Midges or midgies are the tiny biting insects familiar to travellers in Scotland. What you need to know about Scottish midges, when they appear and how to defend yourself.
Contents:
» about midges
» Appearance
» Fending off midges
In a nutshell:
- When? Mainly in summer. Depending on the weather, the season runs roughly from May to October; no date guarantees a midge-free trip.
- Where? Especially the western Highlands, islands and damp, sheltered places. Early mornings and evenings can be particularly troublesome.
- What to pack? Repellent suitable for midges, long clothing and a fine-mesh head net for heavy swarms.
- Check locally: Use the Scottish Midge Forecast to help plan your day.
Everything has its price. Even the beauty of the Highlands. The wild green comes from lush soil due to lots of rain. Unfortunately, this is exactly what some insects love. And so various bloodsuckers make life difficult for outdoor tourists in Scotland.
There is a whole range of pests: Horseflies, black flies – and of course the famous Highland midges. It is the most common.
What exactly are midges?
The Highland midge(Culicoides impunctatus) is a tiny biting midge. The Highland midge is just two millimetres long. It has only one pair of wings with small dots on them.
However, only the females are dangerous to humans. They need protein, which they find in blood, to lay their eggs. The midges are not picky. They will feed on pretty much any mammal.
Midges bite: their mouthparts cut the skin so they can feed on blood.
To speed up the blood flow, the midge pumps its histamine-laced saliva into the wound. Histamine has the property of dilating small blood vessels. At the same time, it is responsible for the reaction of the skin – the itchy spot that gives us an unpleasant time.
The Highland midge detects its victim by smelling its breath, more precisely carbon dioxide. The midge can do this within a radius of a hundred metres! So no escape …
Why are there so many midges in the Highlands?
In the west of Scotland, rainfall is on average twice as high as in the east. Together with the peat of the land, this provides midges with an ideal area for breeding. This is because midges like to lay their eggs on the edges of bogs and ponds. There the larvae can hatch, develop and overwinter.
Are Scottish midges dangerous?
Anyone who reacts violently to the bites of midges will not have fun. However, Highland midges still do not transmit any dangerous diseases – unlike many biting insects in Africa or Asia. In this respect, midges are more of a nuisance than a real danger for most people.
When do midges become active?
The good news is that midges need certain conditions to be able to fly:
- High temperature
Below 10 degrees Celsius is not good for midges - Low wind
The wind speed must be below 10 KM/h. In other words, even a light wind disturbs the mosquito’s flight. For comparison: A storm starts at 83 KM/h. - Little light
The pests do not like brightness. They prefer dim light – which is why they prefer to appear at dusk. However, rain clouds can also create these light conditions. And there are plenty of them in Scotland. - High humidity
Midges do not become active in dry air. They only feel comfortable at a relative humidity of around 70 per cent. They love 90 per cent. So when the feeling of sultriness sets in, the midges are in a really good mood. Even light rain doesn’t bother them.
How can I defend myself against midges in the Highlands?
1. Choose a time with fewer midges
According to VisitScotland, midge season typically runs from May to October, with peak activity in midsummer. Timing and intensity depend on the weather and location.
Spring before May or later autumn may help you avoid the largest swarms. Late September is not automatically midge-free, and midges can still be active in October.
Weather and daylight also matter. See my guide to the best time to visit Scotland to weigh up the options.
2. Avoid midges with the help of the midge forecast
This website shows which places in Scotland are more or less affected by midges on a daily basis:
So if you are reasonably flexible in your travel route, you can avoid the midge areas.
Otherwise, you can at least prepare yourself mentally.
3. Mosquito repellent to ward off midges
Choose by active ingredient and the instructions on the label. Look for a product intended for biting midges.
Smidge: This widely available Scottish repellent contains 20% picaridin, also called icaridin or Saltidin, according to the manufacturer. It is DEET-free, but that does not mean it is suitable for everyone without restrictions.
DEET: Another active ingredient used in insect repellents. Choose a suitable product and follow its instructions. The highest possible concentration is not, by itself, a useful selection criterion.
Avon Skin So Soft: Traveller experiences vary. I would not rely on it alone for protection from midges.
Using repellent: Follow the age limits, application areas and reapplication guidance on the label. Ask a pharmacist about products for children or sensitive skin. Combine repellent with long clothing and a head net.
The graphic shows responses to my 2024 Facebook survey in the group “Schottland – Reisen und Entdecken”. It records personal experiences, not a controlled effectiveness test, and does not establish that one product is best for everyone.
4. Simple protection: wear clothing that closes well
Besides the fact that midges bite, they are also annoying because they fly in your face. This can be particularly annoying when you are hiking. The right clothing can help against this. A jacket with Velcro fasteners at the sleeve ends and a tight-fitting collar helps prevent the animals from crawling in everywhere. A hat or cap in combination with a scarf („buff“) protects the face. Very sensitive people can buy a hat with a mosquito veil.
5. Light-coloured clothing is less attractive to mosquitoes
This should also help: Midges are mainly attracted to dark-coloured clothing. To prevent this, you can wear colourful and light-coloured fabrics.
Sources:
- „Biting Midges in Scotland“ by SNH, unfortunately no longer available online
- Histamine
- … and of course my own experience from many Highland trips