We will be in Scotland from September 4-18. We will be staying in Glasgow, Oban, Portree (Skye), Inverness and Edinburgh. From what I’ve read, midges are worse than mosquitoes, and mosquitoes love me. Are they out that time of year? What is the best method to repel them? Should I bring something from home or buy something there? Thanks for any advice you can provide.
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2427 posts
Hi Andrea,
We will be bringing head nets that you can purchase at a sporting goods store for less than $5 and Deet. If the midges are going to be bad, we will wear long sleeves and pants.
Posted by
Waikikamukau
435 posts
If you scroll through Scotland posts you will find one re the little blighters from not too long back.
We used Avon Skin So Soft and wore nets and long sleeves etc.
We bought the nets at Raasay House on the tiny Isle of Raasay so pretty sure you will pick them up anywhere. The Skin So Soft we bought at the bar in the Sligachan pub on Skye.
They were not a constant problem, only a problem in the right conditions.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3753 posts
Take a couple of cans of Deep Woods Off with you.
Take some sort of cream to put on the bites that you may get.
According to this article, the worst of the midge season is June, July, August.
My suspicion is that some midges will be around in September, but it may not be as bad as in the previous months.
Interesting article about midges here.
This article explains (about halfway through it) that some people's bodies put out more "ketones" which repel midges.
https://www.highlandtitles.com/blog/midges/
They mention that using Skin So Soft will help, but we DOUBT this, as it has NOT worked for us.
There is a man in the video (at the beginning of the article) who wears a hat net that covers you all the way to your shirt collar, but he says if there is the tiniest gap at the bottom, the Midges will get in under the net and swarm onto your face.
The comments below the article are repeating that June, July and August are the worst of it.
One of them says:
"I live In Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city. There are no midges here at any time of the year. Midges only affect the beautiful North Highlands and Islands. Avoid these areas in June, July and August and you’re almost certain to be fine. I have never come across midges in May up there. Be warned however, they are nasty little devils."
Another comment says:
"When I used to do a lot of hill walking around Scotland the midge would feast upon my skin and when my walking boots were laced up I don’t know how the little blighter’s got into my socks to bite my feet too. It was a nightmare as instead of enjoying the great outdoors it was a human picnic for these insects to feast upon me."
"It is the speed of a surprise attack and the ferociousness of the airborne piranha that make the wee Scottish midge a force to be reckoned with."
"Is there anything that can relieve the itching after having been bitten by the midges."
Posted by
313 posts
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/midge-advice-and-where-to-buy-repellent-hood
In May this forum had a lengthy discussion on this topic.
Winning bug juice for travel: Avon Skin So Soft.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3753 posts
Skin So Soft has not worked for us, for midges OR mosquitoes.
When we use Skin So Soft, we are bitten anyway, just as though we did not have any protection.
Just know it doesn't work for everyone.
As Andrea said, "mosquitoes love me." That's me--they love me.
We use Deep Woods Off.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1320 posts
Andrea, as you know, I’m in the same boat as you with trips to Scotland in August and September. I purchased Bevno mosquito hat nets (come 2 in a pack) from Amazon and I plan to use them in Florida and Scotland. Hoping the mesh is tight enough to prevent the tiny buggers from getting at my face. I also have Skin so Soft and a pack of insect repellent wipes I picked up at REI. Hoping all of these measures will cut those beasties down. My granddaughter is very much looking forward to our trip to Florida but if she gets bitten (Norwegian/Swedish sweet blood), she will be miserable.
Posted by
Yorkshire
1209 posts
The fearsome beasties need a humid still day and these are rare on Skye nearly always a breeze.
I live without lotions n potions but a midge hood is indispensable ,they can bring utter misery within seconds when camping.
Mossie are kinda fascinating to watch as they go about thier work.
No redeeming features of midges,I think the University of Edinburgh worked out could be as many as 140 trillion midges in a full season.
That all said ,they never put me off visting ever summer
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16247 posts
I dislike putting chemicals like DEET on my skin and prefer to wear treated clothing, which has no odor or weird feel. “Bugshirts” and long pants are made by Ex Officio, Royal Robbins, Columbia, Craghoppers (a UK brand), and others. Look around and you will find some on sale.
https://www.exofficio.com/bugsaway-bug-repellent-clothing.html
Here are some Craghoppers shirts for men and women on sale at REI:
https://www.rei.com/search?q=Craghopper
Or you can treat your own clothing with this spray:
I use that on my Tilley hat, and wear an Insect Shield shirt. You can add a treated neck gaiter or bandanna for more protection of your head and neck.
Posted by
117 posts
As Lola mentioned, the permethrin fabric spray is an option. I use the same brand that she linked to in her post. I seem to be extremely tasty to the little monsters, and this has helped me immensely. Rather than purchase specially treated travel clothing, I apply it at home before packing the normal clothes I plan on bringing. That, along with Ben's travel size deet spray and Off mosquito wipes, for the exposed skin, works well for me.
