Is Scotland really that bad in August?

[drumandhake]

I'm from down south and considering a camping holiday next August in Scotland as far north as I can go for about a month. All I keep hearing about is the midges, are they really that bad?
Will have a seven and five year old with me.

We went to Mull end of July.. 1 half hour instance of midges then none the rest of the week!!
Went to Iona and had our own private beach!!
Amazing!!
Brought all midge repellent home unopened!

I live on the coast (Moray Firth) near Inverness. We have had a fantastic summer, sunshine all summer long since the end of May with only the occasional day of rain. We have beautiful beaches and no midges.

@Tailendofsummer

Don't they just come near water?

No. You're thinking of mosquitoes, which breed in water. Midges don't.

They breed on land in shady moist conditions, and the west coast of Scotland is often wet and cloudy so very midgy.

The Scottish East coast and north east climate is much drier and sunnier, less rain and
cloud cover , so midges are rarely a problem there.

Really only an issue on the West Coast. Further north and the east coast don't have the midge problem.
Locals here (west coast) swear by Avon Skin So Soft as the only thing that puts the little blighters off.

I find this is the best midge repellent and the fragrance is lush.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whites-Unstung-Mosquito-Cologne-250ml/dp/B072YJQBGS/ref=sr11_24?dchild=1&keywords=White+midge&qid=1633554143&sr=8-24

The further west you go the worse they get (and remember that Scotland is "tilted" to the west not straight up and down like on the weather map, so the northern Highlands are further west than Galloway, for example).

Eastern and Central Scotland are generally fine. West of about Killin gets midgier. They're also worse near woods, so bear that in mind choosing a site or pitch.. Everywhere you can expect to get a bite or two per day, especially in warm, humid weather.

Second the east coast. Moray firth, beauly firth, black isle all great and no midge issue. Same goes for Aberdeenshire and Angus.
We also love Dumfries and Galloway. There's loads to do there for kids too. The area around Kirkcudbright is great.
West is luck of the draw. Sunny and breezy and you are okay but it can be awful

That should be "anywhere" you can expect a bite or two, even in the less midgie areas.

I've just come this August/September from Isle of Skye and surrounding area.

They were absolutely fine. No bites at all. Though we did have fine weather.
They were far worse in northern England.

Eat lots of marmite before you go and you will be fi ne, midges don't like it.

I found it fine! Only place very thick was fairy pools, we saw people wearing those head covers

I live in the west. It’s not always that bad and we can actually get great weather in august normally around the 16th/17th when our kids go back to school.

Get some Avon skin so soft and you’ll be grand!

I come from Scotland and always maintain that the best months, weather wise, are May and September.

I live in Scotland and have never been bitten by a midge ever. I have never really encountered them at all. August is a lovely time to come and visit.

Avoid camping near trees.

The irony - I'm Scottish and midges never bother me as I avoid where they are and dusk outside near pine trees. However - The English Lakes - got pushed by swarms of the blessed things.

I grew up near the west coast and seen swarms all the time but they never bothered me too much. They don’t seem to like my taste lol. I find they are worse when the weather cools a hit, when it’s really warm like the heatwave we had recently o never came across many but I remember there would be swarms on my way home from school in late August.

I'm in the North East and go camping nearby all the time in the summer. Its really not that bad here. Lossiemouth has silversands holiday park, right on the beach and has a swimming pool and entertainment then there's Roseisle for wild camping, they have a toilet there and the beach is just beautiful, also a nice forest, Findhorn is also really nice. Roseisle is by far my favourite though. Never been bitten at all and I'm probably camping for a month or so from around May to October.

Another one living on the west coast of Scotland here, it’s fine! Midges either bother you or they don’t, I could stand in a cloud of them for an hour and not get bitten once, DH can’t be within 5 miles of them without being eaten alive. There’s only one way you’ll find out though…

I am on Mull now!! Weather glorious!! No midges!
Been here 5 days.
Have seen 2 golden eagles, seals, Highland cows, many buzzards. Awaiting an otter sighting for a full house!!

And dozens of deer!!

I live on the West Coast of Scotland and have camped all around Scotland. I honestly don't think they're that bad. They are a pain in the arse at times but take a citronella candle, the ones that throw in the fire and smidge and you'll be absolutely fine!

Anywhere around standing water you'll be eaten alive! Get a good smokey fire going and some midge spray and you'll be all good though.

Watch out for ticks too.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW AWFUL THE MIDGE SWARMS CAN BE 🤣 seriously. I have some baaaad camping memories of wrapping wet towels over our heads

@BathshebaKnickerStickers

Oh campsite at Loch Lomond also horrible

Yep, decamped at 6am with my mild-mannered DH calling me names as I crawled under the tent flap to escape the blighters. We lived in Scotland for years but only got midged then, never again...