When is the scottish midges season

These horrendous wee beasties can be found right across the west coast and the Highlands in swarming clouds that have caused more misery than our changeable climate ever has. A perfect description! These insects are part of the Ceratopogonidae family of biting midges and they exist on every continent on earth except for those places that are either too cold like the north and south poles or too hot like the permanent deserts of North Africa.

While the males of the species prefer to chow down on dead plant matter, females need protein to prepare for their egg-laying — which they do in vast amounts. We have 37 species of midge here in Scotland but the most prevalent is C. In your ears, in your hair, down the back of your shirt, just everywhere. The very worst places are those that are close to their breeding grounds and females have been found up to a mile away from their broods.

If the weather is humid and still the number of midges will skyrocket which is made even worse if Scotland has a wet summer which it often does.

As soon as May arrives the larvae pupate for 24 to 48 hours, after which the adult males emerge, followed shortly after by the females. Unfortunately, their trillions of offspring are quietly waiting underground ready to emerge once the temperatures rise again, at which time the entire life-cycle repeats.

Before you leave home check out my handy weather map. What you might not know is that Smidge is also actively involved in researching the movements of insects, with the findings uploaded into their online Midge Forecast. This genuinely useful tool comprises a map of Scotland overlaid with scores from 1 to 5 which indicate how good or bad the current midge situation is throughout the country.

Not only will this come in handy while hiking on hot days yes, they do happen in Scotland , but you can pop them on the table or close to you when you're eating. Given midges can't fly in higher wind speeds, your battery fan should stop them from landing on your lunch.

Despite these great tips and tricks though, we're going to level with you , one or two midge bites are pretty much unavoidable. When it does happen, have a soothing after-bite cream handy to stop you itching and let you get on with your exploring in peace. Anything cooling, like calamine cream or tea tree oil, should do the trick nicely and take away that infuriating urge to scratch. This is a great reason to bring mum along on your adventure Now you've got your midge repellent arsenal sorted, here are some practical tips you can use while you're out there in the wilderness.

As we mentioned, midges, and particularly Scottish midges, like damp, marshy ground and still air in the warmer season. Going sailing is pretty much the opposite of that. Take the opportunity to explore some of Scotland's famous lochs there are a LOT, so look past good old Nessie or it's infamous West Coast. Good news, midges love dark clothing.

Opt for whites, creams and light greys and they're less likely to spot you. Simple, but oh-so effective.

Midges don't like hot and dry weather. They also love dawn and dusk. They prefer mild temperatures and wet conditions, which is what makes bonny code for rainy Scotland during the summer such a perfect habitat for them. Equally, midges aren't a big fan of the cold, and can't survive frost. If you don't mind chilly temperatures, take a winter adventure to the Highlands and stay bite-free, well maybe not frostbite-free.

Due to their tiny jaw-span, midges aren't very adept at biting through clothing. It's a good idea to opt for full-length trousers and long-sleeved tops.

Your very own midge trap. Keep materials lightweight and breathable if you're hiking in the summer. Midges tend to stay near the ground in low winds and where there's lots of brush.

If you're climbing hills and mountains over m, it's unlikely you'll encounter them. Plus, we promise that the views are worth the hike pretty much anywhere in the Scottish Highlands.

Scottish midges are most active during low-light conditions. If you can, stay indoors at these times. If you're a hardcore great outdoors fan and you're camping, slather yourself in plenty of insect repellent before the sun starts going down.

If you're stopping for a snack or a break, make sure to do so out of damp, long grasses or wet shrubs where there might be swarms of biting midges. Trust us, it's worth walking that extra kilometre to find bare ground. At your wit's end? Here are some more… unconventional methods to rid yourself of midges.

Bog myrtle is a plant found throughout the Highlands which is apparently effective at repelling midges. Tie it to your hat for maximum protection but don't tell anyone else what you're doing, just own it. Midges don't like fire. If you're camping and it's safe to do so, light a small bonfire.

Bonus: campfire sausages. I'm beginning to think there should be an LNT drinking game with a shot downed for every time it's mentioned in our articles Now back to midges! Just like us, midges also have their foodie preferences. Slather this yeasty spread on your breakfast and suddenly midges won't find your blood so tasty anymore.

Vitamin B tablets are said to have the same effect if you're not keen on Marmite, as is chewing garlic no snogging for you. Believe it or not, there's actually a midge forecast.

It will give you an idea of how many midges are expected to be around on certain days. Perfect for photography. We plan all our west coast walking holidays around both the best weather conditions and the height of the midge season. We rarely if ever, go to the west of Scotland between June and the end of August. High on the list is the lack of midges, in general. They can be a bother in the Cairngorms, but the drier weather here and the sometimes windy conditions, keep the levels of midge down to manageable levels.

Midges in Scotland do love damp forest conditions though as the trees provide them with shelter from the wind and the sun, so be careful if you picnic in the woods.

Relaxing in the shelter of the trees — beware the midges on a wind free day. Failing something high adrenaline you could just admire the scenery from the seclusion of your car, being sure to insulate yourself from the outdoors with your air conditioning system or alternatively indulge yourself in a bit of culture or city life for the day. Tomatin especially if you have unders in your party. Glenlivet regular tours which are translated into most major European languages.

Glenfarclas a more unique and family atmosphere than other distilleries. Aberlour highly regarded and recommended to us. Or try to Speyside Cooperage — a unique opportunity to see the traditional coopers at work making and refurbishing the casks which are a vital part of the whisky industry. A cooper hard at work repairing casks at the Speyside Cooperage. Not a midge bothered us on that lovely autumn afternoon out on the loch. Come to think of it, the fact that it was early October may have helped a little, though I had been eaten alive while photographing the Glenfinnan Viaduct just a few days earlier, on an equally sunny day.

No effective blanket spray exists for getting rid of midge on the breeding grounds. You would have to spray most of the Highlands, creating ecological havoc. Ditto biological controls. Dragonflies, amphibians, fish and bats do their best to eat as many as possible. So just remember that if you are a hotelier contemplating one of these midge-zapper devices all you are doing is reducing the food for the local bats.

As for repellents applied to the skin, there is a choice of sprays and creams, some using natural products. Avon Skin So Soft is also popular.

I like my midge-hood though — I wear it over my hat as vaguely seen in a pic above. These also help in keeping away clegs horse-flies. To be honest, if the midges in Scotland are bad, then clegs are worse! We had a bad experience of Scottish clegs in Knoydart. Oh, and on the road to Stronachlachar in the Trossachs. No, really, it was…. And some advice on finding midge-free places in Scotland. Of course, the other tiny terrors you have to seriously watch for are ticks in Scotland.

Potentially worse than midges, for sure. L ike the tell-it-like-it-is-approach? The most helpful and entertaining pages on this website are now available as ebooks covering many aspects of travel in Scotland. Scotland — Know Before You Go. Midges, weather, tipping, driving, best time to visit and more…essential background for your trip to Scotland.

Fully illustrated in colour but easy to read on your smartphone or e-reader. All the favourites in Scotland: Highland cows, puffins, dolphins and more — plus top ten lists — best beaches, views, walks — positively a treasury of information to make your trip a success…. Close Menu Where To See. Where to See Highland Cows. Nothing more Scottish, apparently. Where to see dolphins. It still has to be the Moray Firth. Good To Know. Midges in Scotland — Protect yourself from Highland menace!