What is the best time to visit Scotland to avoid midges?

From May until September, travelers have a high chance of running into midges, especially in the Highlands. These flying, biting insects prefer wet, humid, and cloudy conditions and come out in full force in July and August. To avoid the midges, book your trip to Scotland between late September and early May.



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October, November, December, January, February, and March (early autumn and early spring) are usually midge free months in Scotland because the weather is too cold for them...but it may be chilly for you too!

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Lowland areas with consistent wind and away from water are your best chances for midge free areas in Scotland. Coastal areas (West Coast beaches, we're looking at you) can often be midge free.

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Many people want to know the worst place for midges in Scotland in order to avoid them. Well, unfortunately the worst places for midges happen to be some of the most stunning places in our wee country ? the West Coast. Due to the West Coast facing more damp weather, their midge population thrives in the Summer months.

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Citronella candles These are really effective and suit outdoor eating scenarios, picnics and BBQs, although BBQ smoke does a good job of keeping the midges away too. Midges dislike the smell of the candles, so burn a couple at a time to double your chances of keeping them away.

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Anti-midges protection The best way to avoid being bitten by midges is to cover up your bare skin at times when they are most likely to be around. If it's a still, humid morning or evening, wear long sleeved tops and trousers. A midge net made for your head can be a useful addition to your outdoors kit list.

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Living and walking a lot on Skye we find that tales of midges do tend to get a bit exaggerated. As long as there is a breeze the midges will not bother you too much so best advice is to head up a hill. They are worst in damp, humid weather and they tend to hang around water and heather.

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Our Tips for keeping the Midges away Firstly, midge season is generally in the height of the summer, from mid-May to September. So, if you are visiting us at any other time of year, you will not be bothered by them.

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The best way to prevent midge bites is to wear EPA-registered insect repellent, especially if you're wearing clothes that expose large areas of skin. Biting midges can't bite through clothes, but they can get underneath them. When enjoying outdoor activities, like hiking, it's best to wear long sleeves or pants.

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In theory yes, they prefer darker colours - because their prey is dark in colour. They are least attracted to white and bright colours. That's the theory at least, most people I know say it doesn't make a jot of difference in practice but it certainly can't hurt to take extra precautions.

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To have the most sunlight and best weather, many people head to the Scottish Highlands in the summer, between May and September. Starting in October, the weather can be unpredictable — freezing temperatures, gale-force winds, and snowfall are all possible.

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In theory yes, they prefer darker colours - because their prey is dark in colour. They are least attracted to white and bright colours.

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Developed in 1946, DEET has been used extensively since then and serves as the standard mosquito repellent against which new candidate materials are tested. In addition to working on mosquitoes, it works well on fleas, biting midges (punkies, no-see-ums) and black flies.

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When tested against the special mixture, both DEET (P<. 0001, NNT=1) and Avon Skin So Soft (P=. 0048, NNT=2) were found to provide better protection. When DEET and Avon Skin So Soft were compared with each other, Avon Skin So Soft was found to be 85% as effective as DEET (P= .

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Pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) do eat insects in the midge family, but these only form a small part of their diet. Similarly, birds such as warblers (Phylloscopus spp.) and swifts (Apus apus) will feed on midges, but this is rare due to their small size and crepuscular habits.

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