Midges in Scotland: When They Bite, Where They Are Worst, and How to Survive Them
A midge is about a millimetre long, and on a still, damp evening in the West Highlands there can be tens of thousands of them around you within minutes. No other creature in Britain has ended as many camping trips a day early.
Scotland gets the reputation, and deserves it, but midges are a problem anywhere in Britain that is damp, sheltered and boggy. The Lake District, Snowdonia, the North York Moors, Dartmoor and Exmoor all have their moments. Scotland is simply the worst of it, so it leads this guide.
The good news is that midges are one of the most predictable pests there is. They have strict rules about wind, light and temperature, and once you know them you can plan a trip that dodges the worst of them entirely. This guide covers the season, the worst places and times, and what genuinely keeps them off.
It comes from Camping Sites in Britain, the place to find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the UK, and it is part of our wider guide to insects and wildlife that bother campers in Britain.
The short answer
- Season: late May to mid September, worst in July and early August
- Worst places: the West Highlands, the west coast, and anywhere damp, sheltered and boggy
- Worst times: dawn and dusk on still, humid, overcast days
- Your best defence is wind. Midges cannot fly in a breeze above about 7mph, so an exposed pitch is close to midge-free
- Repellent: Smidge (saltidin) or a DEET product, plus a head net for when it is truly bad
- Check the Scottish midge forecast before you commit to a west coast site in summer
What are midges, exactly?
The main culprit is Culicoides impunctatus, the Highland midge, responsible for the overwhelming majority of midge bites in Britain. It is a tiny fly, around 1 to 2mm, far smaller than a mosquito and effectively silent. Despite the name it is not confined to Scotland: it is found across upland and western Britain wherever the ground is wet enough. As with mosquitoes and horseflies, only the females bite, because they need a blood meal to develop their eggs.
What makes them so much worse than a mosquito is numbers and behaviour. Midges swarm, they are drawn to the carbon dioxide you breathe out, and once one starts feeding it releases a signal that brings others. A single midge is nothing. The problem is that there is never a single midge.
They cannot bite through clothing, which is central to beating them. Every midge bite is on exposed skin, so covering up genuinely works in a way it does not for horseflies.
When is midge season in Scotland?
| Month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April to mid May | The first generation hatches. Numbers still low. Good camping |
| Late May to June | Building fast, especially after warm wet spells. Noticeable by mid June |
| July | Usually the worst month. Second generation emerges and numbers peak |
| August | Still very bad, particularly the first half |
| September | Easing through the month. Much better by late September |
| October to March | Effectively gone. Camp in peace |
If you are planning a Highland or west coast camping trip and midges are your main worry, the two good windows are April to mid May and late September onwards. A trip in the second half of May can also be excellent. July and August in the west is where people get their worst midge stories.
Where midges are worst in Scotland
Scotland's midge problem is heavily weighted to the west, and to a very specific kind of ground.
- The West Highlands and west coast are the epicentre. Glen Coe, Glen Nevis, Fort William, Skye, Knoydart, Ardnamurchan and the western sea lochs are all classic midge country
- Damp, boggy, sheltered ground is what they breed in. Midges lay eggs in wet peaty soil, so anywhere with standing water and no wind is a nursery
- The east coast is far better. Drier and often breezier, the east and the Cairngorm side of the country are noticeably less affected
- Higher, exposed ground catches more wind and holds fewer midges. Ridges and summits are usually a relief
- Woodland edges and long grass near water are worse than open, short, breezy ground
The single best thing you can do when choosing a pitch is pick somewhere the wind reaches. A sheltered spot by a loch looks idyllic and is often unbearable at dusk. An exposed, slightly breezy pitch fifty metres away can be almost midge-free.
Midges in the rest of the UK
Scotland is the worst, but it is not alone. Anywhere with the same recipe, high rainfall, peaty or boggy ground and shelter from the wind, produces biting midges through the summer.
- The Lake District and Cumbria. The wettest corner of England, and it shows. Borrowdale, Wasdale and the western valleys can be genuinely bad on a still July evening
- Snowdonia and mid Wales. Damp upland and forestry ground, particularly around Eryri and the Cambrian Mountains
- The Pennines, North York Moors and the Peak District. Boggy moorland holds midges, worst in sheltered cloughs and near reservoirs
- Dartmoor and Exmoor. The West Country's wet moorland has its own midge season, milder than Scotland but real
- Northern Ireland shares the west of Scotland's damp, mild climate and gets midges to match, especially in the west
The pattern is the same everywhere: damp and sheltered is bad, dry and breezy is fine. Lowland, eastern and coastal England away from marsh sees very few midges, which is why most English campers only meet them properly on a trip north or west. The season and the tactics below apply wherever you are.
When midges bite: the rules that save you
Midges have hard limits, and every one of them is a way to avoid being bitten. This is why they are beatable in a way that horseflies are not.
| Condition | Effect on midges |
|---|---|
| Wind above about 7mph | Grounded. They cannot fly. This is your biggest weapon |
| Bright sunshine | They retreat. Midges dislike direct sun and dry air |
| Temperature below about 10°C | Largely inactive |
| Heavy rain | Knocks them down, though light drizzle does not |
| Dawn, roughly 5 to 9am | Peak biting |
| Dusk, roughly 6 to 10pm | Peak biting |
| Still, humid, overcast, warm | The worst combination there is |
The practical upshot for a camper: cook and eat your evening meal early, before dusk, or accept that you will be doing it inside a head net. Get camp chores done in the breezy middle of the day. And on a still, grey, warm evening by water in July, plan to be inside the tent or the awning when the light starts to go.
