Scottish Midges...will they eat us alive?!

[monzer]

They can be on the east coast as well..
As for the west, a few years ago a campsite near Newton Stewart had to close because of a midge epidemic.

Nah the East coast is fine especially NE. Never get any problems with them up in Aberdeenshire and never had bother from them in Edinburgh.

 

[pappajohn]

Nah the East coast is fine especially NE. Never get any problems with them up in Aberdeenshire and never had bother from them in Edinburgh.

I've heard otherwise but I'll take your word. You're up there, I'm on the Yorkshire Coast where we only have flying sh!t factories. (gulls)
Less painful but just as annoying.

 

[monzer]

I've heard otherwise but I'll take your word. You're up there, I'm on the Yorkshire Coast where we only have flying sh!t factories. (gulls)
Less painful but just as annoying.

Doesn't matter where you are, when it comes to gulls we are together as one. Work of the devil so they are.

 

[Boris7]

Midges no issue,

https://www.boots.com/piriteze-allergy-tablets-14-pack-10263816

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Could it be the answer to our holiday woes?

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I don’t have any issues with the things but swmbo only has to see heater in summer and it’s the end of life as we know it, but any priteze and Avon so soft liberally applied sorts it.

Were on Mull right now, and the Mibges are biting, but not her

 

[dhall26]

we spent one night in the galloway forest they were coming in through the air vents we had to cling film the vents i put the headlights on at 11pm and they were like a blizzard

Remember to put Aircon control to recirculate when you park

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[34127]

Nah the East coast is fine especially NE. Never get any problems with them up in Aberdeenshire and never had bother from them in Edinburgh.

Is that because when they hear the Aberdeen accent they think they are in a foreign country and then go back home.

 

[Gaston aires]

Just reading this post makes me cringe. Don’t wear a kilt, they will fly up and bite you on your meat and two veg.
I would like to travel Scotland very much, can any one tell me when the midge season isn’t?
Phil

 

[Trout bum]

If there is a wee breeze which there usually is on the west coast it will keep them down , their engines can't fly in a breeze,skin so soft ,midge repellant wrist bands work as well I've been up in the hills fly fishing for wild trout and had no issues with them wouldn't let them spoil my holiday , and of course they help thicken up the porridge in the morning

 

[Grianan]

My experience is worse when it is still and overcast (and they love dark, humid places), west worse than east, coastal breezes (gales) can help.
Midge net or even midge top for when its horrific ... otherwise smidge.

 

[Garfields]

Just reading this post makes me cringe. Don’t wear a kilt, they will fly up and bite you on your meat and two veg.
I would like to travel Scotland very much, can any one tell me when the midge season isn’t?
Phil

February

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[34127]

Just reading this post makes me cringe. Don’t wear a kilt, they will fly up and bite you on your meat and two veg.
I would like to travel Scotland very much, can any one tell me when the midge season isn’t?
Phil

Depending upon conditions generally speaking the season starts mid to late May and goes on to approx September.

 

[Minxy]

Depending upon conditions generally speaking the season starts mid to late May and goes on to approx September.

... after which the wee haggis venture out and start nipping at your ankles ...

 

[Emmit]

Scottish Midges...will they eat us alive?!


Nah!

They'll distract you into running off a cliff edge to escape them.

 

[No-Dun-Roamin’]

Try this link . . .

The Scottish Midge Forecast

The Scottish Midge Forecast uses data from biting midge traps and mini-weather stations across Scotland to give you a view of midge levels in Scotland.

www.smidgeup.com

The west coast midge can bite their way through a Harris Tweed jacket !!

 

[34127]

... after which the wee haggis venture out and start nipping at your ankles ...

Yes, they can be a nuisance as you can't see them when you are walking through the heather.

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[CAH]

Avon Body Lotion

 

[denisejoe]

We toured Scotland just after we married 49 years ago and stopped at Broken Link Removed camped in the dunes went swimming in the sea came out laid on a towel 5 minutes later a cloud descended on me bit me from head to to just glad I had the budgie smugglers on spent rest of week buying calamine lotion by the gallon and covering myself from head to toe not funny

 

[Alanben]

These full jackets kept them out! they even have an opening to allow wine drinking, which we found drinking through a straw was the best method. our neighbours thought that the Taliband had arrived!

