Midges in Glencoe in July...or go to Skye?

Posted by ariellesallai on 05/16/25 08:27 PM

Hey all,

I know people are always asking "what about midges in [insert month and location]" and the answer is usually always "it depends" but I too am starting to get nervous about the midge situation for my Highlands trip at the end of July.

The initial plan outlined below is to spend three nights in Glencoe, as we don't want to spend the whole time schlepping about. But I also booked lodging in Dunvegan on Skye just in case we change our minds and decide to go that route. I was about to finally cancel that reservation yesterday and started second guessing myself, wondering if the midge situation will be less horrible there? Either way, we only plan to stay at one place in the Highlands as a launching pad for some long hiking treks and outdoor sightseeing.

Will it be fine in Glencoe if we are not camping and only hiking outdoors with good midge protectant gear? (I am looking at the full on midge jackets.) Being based in Ballachulish, I also figure we can set out to Oban or try to go to Mull from there if midges are unbearable? Please let me know if I should be worried enough to change course, or if it seems manageable.

Here's the itinerary for reference:

Day 1-7 - July 16-22: London solo

Day 8 - July 23 (Weds): BF arrives in the morning - get on train to Edinburgh

Day 9 - July 24 (Thurs): Explore Edinburgh

Day 10 - July 25 (Fri): Explore Edinburgh

Day 11 - July 26 (Sat): Edinburgh → Glencoe (via Stirling, maybe some other stops, enjoy the road trip)
Lodging in Ballachulish
(Note we could go to Skye instead, if so this whole day would be spent getting over to lodging in Dunvegan)

Day 12 - July 27 (Sun): Explore Glencoe area
Hike Lost Valley or the Pap of Glencoe or some other suggestion in moderate difficulty range
(Same deal if we are in Skye - do some all day hike then feast and drink)

Day 13 - July 28 (Mon): Explore Glencoe area
Hike Buachaille Etive Beag or some other slightly harder suggestion
(Same deal if we are in Skye - do some all day hike then feast and drink)

Day 14 - July 29 (Tues): Return rental car in Edinburgh → London

Posted by auchterless

Delaware

05/17/25 04:06 AM

1608 posts

Hi, Arielle,

Don't let the threat of midges make you decide where you should go, and what you should do. Don't go overboard buying a lot of anti-midge gear.

First of all, midges dislike sunshine, so if your days are filled with sun, no problem! However, it being Scotland, you may possibly run in to some overcast days. That's when the little blighters come out, but it's mostly in low lying areas, and near marshes and bodies of water. They also don't fare well in wind, so if there's a snell wind blowing, you won't be bothered.

However, if you are at all uncomfortable about the prospect of midges, then just a little bit of protection will go a long way. We have found that a good fine mesh midge hat (headnet) is a godsend. We really needed them on Rum and Colonsay, and in Knoydart. We got the Lifesystems hats, which run about 12 pounds in most outdoor shops.

A good insect repellent is also handy. We had good luck with REPEL, which is lemon eucalyptus based, and is DEET free. It's available at Walmart, or by mail from Amazon. Just apply it to any exposed areas, like the back of your hands. You don't need to invest in a midge jacket - a long sleeved shirt will suffice. And if you think that you're going to encounter midges, don't wear shorts!

Smidge, the popular midge repellent available in Scotland, publishes a "midge forecast", so you can see ahead of time if there will be hordes of the little horrors where your plans will be taking you. Smidge (the repellent) is available all over the Highlands and Islands.

Again, don't let the prospect of midges control your destinations or your activities! Have a wonderful time in Scotland!

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)