What do you do about midges in Scotland?

[shinyshilling]

We are thinking about going to the Highlands of Scotland for our summer holiday but are a bit worried about the midges. We have never been in summer before and wonder if they really are a bad problem and perhaps a reason not to go. I get bitten really badly, DH not so much and don't know about DD as she's only 3 mnth. Anyone have any inside information or any repellant remedies?

the best repellant is to avoid any area near water from july-sept.

you could get a net for the bairn's cot and buggy. that should help.

skin so soft from avon oil is good.
get a net for dd. midges are only bad when the sun goes down or like expat says if you are near water. there are a few good repellants on the market but hopefully your dd should be in her net proffed cot by the time the midges come out. you and your dp could use deet. it is fab. you can also get midge repellant candles etc.
definately worth the trip though some beautiful places up here...

DEET rules!

but it can be used on a baby that young.

we're going to the perthshire highlands for a week in June w/my mum and dad, and i'm taking TWO nets for dd2 in case one meets w/an accidents.

also try to use only unscented personal hygiene products and leave the perfume at home.

sorry, it canNOT be used on a young baby or child - DEET, that is.

try that stuff called Jungle.

we went to see pals who live on a loch in Argyll last July and the Jungle stuff was pretty good.

Another vote for skin so soft oil spray by avon (it is the green one - soft and fresh) I live on the west coast of scotland and have tried lots of things! Also the worst time seems to be in the evening when it is just starting to get dark. hth!

Try a health shop and look for something citronella based. Only really a prob in the early evening/dusk and not as bad as mozzie bites. Assume you're not camping? If so shouldn't be a huge deal.

Went to Arran in July few years ago. Fantastic weather but from about 4pm until it went dark we had to be inside a closed bulding or tent(zipped in). The midges were that determined. If its really bad you can buy midge cowls that fit over the head from outdoor shops (look rediculous but work). All we did was plan to be by a breeze (eg the sea)or inside. Dh covered himself with repellent which helped but the air was just thick with the creatures. Really lovely holiday though.

we have the skin so soft lotion (pink one) does that not work????

the good (relatively) news is that if it's rainy or windy, as it often is, the midges don't come out much.

Try and camp/stay away from water if at all possible. Put baby in all in one sleepsuit and hat whenever it's midge time, so you don't have to use too much repellent on her.

We've camped in Scotland with little babies, they've been fine.

We used citronella coils from a camping shop. They're slow burning and you just leave it outside your tent. They worked, and if your DD's not yet mobile, they should be OK. Also, another vote for Moyasmum's idea of midge cowls. Only ever to be worn when there's NO danger of possibly meeting anyone you know.

I remember as a child camping by a loch in the summer and having to dig through a centimetre thick crust of midges in the marmite jar! Ah those were the days...

Diesel also works but obviously not what you want to put on a baby. I know many a trucker or scout leader who swears by it.

The army at one point were issuing Skin So Soft. It should be quite good if they're using it. Some people don't seem to get bothered by them. I don't get bitten that much, DH gets bitten but it doesn't bother him.

What is worse than midges is the cleg. Cleg bites go really big and sore. I think they're a bit like horse flys.

Yes the native Scottish flying insects are pointless, painful and down-right annoying.

nope it has to be the oil, sopheable

Mosiguard, it's mostly citronella, I swear by it.
Midges LOVE ME, alas.