Best Insect Repellents for Camping in the UK: What Actually Works
· Updated
For camping in Britain, the repellent that works hardest is one containing 50% DEET. It gives the strongest and longest protection against midges, mosquitoes, ticks and horseflies, which are the four biters you will actually meet here. If you want something kinder on skin and gear, 20% picaridin (also sold as icaridin) is very nearly as good and far more pleasant to use.
That is the short answer. What follows is the detail: which active ingredient to pick for which trip, the concentration that matters, and the two things a spray cannot do, namely stop midges swarming your face or keep wasps off your lunch. This is part of our guide to camping pests in Britain, from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites across the UK.
The active ingredients that work
Only four active ingredients are worth your money in the UK, and the concentration on the label matters as much as the name. A higher percentage of DEET does not repel more insects, it just keeps working for longer before you need to reapply.
| Active ingredient | Strength to buy | Best against | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEET | 50% | Midges, mosquitoes, ticks, horseflies | Strongest and longest lasting. Can damage plastics and synthetic fabrics |
| Picaridin (icaridin) | 20% | Midges, mosquitoes, ticks | Kinder on skin, no strong smell, safe on gear and watch straps |
| Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) | 30% | Mosquitoes, midges | The natural option that actually holds up. Shorter protection, reapply more often |
| Saltidin (in Smidge) | 20% | Highland midges | Picaridin by another name, the standard choice for Scotland |
DEET
DEET is the benchmark every other repellent is measured against. At 50% it protects for the longest and copes with everything that bites in Britain, which is why it is the one to pack if you are only taking one bottle. The main downsides are practical: it feels greasy, it smells, and it can melt plastic sunglasses, watch straps and some synthetic clothing, so keep it off your kit and wash your hands after applying.
You do not need anything above 50%. Higher concentrations add barely any extra hours and a great deal more of the DEET drawbacks, which is why UK travel clinics and the NHS settle on 20% to 50% as the useful range.
Picaridin, also sold as icaridin
Picaridin at 20% is the best all-rounder for most campers. It matches DEET closely against midges, mosquitoes and ticks, but it is odourless, non-greasy and does not attack plastics or fabric, so you can spray it near your tent, your phone and your sunglasses without a second thought. If you find DEET unpleasant, this is the swap to make.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD)
Oil of lemon eucalyptus is the one plant-based repellent with real evidence behind it, because the active compound PMD works much like the synthetics do. A 30% formula gives solid protection against mosquitoes and midges, just for a shorter stretch, so you reapply more often. Note this is the refined product, not neat essential oil dabbed on from a health shop, which does very little. It is not recommended for children under three.
Saltidin and Smidge for Scottish midges
If Scotland is on the itinerary, Smidge is the name to know. Its active ingredient is Saltidin, which is simply another brand of picaridin at 20%, and it has become the default midge repellent on the west coast and in the Highlands for good reason. It is effective, does not reek, and is gentle enough for repeated daily use across a week of camping. Planning a Highland trip means checking a midge forecast as well as packing repellent, and you can browse pitches on our Highlands campsite listings.
Repellent does nothing for wasps and bees
This is the single most useful thing to understand. DEET, picaridin and lemon eucalyptus are formulated for biting insects, and they have no effect whatsoever on wasps or bees. Spraying yourself before a picnic in August will not keep a single wasp away.
Stinging insects are a food and pitch problem, not a chemical one. Keep food covered, clear plates immediately, never drink from an open can in late summer, and set a jam decoy a few metres from your table. The full tactics are in our guide to keeping wasps away when camping.
Head nets: the only thing that beats bad midges
When midges are truly bad, no spray on earth keeps them off your face, and a head net is the only reliable answer. The Highland midge peaks from June to July on the west coast, swarms at dawn and dusk on still, humid days, and cannot fly in wind above about 6mph. A net weighs almost nothing, costs a few pounds and folds into a pocket, so there is no reason to leave it at home for a Scottish trip.
