ones that work quite well. I have my own repellent made from a recipe found on line - although I haven't tested it against serious midge country - preferring Jungle Formula to be sure!
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I bought the Avon product from Amazon several years ago, so far I haven't used it to any extent, don't know whether it really works and didn't use anything when I lived in Scotland. Go indoors somewhere if they affect you or do a trip to a local town, midges don't like buildings! Don't let the idea of midges spoil your holiday. Personally I'm more wary of Cleg bites, but that's another story.
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Would agree about the Cleg bites. They inject a chemical that prevents clotting, so they can suck as much as they like. ☹️ Since I have been on blood thinning medication, any bite lasts for weeks before it heels and itches like mad for most of that time. So no short sleeve shirts or shorts in Cleg country anymore. Which was a shame last May when it got to 25C.☀️
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I haven't been bitten by a horsefly since I was 30. However on that occasion I was bitten on the back of the hand whilst on site. Half an hour later my hand seemed slightly swollen. An hour later it was my forearm. By the time I got to the doctors about two hours after the bite its effects had nearly reached my neck. Treatment - bend over for an injection! I was OK again in a hour or two
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Avon Soft Skin is generally the one most people use although any with GEET in should work. It is the West Coast North of the Clyde that is the worst affected so what you need to do depends on where you are going. Ringing the site might give you an idea as to the problems in that area.
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Denwelly,
You should have, by now, a good idea of the
problems of Midgies in various parts of Scotland
.However if you study most of the posts on here you
will see that, however well or otherwise, we react to
Midgie Nibbling, most of us are still trotting north no
matter what ! Don't let us put you off, but get the
repellent of choice BEFORE they get to taste you
.B
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Never mind 'midges in Scotland' ,,I have two nasty bites on my neck from Wednesday at the boatyard ,when the sun was very warm ,butterflies out & about AND ,AND HUNGRY MIDGES !! !!
.Grrr.1 -
Come on Triky - Midges in Kent!!! No chance of getting bitten by REAL Midges down there. The Mozies in Kent are but a baby compared to the Scottish Midge - the King of the Crop - the Midge to beat all Midge - Indeed they are the Real Deal!!!
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Midges, Mozzies, Clegs they all love the OH, he has to take precaution as he gets quite ill. Deet based are the best but he also takes garlic capsules from March - Oct and an antihistamine tablet, as Brue said doesn't prevent you getting bitten but the affects are greatly reduced.
We have the coils that I will burn when sat outside and inside citronella candles + the blue light insect plug in things, I also take away with me a few small bottles of Lemongrass and Citronella essential oils, put just 1 drop on a damp cotton wool ball and then dot them around the room/van they don't like the smell and it keeps them away. I always take them with me even on fly to holidays. If you wipe down round windows and door with a damp cloth with a few drops of the essential oil that can help prevent them coming in.
They don't bother me much and if bitten nothing much happens.
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