 

[normanandsue]

No dead person ever complains about the midges

 

[WillH]

They can be on the east coast as well..
As for the west, a few years ago a campsite near Newton Stewart had to close because of a midge epidemic.

There were actually two closed, Talnotry and Caldons campsites, only a few miles apart as the crow flies.

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[The Lobster]

With a bit of common sense they're not a problem. They pupate in acidic areas like peaty soil or bogs, and are attracted by your CO2. Wind will keep them away - either from nature, or that you create yourself (e.g. by cycling). So on a still warm day don't park close to peaty wet areas, or of you do - keep moving! They also tend to fly in swarms - so you can see them coming and do something about it.

As a precaution I have a midge hat - but have only ever needed it once. I did get a bit neurotic and fit specially fine netting (>3,000 holes per sq inch) from here in place of my normal fly screens on the MH windows - in retrospect it was probably only useful on the big top vent, where I fitted it with velcro so it could be easily fitted/removed. That way we can still get fresh air but sans midges, if there are any.

I've never found any creams work 100%. Skin so soft seems to work best for me but others seem to prefer more purpose-made chemical sprays like Smidge. I generally don't bother but if I know we're likely to encounter any I'll wear something long-sleeved.

 

[Wyvern]

I hear that is an urban myth smidge for me each and every time

Not a myth....as an ex Royal Marine we used this stuff all the time ....and I still use it now and works great. I really suffer with bites and this stuff keep me bite free.

 

[CAH]

Knew there would be one somewhere

 

[ambulancekidd]

Try this, its all explained here.

A little bit of midge advice for the experienced or non experienced camper.

 

[ambulancekidd]

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[Wee Bold Davy]

Lived in Scotland for almost 50 years, fishing most weekends and the only time I've ever been really bothered by them is when fishing overnight, just before dark and at first light. Never during the day. Don't let worrying about them put you off going

 

[fiferjim]

They definitely like and affect some people more than others, my sister in law for one. But we live in Fife, so on the east side, and she has no problems and I can't recall last time I encountered any. In certain conditions and certain places at dusk there may be a few but not during the day.

 

[Tarn2]

Lived and worked in West of Scotland for 30+ years, on a campsite. Absolute menace, couldn't go into our garden, let alone sit out in it. Midge nets (head nets) work, but only on head and you're eaten alive at the edges, arms, ankles, legs - any exposed skin! Tried Smidge, Jungle Juice, citronella candles and all brands of repellant - none worked. Avon Skin so soft (original bluey green bottle) had limited effect. Anywhere near trees, lochs, damp conditions worst. Bright, dry, (West Scotland??) windy open spaces best bet. East coast much better, but imho West is best for stunning scenery (sorry to East coasters!) Best time to minimise their presence is before mid May or after September? Good luck, take antihistamines and full chemical suits. If you get the weather, sunny and windy, there's no better place on earth, only spoiled by midges and masses of tourists.

 

[fiferjim]

Lived and worked in West of Scotland for 30+ years, on a campsite. Absolute menace, couldn't go into our garden, let alone sit out in it. Midge nets (head nets) work, but only on head and you're eaten alive at the edges, arms, ankles, legs - any exposed skin! Tried Smidge, Jungle Juice, citronella candles and all brands of repellant - none worked. Avon Skin so soft (original bluey green bottle) had limited effect. Anywhere near trees, lochs, damp conditions worst. Bright, dry, (West Scotland??) windy open spaces best bet. East coast much better, but imho West is best for stunning scenery (sorry to East coasters!) Best time to minimise their presence is before mid May or after September? Good luck, take antihistamines and full chemical suits. If you get the weather, sunny and windy, there's no better place on earth, only spoiled by midges and masses of tourists.

West does have better scenery but arguably that is offset by drier weather on the east. Life is full of compromises

 

[irnbru]

there's no better place on earth, only spoiled by midges and masses of tourists.

Andy, Why don't you relive history Millport rally is this weekend coming, come along.

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