Camping this summer

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I'm planning to bring my children (5&3) to Scotland camping in August. We've got 3 days at the fringe and then headed north but currently no fixed destination.

However I'm beginning to have genuine anxiety about the midges. Is it just a really really bad idea? Of if we stick to the coast will we be okay? I'm not usually an anxious traveller but I think the combo of the unknown and the fact that I'll be solo with two small people is causing me anxt.

I've had the tips about bracelets and Avon cream and long sleeves/trousers etc but people still keep telling me it's awful. I was so excited for the trip but feeling so concerned about it I'm wondering if I'd be best off cancelling and coming in the October half term or something instead. Though even that in itself would be such a shame as the current plan is to be there for a month!

Help? Any places better/worse than others?

depends on where you’re planning on going really, west coast is generally worst for them then the east coast. For what it’s worth I find Avon so soft useless, smidge I much prefer.

Sea breeze and east coast and it'll be fine. Since you are doing so long, you could do shorter trips across to the west and then escape to less midgie areas.

If you go west, try to get a campsite that allows fires as the snake generally helps too.

Smoke not snake... 😂

thank goodness!!

Okay the fact that the first two posters haven't said 'you're nuts, don't go!' is at least alleviating some of my crazy anxiety. I swear I never worried this much before having children.

Iv never been camping in the north of Scotland but i am not aware thats its a thing to avoid certain areas at certain times of years because of midgies? I live on the east coast near Edinburgh with a lot of coutryside closeby, and have been bitten many times by midgies over the years, they are nothing like mostiquito bites, unless you have allergies or some other reason to be panicking, iv never thought of them as being a big deal and i never take any preparations to avoid them. Dont let them stop your trip!!!

Thats interesting to know that someone relatively local hasn't been aware/worried by it. Thank you!! I've read pretty insane tales from The Road to Hildersay, and other books and a few forums. Then I googled 'scottish midges' and these were the first results, and I started to wonder if it was a good idea.

I live on the coast of NE Scotland and have never been bitten. And I am always the one who gets bitten half to death when we’re abroad.

I live near the coast in NE Scotland, don't get bitten here. However, west is a different story, we only go west up til end May, and then after late September. I get a really nasty reaction from the buggers which lasts for weeks. I sprayed myself with Smidge and Skin so,Soft, which brought me up in spots, nearly as bad as the midges! OH doesn't suffer from them much, blood not so sweet 😄. And not to worry you, but make sure you have a tick remover

Thanks! I work outside so have 3 stashed in various bags and car compartments!!

Okay so stay east. I'm so glad I asked.

You can get outdoor citronella candles that are safe to stick in the ground. Burning them will help to keep midges away in the evening. Apparently they detest Vitamin B, so eating marmite on a regular basis prior to the trip might help ward them off - sounds like an old wives tale but I’m a prolific eater of marmite and am rarely bitten…..

Iv seen these photos with body parts covered in midgies doing the rounds on social media but iv never seen anything like it in my life. I talk to neighbours and friends etc about the weather and normal things people experience in daily life in Scotland but we have never once mentioned whether anyone has had a midgey attack etc. Please report back with how you get on, im intrigued now!

The Borders are beautiful, people often miss it driving up to the more spectacular north west, and Aberdeenshire is lovely, Speyside and the Don, the NE coast, lots of gorgeous beaches, and no midges!
we have a campervan, and usually wild camp, once in the west we parked overnight and in the morning the windscreen was like the pictures - midge soup! Poor DH had to go outside and switch off the gas 😱
anyway, enjoy Scotland, wherever you go.

You will be fine around Edinburgh. As other posters have said West Coast/Highlands they can be evil and terrible. East Coast not an issue especially of staying by the coast. Moray coast is amazing for camping and we have never had an issue with them.

We won't go to the West Coast between mid June and Sept as it can be bad and we had our tent turn black with a swarm of them