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2427 posts
While the permethrin coated clothing is fine, any bit of exposed skin such as your hands will get eaten. We went white water rafting on the Kennebec River in Maine in the summer wearing full wetsuits and the midges went for our hands and faces. Calling these insects piranhas with wings is an apt description.
Posted by
Sacramento, CA
671 posts
Several years ago, we walked the West Highland Way in early September. We bought something for midges at an outdoor store in Glasgow. We also had nets to go over our hiking hats, but we never really needed them. The midges were bad outside one hotel, but as soon as we started walking, they were not bad. I might have gotten a few bites, but they didn't seem as bad as mosquitoes (and mosquitoes love me). I recommend some kind of spray, and don't worry too much. I do not recall any midges on Skye, but that might be because it was raining!
Posted by
Western Canada
3110 posts
I lived in Edinburgh for years, and never saw a midge in the city.
In the countryside however.....
Not only do you have to worry about midges; there are also cleggs, blackflies and birch flies out there at certain times and conditions....
https://www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills/health-and-hygiene/insects
It sounds as if you are all well prepared, though.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16247 posts
Another option for exposed skin is Picaridin. I will use that when necessary (instead of DEET). The wipes are handy for traveling, as you don’t have to accommodate a bottle of liquid.
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10221 posts
Thanks everyone for your advice. I’ve got head nets and Deep Woods Off wipes in my Amazon cart. I’m still considering the Avon Skin So Soft. I don’t want to bring any large liquid item and we will just have carry on sized bags. I suppose I could buy some and decant it into a small spray bottle. Our time in Scotland will be weeks 3 & 4 of a 10 week trip, so I’m not inclined to just bring clothing that will protect against the possibility of midges. We will be sure to have clothing that will cover us up so my main concern will be the exposed areas. Thanks again!
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10221 posts
Thanks Lola, I’ll check that out.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11178 posts
https://www.highlandtitles.com/blog/midges/
https://www.consumerreports.org/insect-repellents/avon-skin-so-soft-review-bug-spray/
Was unaware of midges until seeing this post.
Found a couple of interesting articles on midges and what to do about them
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1117 posts
Weighing in as a local living on the Isle of Skye.
- You may still encounter midges in early September, but much less likely as the month progresses. It's not individual ones you need to worry about, it's swarms of them that look like clouds.
- Windy spots will be fine (anything over 5 mph and the little blighters struggle) but still and damp conditions are where they thrive.
- They are at their worst when it's overcast (cloudy) and in the evening. They hate direct sunlight. Rain does not deter them!
- Head net is an essential item. Most outdoor shops here in Scotland would sell them if you don't want to bring with you - but they are very small and lightweight, so to be safe I'd buy at home and bring with you.
- Midge repellent. Skin so soft doesn't work for me. I buy SMIDGE which is available locally here in most outdoor shops and even in the COOP supermarket here on Skye.
Hope this helps.
Jacqui (Skyegirl)
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10221 posts
Jacqui, thanks so much. You convinced me to just order the head nets and we will get the appropriate repellent there. And thanks to everyone else who weighed in. I appreciate it.
Posted by
Delaware
1376 posts
The evening is perfect, my sisters
The loch lies silent, the air is still
The sun's last rays linger over the water
and there is a faint smurr, almost a smudge
of summer rain. Sisters, I smell supper,
and what is more perfect than supper?
It is emerging from the wood,
in twos and threes, a dozen in all,
making such a chatter and a clatter
as it reaches the rocky shore,
admiring the arrangements of the light.
See the innocents, my sisters,
the clumsy ones, the laughing ones,
the rolled up sleeves and the flapping shorts,
there is even a kilt (god of the midges,
you are good to us!) So gather your forces,
leave your tree-trunks, forsake the rushes,
fly up from the sour brown mosses
to the sweet flesh of face and forearm.
Think of your eggs. What does the egg need?
Blood, and blood. Blood is what the egg needs.
Our men have done their bit, they've gone,
it was all they were good for, poor dears. Now
it is up to us. The egg is quietly screaming
for supper, blood, supper, blood, supper!
Attack, my little Draculas, my Amazons!
look at those flailing arms and stamping feet
They're running, swatting, swearing, oh they're hopeless.
Keep at them ladies. This is a feast.
This is a midsummer night's dream.
Soon we shall all lie down filled and rich,
and lay, and lay, and lay, and lay.
Edwin Morgan (1920-2010)
Enjoy!
Mike (Auchterless)
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1320 posts
Auchterless, thanks for sharing this brilliant poem. Had a sweet chuckle this morning.