Pair the net with a 20% picaridin or Smidge on any exposed skin, pitch somewhere breezy rather than in a sheltered hollow by water, and you can sit out an evening that would otherwise drive you into the tent. Our full guide covers where and when the worst of it happens: midges in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Permethrin-treated clothing for ticks
For ticks, the strongest defence goes on your clothes, not your skin. Permethrin is an insecticide you spray or soak into trousers, socks and gaiters, where it kills ticks on contact before they reach you. It bonds to fabric, survives several washes, and is the standard approach for anyone spending time in long grass, bracken or woodland edge, which is where ticks wait.
Use it alongside a skin repellent rather than instead of one, since permethrin is for fabric only and should not go on skin. Tuck trousers into socks, wear light colours so you can spot ticks, and check yourself every evening: behind the knees, the waistband, the armpits and the hairline. Ticks carry Lyme disease, the one genuine health risk in this list, so read our guide to ticks and Lyme disease in the UK before a trip to the Highlands, the Lake District or the New Forest.
How to apply repellent properly
Application matters as much as the product. Cover exposed skin evenly rather than dabbing a few spots, because insects find any gap you leave. Apply sunscreen first, then repellent on top, and reapply after swimming or heavy sweating and at the interval the label states.
- Spray onto your hands and wipe it over your face rather than spraying it straight at your eyes and mouth
- Keep DEET off plastics, painted surfaces, sunglasses and synthetic fabric, which it can damage
- Wash it off once you are back in the tent for the night
- For children, choose the lower concentrations and follow the age guidance on the pack
Mosquitoes here carry no disease, so protecting against them is about comfort, not safety. Zip the inner tent before dusk and pitch away from standing water, as covered in our guide to dealing with mosquitoes while camping.
What to pack for a British trip
For most of England and Wales, a single bottle of 20% picaridin covers midges, mosquitoes and ticks and is pleasant enough to use every day. Add permethrin for your trousers if you are heading into tick country, and add a head net and a Smidge for anywhere in Scotland from June onwards. Keep 50% DEET as the heavy option for the worst evenings. You can compare pitches across the country on our campsite listings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best insect repellent for camping in the UK?
A repellent with 50% DEET gives the strongest, longest protection against midges, mosquitoes, ticks and horseflies. For a kinder, odourless option that is almost as effective, choose 20% picaridin, sold in the UK as Smidge for midges.
What percentage of DEET should I use?
Around 50% is the useful maximum. A higher percentage lasts longer between applications but does not repel more insects, and above 50% you gain very little. UK travel guidance recommends 20% to 50% DEET for adults.
Does insect repellent keep wasps and bees away?
No. DEET, picaridin and lemon eucalyptus only work on biting insects such as midges, mosquitoes, ticks and horseflies. Wasps and bees are managed by covering food, clearing up quickly and choosing your pitch, not by spraying repellent.
What actually works against Scottish midges?
A head net is the only reliable defence when midges are swarming, paired with a 20% picaridin repellent such as Smidge. Pitch somewhere breezy, since midges cannot fly in wind above about 6mph, and avoid still, humid evenings by water.
How do I stop ticks when camping?
Treat trousers, socks and gaiters with permethrin, which kills ticks on the fabric, and use a DEET or picaridin repellent on skin. Tuck trousers into socks, wear light colours, and check your body for ticks every evening.
Are natural insect repellents any good?
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) is the one plant-based repellent with real evidence, giving decent protection but for a shorter time, so reapply often. Neat citronella or essential oils dabbed on the skin do very little by comparison.
The short version
Pack 20% picaridin for everyday use, 50% DEET for the worst nights, a head net and Smidge for Scotland, and permethrin on your trousers for tick country. Remember that no spray touches wasps or bees, which are a food and pitch problem instead.
Get the ingredient and the concentration right and Britain's biters become a minor footnote to a good trip. For the full picture of what bites, stings and raids your food, and when to get medical help, see our guide to camping pests in Britain. Detailed treatment advice for bites and stings is on the NHS insect bites and stings page.
