We had a week on Loch Awe at the end of August, the first time I've been to Scotland in the summer, it's never been an issue before as I've always been when it's colder. But even though people warned us about the midges they weren't a problem at all, and we were in a cottage right next to the loch. I usually get bitten to pieces by anything,and get huge lumps from mosquito bites. We saw them hanging around at dusk but but then it was getting chilly and we weren't outside then. There was a bottle of that Avon so soft stuff in the house we stayed in.
That area, by the way, on the west coast towards Oban and Mull is just amazing and well worth a visit. Although everywhere I've been in Scotland is great.
Glad you enjoyed your trip! Just been down Kintyre today (for work), constantly amazed at the variery of scenery in Argyll, watched the ferry head off to Islay and wished we were on it. Anyway, to the OP, there are no biting midges left now!
This is a well established urban myth with no basis in science whatsoever. Scientific tests clearly show that the only effective chemical for repelling midgies and mosquitos is DEET.
There will now inevitably follow many posts with anecdotal tales of how SSS works. However in scientific laboratory tests SSS is shown only to work for a very short period of time (minutes) where as the effect of DEET lasts for hours. Hey even Mythbusters (TV programme from the USA) did this one and very easily demonstrated that SSS did not work but DEET did.
Just Google SSS and midgies and you will see how entrenched the myth is, but somehow these results are never replicable under scientifically controlled tests.
I speak as a person who makes his living in the Northern Scottish Highlands and who for some reason is irresistible to the little blighters. During the height of the midgie season I cover my arms, wear a midgie net over my head and swath my self in DEET.
Bear in mind however that I am often in the very heart of midgie territory - damp bog and heather. There are very often clouds of the blighters. If you don't walk in the heather you won't disturb them so much and I can't really avoid doing so.
The best protection is a good breeze which simply blows the bugg**s away! Take a look at the red deer in the summer. Where so you tend to see them? Up in the hills on the ridges. Why? Because that is where the breeze is and there will therefore be no midgies.
I live on the east coast and the sea breezes keep the midgies at bay, however if you go inland just 4 or 5 miles there they are.
Now back to the original post. Midgies are not as much of a problem as is often made out. Choose a spot with a bit of breeze away from damp and boggy ground. Buy some mosquito repellant that contains DEET, wear long sleeves and then enjoy the most magnificent scenery in the UK and some of the best in the world.
BTW, you can also Google 'moon landings' and find thousands of websites that tell you that the USA did not really send astronauts to the moon!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: midges in Scotland
