Scotland, midges and mosquitoes in general…!

Pusscat

Pusscat

Free Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2019
Posts
295
Likes collected
751
Location
Devon UK
Funster No
61,683
MH
Swift Rio 320
Exp
Since 2015
Just read the thread re Scotland and a post warning re the infamous midges up there!

what do people use to repel midges and mosquitoes? I can come up in inch or so bloody big itchy lumps so I tend to get into ’freak out’ mode when ever I see or hear them.

I tried the Avon ‘ so soft’ stuff with great hopes but to no avail.

I stopped using jungle formula after a bottle of it leaked over a bed side table in Crete once and dissolved the varnish back to the wood 😳

I now use something called ’Smidge’, it’s one of the latest repellants that smells ok, doesn’t make your lips pucker up if you accidentally get it on them and I find it’s really effective.

are the midges in Scotland really small like those pesky biting black flies and do they get through the insect blinds you get on MHs?
 
I use vitamin B6, taken for a couple of month before we go, & I don’t go between May & August! The midges will get in the van, in your mouth, in your clothes....What you need is wind, as they can’t fly above 3mph! I come up in great bumps, & I’m one of those that they love. My husband uses me as his midge repellent, which is why he loves Scotland & I can take it or leave it!
 
Dont go to Scotland especially west in midge season unless you are prepared to bath in smidge or pray for wind and rain.
Yes the can get through van blinds or any small hole.
 
Stay on the east coast.
The midges don't seem to like it there.
We've been up here for 10 days now and not seen anything resembling a midge.
Currently at the top of the world at John O’Groats with wonderful views out over Orkney.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Best not to go in midge season I think.
 
Try reading my midge advice in the writing below this posting, hopefully it'll make sense.
Incidentally, you don't hear midges unless their right in your ear itself, they are not even similar to mosquitoes.
 
They will get you, the insect blinds have limited effect, if you open the door, switch off the lights first.

midge2.jpg


And invest in one of these sky midge.jpg
 
If no luck with Avon so soft, maybe try Tiger Balm, also used by the military , at least it was when I served.
Smells quite strong mentholy , but rather that than get bitten.
 
Answer is yes they are the tiny black biting flys

I was based on the West Coast of Scotland for four years in the marines and its just not worth going during May to August unless its raining or windy

Nothing repels them and head net just means you can concentrate more of them in one place while you watch them crawl throw the netting enr eat you alive

I've used super strength militery DEET, jungle juice and even peripeled clothing and still got bitten

Only thing that worked was tuck trousers into socks, wear gloves and tuck sleeves in them buff, head net and hat to keep net away from face and peripel everything

But Scotland is a lovely place

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Last edited:
I've hiked for years in Scotland and sometimes there's nothing you can do about it. They really are horrible wee things.
 
Pusscat said:
do they get through the insect blinds you get on MHs?
Click to expand...
They don't need to slow down to get through them :rolleyes:
Different things work for different people and some folk are just midge bate
Weather conditions are the big factor
Places we have been have been fine so far so a big hatch is probably due
 
No product works 100% for us but, some work a bit better than others for a short while. Avon sss we found to be worse than useless.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I lived in the west of Scotland most of my life and can honestly say that the only time I've been bothered by them is when I'm fishing in summer, late in the evening or very early in the morning or when walking through trees near water after rain when there's no wind.
Wind is the best recipe to avoid them and the west of Scotland is rarely short of wind(y)
 
They ate me last week near Loch Awe. Never been in midge season before and had no repellent or nets.

I didn’t realise the dog was being swarmed and called her in quickly, she shook as I slammed the door shut. It was like a movie scene where a black cloud erupted from her and began on me. :-(

In fact, it was so hot and uncomfortable with being shut up I have ordered a maxxair fan. 😂

It was amazing when it was windy though.

DEB8DAE6-C7AC-41CF-90CB-6385433BBB72.jpeg


145332A9-AD51-4094-AEEC-432F7286D36B.jpeg
 
Scottish midges are like Scottish football fans...

Small, plentyful, capable of packing quite a bite and complete with an inherited dislike of the bloody English.

JJ :cool:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I visit the East coast in summer, and the west coast in winter. Hardly ever need midgie repellent. I have seen some campsites where everything stops at 8:00 because you can’t venture out without a swarm attacking you.
w
 
They don’t like sun or wind and will hide under trees, in the shade. I’m in far north west at the moment - I don’t put the lights on at night until windows are shut. Just been kayaking then sitting out all afternoon in the sun (bit too strong for me 😳) and no misfires - as soon as it clouds over you’ll see them.
Smidge and a hat with a midge net over for me. We also have midge jackets but they’re a bit itchy.
 
I was in the garden yesterday and had to come back in and lather myself all over with smidge…Horseflies!
 
We have just returned from a 2 week tour of Dumfries and Galloway. Never saw any midges but we did stay near the coast and were warned against going up into the hills where they were a problem. This was our first visit to the area and we loved it. Wonderful scenery especially the estuaries, lots of castles to see, plenty of places to wild camp, and the locals could not have been more friendly. Highly recommended.
 
A good Briarwood pipe and an ounce of the Bogey Roll or Old Shag will deter the little blighters (and everything else of the annoying variety for that matter)
 
JJ said:
Scottish midges are like Scottish football fans...

Small, plentyful, capable of packing quite a bite and complete with an inherited dislike of the bloody English.

JJ :cool:
Click to expand...
Scots do not hate or dislike the English; unless the English concerned post comments having a pop at the Scots. The Scots tend to pity the English, because the Tartan Army goes to tournaments with the expectation that Scotland will work to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; and therefore settle down to await the exit,filling the time by celebrating in local bars with the local population and teaching the locals what a 'wee swallie' is, and how to consume it, etc. Several hours later, Tartan Army and locals are quietly steamin', and friends for life.

England fans on the other hand, attend tournaments with the expectation of actually winning, and without the appeal that the Tartan Army has to the local populace; and when defeat arrives, it is a bitter pill to swallow ... Entitlement deflated as amodernMilton might have written ...

Steve
 
Honestly. Dont underestimate them. The glens are the worst. Not as bad as the coast. East coast and Inverness fine. Glen afric was the worst I have ever seen in the world. Drove all the way up there, drove immediately all the way back to Inverness. Unbelievable. Nothing worked. Eaten alive.
 
marchie said:
Scots do not hate or dislike the English; unless the English concerned post comments having a pop at the Scots. The Scots tend to pity the English, because the Tartan Army goes to tournaments with the expectation that Scotland will work to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; and therefore settle down to await the exit,filling the time by celebrating in local bars with the local population and teaching the locals what a 'wee swallie' is, and how to consume it, etc. Several hours later, Tartan Army and locals are quietly steamin', and friends for life.

England fans on the other hand, attend tournaments with the expectation of actually winning, and without the appeal that the Tartan Army has to the local populace; and when defeat arrives, it is a bitter pill to swallow ... Entitlement deflated as amodernMilton might have written ...

Steve
Click to expand...
You are the king of generalisation.

Says the manx man.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top