Scottish Midges

[Westy]

Planning on going up to Scotland at the end of June for a week, but keep hearing horror stories about ferocious scottish midges. Is this true, do we avoid going and go to cornwall instead. Can anyone advise. Is is really that bad?

[Mel B]

I don't think you'll have too much trouble in June, it's usually July and August when they really come out for a feast. The worst places to camp are next to water and trees although it doesn't mean that if you do that they will definitely be there waiting for you. I suffer terribly from bites from bugs, especially midges and mozzies, and have found the potions and creams with citronella in them to be the best but you must remember to always put them on, even if you're just popping out for 10 seconds, the little horrors know! As well as the obvious places, don't forget to do your feet/ankles, middle of your torso, all around your neck and wrists, this is where the little horrors creep in under your clothes. Just in case you do get bitten get yourself some tea-tree oil (a small bottled goes a very long way), it helps to take down any inflamation. Also, an anti-histamine cream containing cortisone is worth keeping with you when you are out and about, if you feel the 'bite' put some on immediately and it'll help stop it swelling up, it really does work. It's usually about £3.00 for so for a little tube but it last for ages. Get some citronella candles from one of the Pound shops, they do help as well to keep the bugs at bay. One of the worst times to go out is at dusk, that's when they get very hungry and you'll find swams of the little s*ds lining up to take a piece of you. We were on a campsite in Northern Ireland a couple of years ago and a couple of foreign motorhomer families had pitched up next to the trees (we'd arrived later and gone on a pitch in the centre of the site away from the trees). They were all merrily cooking on the BBQ as it started to get dark then suddenly there was all hell let loose - they started running around like Mr Bean, shouting at each other, they quickly shut up their motorhomes, gathered up the BBQ and other paraphenalia and shot over to the vacant pitch next to us ... we discovered later that the bugs had suddenly decided to come out to play and they had been bombarded! They spent the rest of the night in their motorhomes, 2 on one pitch - I assumed they daren't go out anymore!!! Damn ... I feel itchy just writing about this!!

[alanmac]

I recall reading on the old forum about 2 years ago that the taking of vitamin tablets B (or it may have been B1 ) helped prevent some of the attacks. I cannot remember why but no doubt someone reading this will have a better memory than I. Good luck !

[david lloyd]

Hi Westy The last time I came ibto contact with the Scottish midgies was staying at a friend's log cabin on the side of Loch Lomond. My friend was well versed on their habits and he stopped at a small shop on the way to buy a product called 'Shoo' (or something similar). During the evening he and his wife stayed indoors but I used the product and sat outside watching the midgies without any problems!! Keep safe and don't let them intimidate you, david

[colin]

Every time I've been up there at end of june it's been bad. If its windy they keep their heads down, so if you can pick an exposed site. When we was on mull one of sites was well sheltered they had fancy midge vacuums to no avail, had to run to shower block and back. They get throu mossie nets, we have very fine net curtain material which mostly stops them. When we tried normal mossie nets spraying with reppelent helped but DON'T spray deet based product on nylon, it melts it.

[Norma]

It's vitamin B12. You need to take them for at least 2 weeks before you provide the midges with your diet! Having said that I've tried them and they didn't help! Nor garlic. I've had the most success with Avon Woodland Skin-so-Soft dry oil. Have discovered that Piriton helps me sleep. I don't go into the garden from late summer, and we are in the South of Scotland. Too terrified of any further north. About to go to Ullapool in a couple of weeks. Should be just on the edge of missing them. I'm not sure of the bad pockets but water and forestation is best avoided. I gather the Western Isles are nice and windy and cool. Good luck.

[Guest peter]

We've been to Loch Lomond twice in August and not been too bothered (Luss site) I got a few small bites on the forehead that came to nothing and my wife was not bothered at all and we sat out at night. Maybe its all the alcohol we consume that the don't like. :-D They are more of a mild nuisance than anything else.

[Ranger]

My Scottish Wife sez "Oil of Citronella" on the wrists or some where that the body heat will evaporate it. There are also citronella candles for out door use in the evenings. Put citronella on Google and you will find loads of information about it. The Scottish Midges are very crafty, they will even find a way in via the fidge vents, so if you are trying to keep them out at night, put a bit of net over them as well, They can also find their way around the edges of window fly screens, so you may find you have to sleep with the windows all shut. And as was said earlier, don't pitch near water nor trees, particularly fir trees. Or come to Wales instead. our mountains are not so high as Scottish ones the valleys not as deep as Scottish ones, BUT the midges are smaller to. Best of luck, David Powell, and most men are called David, so you can't go far wrong if you call every one Dai.....

[docted]

Westy It depends on where in Scotland you intend to go. The fearsome midge is a West Coast beastyand is not so prevalent in the East. There preferred habitat is in still air, high humidty,low altitude and near water. The Avon Skin so Soft is allegedly the method used by HM forces to ward off the beasty but wherevere you go there will also be a local product which has a similar effect as well as Citronella and DEET. Good lUck Docted