[Closed] Scottish trip & midges

I have lived here all my days, and have never really given them a consideration for any of my travels, whilst they can be horrible in the right conditions, most of the time it's all fine.

Smidge is a must.  Some basic rules - keep in the breeze if possible, don't camp under trees by fresh water that sort of thing and its rarely an issue.

I was cycling on the west coast around Oban a week ago, and they were very bad overnight (dusk to dawn) but there was no problem once the sun got up properly in the morning, even though we had little or no wind. Just be prepared to cover up if you have to be out and about during the high risk hours.

whilst they can be horrible in the right conditions, most of the time it’s all fine.

This is correct, there's not just an on off switch for them through the season, they vary. You can be lucky and be mid august and not get them at all. Then again you can get hammered.

Just come prepared for the worst though!

I got slaughtered by them at Glentress car park, as the sun was coming down and was washing my bike. Then again I wasn't using any bug repellent. Whilst riding they weren't really a bother.

Worst I've seen them this year was at the summit of Goatfell last weekend, seen a few about on the way up, but summit was madness. And yet some folks still peddle the line about not getting them at height. 874m is at height. Tbh I'm more bothered about Clegs (horsefly) and Ticks these day, both bloody evil.

^^^

I agree. I swear horseflies and ticks have become much more abundant recently. Never used to see them much. Got swarmed by horseflies at CyB other day and if i dont take measures to avoid ticks i generally find one on me. Had one on my ribs this week just from mowing the lawn!

Bloody things.

cycling between Galloway forest and Edinburgh Saturday last afternoon/evening. Swarms of them

Thanks everyone, I won't be camping out, so I'll stock up on Avon Skin-So-Soft and just go.

^^^ Smidge is waaay better than Skin so Soft...

Also is a tick repllant

The midgies in Argyll over the weekend there were the worst I've seen in many a year but even at that they only bothered me for a short while as I was footering about at the car. They are easy to outpace and a small breeze keeps them away. Most of the time it's only early morning and evening they are active as they don't like the sun during the day. To put off visiting a place because of them is a bit daft.

Ignore all the advice above. No one who lives in Scotland goes outside for 3 months of the year.

Don't use skin-so-shite, please.

When camping is there anything you can use round the tent to keep them away?  Mosquito coils, citronella candles etc do they work?

Never tried them tbh. Saw quite a few folks actually camping IN THE BLOODY BRACKEN at the weekend on the isle of Cumbrae.

Madness!.

Hearing many people say this year is especially bad. Come evening my outdoord time is certainly curtailed.

ah ok will order some Smidge instead then, thanks.

When camping is there anything you can use round the tent to keep them away?

Will only give you temporary respite if they are bad though. Could try napalm, but that's limited too.

skin so soft doesn't repel them (*imho) but if you lay it on thick enough they get stuck on the oil slick

what works for me - long socks, 3/4 shorts. long sleeve high collar top, full finger gloves and a net that you can put over your helmet if reqd - it won' look stupid if you get a puncture/etc in the wrong place

re tent door - if you can leave water pans on the boil they don't seem to like coming thru steam, you could also tie a chain smoker to the front pole

mosquito coils do help keep them out of the tent IME

This weekend was bad in South Lanarkshire.

I just did the cover up every inch thing while loitering on check points and camp helping out at competition.

Using Smidge has been a game changer for me in Scotland.  It is also supposed to stop the ticks getting hold of you.  Having heard some horror stories about the effects of Lyme's disease, I am much more bothered about the ticks than the midges now.  As a bonus it also keeps mosquitoes at bay plus it doesn't make you smell like a mobile chemistry lab.

This weekend was bad in South Lanarkshire

It's always like that in Lanarkshire mate.

OP, If you do get mauled(I feel that's an accurately descriptive term 😆 ), make sure you've got plenty of anti histamine tablets, those will save your sanity!

One from this weekend:

Its 7:30am, damp, warm and calm.

About 80 adults and teens taking part in mountain marathon leave site by 8:30. The remaining 4 adults are safely behind midge netted base camp tent wall.

One group of 6 scouts, last departure time group, sensibly stay tucked up in bed, to emerge to an all but deserted site.

At the same moment about 343.6million midges realise all the 'food' just walked off, bar the six hapless scouts....I swear one of them was balancing a gas stove by hand as he jogged circles while stirring porridge and crying for his mum... 😂😂😂

mauled

two types of midge attack:

- when you wonder if you're going to die

- when you hope you will die...

Thanks for the histamine tip.

^this

It's worse than you think or can even imagine. In the right conditions they are horrendous. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

I'm Scottish, did the WHW on my bike last year. I stopped at Ardlui to pitch my tent and this happened, both legs was wearing 3/4s exposed for 15 mins tops. Had my skin so softs midge net the lot, Annihilated me.

Some people aren't affected as badly by midges but I understood theyre attracted to co2.

This was me checking the damage at Kinlochleven. Took weeks to recover they itched like a bitch everyday.

[img] [/img]

https://www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-ultimate-hat-parchment/

I can't get the discount code to work, maybe it'll work for you?

insects really hate tea tree oil.

you don't need much. Some shops sell it in 10ml vials.

you DO need to dilute it, 1 part tea tree oil to 5 parts veg oil..,much easier with a funnel;)

then you can rub it over your skin and hair.

That’s not midge bites, these are.

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And yet some folks still peddle the line about not getting them at height

I got attacked by them on the top of Cairngorm. As a passing local remarked "aye, they're nae respecters of altitude".

Skin so soft did stop them biting me but I ended up with my legs and arms covered in dead ones.

None of the travel-type wide brimmed mosquito hats I've seen have had noseeum mesh, so any protection they give is largely an illusion. This one works, and is durable:  https://www.midgie.net/ I've had mine for years, and slept in it just last week on an unexpectedly midge-ridden bivi. They also sell the mesh by the metre if you fancy a MYOG project. I'm lucky I don't react as badly to the bites as those poor buggers above.

Mosquito coils work well in the tent porch with the door shut. That's my modus operandi - tent up, dive into inner tent, zip inner door shut; locate coils, light one in the porch, leave to work for 10 minutes while organising gear, brew on.

@montgomery

i can't comment on the efficacy of the Nosilife ultimate hat, but from my experience of Nosilife products, midges wouldn't stand a chance.

the active ingredient is extremely potent but harmless to humans, being derived (afair), from the African chrysanthemum.

another option is to wear their 'infinity scarf'. There's enough material to wrap it round your neck three times or shape it into a 'taureg 'style.

https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/

https://www.scotlandinfo.eu/midges-in-scotland-how-to-avoid-them/