Scotland.... Don't bother in the summer....
Discussion
jenpot said:
Can you clarify which area you were in? It's quite a large place! But yes, they can be a problem in certain areas, did you not take precautions?
Sure, we were by Taynuilt which is by Oban. Nice place and very scenic but the locals were telling me they can't go uot some nights because of the midges...I saw my first ever red squirrel!
Edited by buzzer on Tuesday 5th June 19:16
hornetrider said:
Did you take Avon Skin So Soft? A friend is up there at the mo and they've said it's bad. I went in August last year and had no problems.
To be honest no... We have used this stuff before, but even the locals were saying it's of limited use when it's this bad. It stops them biting you but not swarming around. Last night it was like a mist, every timei breathed they were in my mouth!We will stick to the early spring next time, which is the time of year we usually go.
As said Scotland is a big place and generally speaking the midges are much worse on the west coast. July and August are generally the worst months for them and there's no getting away from the fact that they are horrendous.
Having grown up in the West Highlands I seem to have developed a bit of an immunity to them and am nowhere nearly as badly affected as my English born OH who cannot tolerate them at all! Midge hoods/Avon So Soft (which generally just drowns them rather than repels them) etc are only effective up to a point. My grandpa used to smoke a pipe which would drive the beasties away and could happily trout fish on a damp still evening on any loch.
Best time for the West Highlands is April/May or September (not just the midges - much quieter roads too).
Having grown up in the West Highlands I seem to have developed a bit of an immunity to them and am nowhere nearly as badly affected as my English born OH who cannot tolerate them at all! Midge hoods/Avon So Soft (which generally just drowns them rather than repels them) etc are only effective up to a point. My grandpa used to smoke a pipe which would drive the beasties away and could happily trout fish on a damp still evening on any loch.
Best time for the West Highlands is April/May or September (not just the midges - much quieter roads too).
gary71 said:
I've just got back from Torridon and managed to bring a few back in the car so they continued to attack even once back across the border! 
However, during most of the day when there is a breeze they are not too bad.
When do they start to settle down? I'm heading up that way in late August or September, might go for the latter if it'll make a difference. And do they pHowever, during most of the day when there is a breeze they are not too bad.
s off when you get a bit higher (planning on ticking off my first munro's.)buzzer said:
How people live there in areas where they are prone is byond me.
It's quite easy really. 9 months of the year no problem. 3 months of the year you just need to check the conditions. I guess they stop us from doing things about a dozen evenings a year.I built a house here with air con, so don't need to open windows when it's hot.
Have to say though that due to the very still weather we've had for the past 2 months, and a very mild winter, the midges are here both early and in greater numbers than usual.
FYI, Skin so Soft works in that it is so oily, the midges can't get 'purchase, so it works 100%, but only if you slap it on liberally. Does make one look like a bit of a shiny prat mind.
Smidge is the only repellant that seems to work, but it's expensive and smells pretty rank.
Spent last week in Torridon, expected midges but not in such quantities . . . easily dealt with by the sea chest full of deet/so soft/smidge/things for burning that the Wifebeast brought along. Didn't restrict anything we wanted to do although we did meet some climbers who'd abandoned their climb because of them - big girlies!
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