The midge forecast
Scotland has a genuine midge forecast, and it is worth using. The Scottish Midge Forecast combines readings from biting-midge traps and mini weather stations across the country to predict daily midge activity on a scale, region by region, a few days ahead.
Check it before you commit to a west coast site in summer, the same way you would check a weather forecast. A high midge day and a still, humid outlook is a strong hint to head east, go higher, or pick a coastal pitch that catches the wind.
What actually keeps midges off
| Method | Does it work? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A midge head net | Yes, completely | The only thing that fully works when they are really bad. Weighs nothing. Pack one |
| An exposed, breezy pitch | Yes, the biggest single factor | Free, and more effective than any spray |
| Covering up | Yes | Midges cannot bite through fabric. Long sleeves, trousers, a buff at the neck |
| Smidge (saltidin/picaridin) | Yes | The DEET-free repellent designed for midges. Widely used in Scotland, lasts hours |
| DEET repellent | Yes | Effective. Up to 50% per NHS guidance. Damages some plastics and synthetics |
| Avon Skin So Soft | Partly, briefly | A Highland folk favourite. The oil masks your scent, but protection is short, maybe a couple of hours |
| Midge coils and incense | Partly | Some effect in still air right beside them, gone in any breeze |
| A midge jacket | Yes | Fine mesh over your clothes. Looks ridiculous, works completely, popular with anglers |
| Light coloured clothing | Slightly | Midges are drawn to dark colours, so light clothing helps a little |
| Ultrasonic gadgets and apps | No | No evidence whatsoever |
| Vitamin B and Marmite | No | Highland pub wisdom. No evidence |
The winning combination for a bad midge night is simple: a breezy pitch, covered skin, Smidge or DEET on the bits you cannot cover, and a head net in your pocket for when it tips over into unbearable. Our guide to the best insect repellents for campers covers what to buy.
Protecting your tent and pitch
- Pitch where the wind reaches. Repeated because it matters more than anything else
- Zip the inner tent before dusk, not after. Once midges are inside they will not leave, and the inner mesh is designed to keep them out
- Get in and out quickly and keep the inner zipped between times. A porch light on at dusk with the door open fills the tent
- Have a head net on before you get out in the morning, because dawn is peak biting and you will be groggy
- Camp on short, open, breezy ground rather than the sheltered spot by the burn
- A midge-proof mesh shelter or awning is worth its weight for cooking and sitting out on a Highland trip
Treating midge bites
Midge bites are small, intensely itchy red spots, usually in clusters because you were bitten many times at once. Most need nothing beyond not scratching them.
- Wash the area with soap and water
- Apply something cold to take the sting and itch out
- Use an antihistamine tablet or a hydrocortisone cream on a bad reaction
- Try hard not to scratch, which is what turns an itchy bite into a broken, infected one
Some people react far more strongly than others, with larger weals that last for days. That is a normal individual difference, not an allergy in the dangerous sense. See a pharmacist or GP if a bite becomes hot, spreading and increasingly painful over a few days, which points to infection. Call 999 for the rare signs of a severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face or throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing or dizziness. Full advice is on the NHS insect bites and stings page.
Should midges put you off Scotland?
No. Millions of people camp in the Highlands every summer and have the trip of a lifetime, midges and all. They are a nuisance, not a danger, they carry no disease in Britain, and they are avoidable with a bit of planning.
The mistake is pretending they are not there. Turn up to Glen Nevis in late July with no head net and no repellent and you will have a miserable evening. Turn up prepared, pick breezy pitches, eat early and carry a net, and they fade into a running joke rather than a trip-ender.
Frequently asked questions
When is midge season in Scotland?
Late May to mid September, peaking in July and early August. The quiet windows for camping are April to mid May and late September onwards. The west is far worse than the east throughout.
Where in Scotland is worst for midges?
The West Highlands and west coast: Glen Coe, Glen Nevis, Fort William, Skye and the western sea lochs, plus anywhere damp, boggy and sheltered. The drier, breezier east coast and the Cairngorms are much better.
Do you only get midges in Scotland?
No. Scotland is the worst, but the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Pennines, Dartmoor, Exmoor and Northern Ireland all get biting midges wherever the ground is damp and sheltered. Dry, breezy, lowland and eastern England sees very few.
What actually keeps midges away?
Wind is the biggest factor, since midges cannot fly above about 7mph, so pick an exposed pitch. Then cover up, use Smidge or DEET on exposed skin, and carry a head net for when they are at their worst.
Does Avon Skin So Soft work on midges?
Partly. The oil-based formula masks your scent and gives short-term protection, and it is a long-standing Highland favourite, but it wears off within a couple of hours. A dedicated repellent like Smidge lasts far longer.
What time of day are midges worst?
Dawn, roughly 5 to 9am, and dusk, roughly 6 to 10pm, especially on still, humid, overcast days. The breezy, bright middle of the day is usually the safest time to be out.
Do midges carry disease?
Not in Britain. Scottish midges are a comfort problem, not a health risk. The only real complication is a bite scratched until it becomes infected.
How do I stop midge bites itching?
Cool the bite, use an antihistamine tablet or hydrocortisone cream, and resist scratching. Cold is the most effective quick relief. See a pharmacist if a bite becomes hot and spreading, which suggests infection.
The short version
Midges are the price of a Scottish summer, and a cheap one if you plan for it. Go in May or late September if you can, camp where the wind reaches, cover up, carry Smidge and a head net, and check the midge forecast before a west coast trip.
Do that and the Highlands are yours. Ignore it and the Highlands belong to the midges.
For everything else that bites, stings or raids your food in Britain, see our complete guide to camping pests in Britain.
