Midges can be a serious nuisance. The worst places for midges in Scotland are the areas where you’ll find their preferred habitats such as wet, boggy, sheltered areas. These places include the north and west coast of Scotland and in the Highlands like Fort William, Glen Coe and the Great Glen. Generally, the east coast tends to be more midge-free. I’ve been using Smidge for years and out of all the insect repellents I’ve used it’s the only one I always make sure I’ve got ready to go in my suitcase. This product couldn’t come more highly recommended – it does the job and it is very affordable to boot.

We use some extra extra strong Deet we bought in Greenland which usually works. I do take vitamin B tablets but to be honest, I don't think they make much difference. I'd be dubious about garlic but must admit I've not tried it.There are several natural methods that can help to keep midges away. Some of these include using essential oils such as citronella, lavender, and peppermint which have natural insect-repelling properties. I use the oil version on the bowling green. It is quite effective but like the midges I hate the smell. Handmade in Scotland, Wee Midgie LAVENDER & BOG MYRTLE Candle Tin for repelling mosquitoes, midges and other pesky insects.

A midge-repellent machine is a device that uses ultrasonic or electromagnetic technology to repel midges. These machines work by emitting high-frequency sound waves or electromagnetic fields that are designed to be unpleasant to midges, but not harmful to humans or other animals. Hi I am not bothered with Midges but I do take it to the Carribean with me where it is suppossed to work for Mosqiutos, might just be me but i very rarely get bitten. Husband used to swear by smoking a pipe - the smellier the better.... The only problem was that he would be clear but I'd end up with clouds round me. These are really effective and suit outdoor eating scenarios, picnics and BBQs, although BBQ smoke does a good job of keeping the midges away too. Midges dislike the smell of the candles, so burn a couple at a time to double your chances of keeping them away. What time of year do midges come out in Scotland?Totally agree with DDootsie, folklore indeed...If it really worked, and it was proven it really kept biting insects and the like away, they would actively promote this and widely advertise if it was fact. Citronella, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus essential oils can be used as natural midge repellents. Citronella candles can be used to keep midges away when sitting outside or can be used to deter midges from the house. BBQ smoke is another effective deterrent. Homemade midge repellent can be made using a variety of natural ingredients such as essential oils and plant extracts. As with everything, there are a few negatives to this product which include not being waterproof, and I’m rather suspicious of the claimed 8 hours of protection from one covering.

All you need to do is spray your exposed areas. The spray should last long enough to ward off any potential mosquitoes. If you’re using a non-spray Avon product, you can rub the product over the exposed areas. We prefer to use insect repellents which don’t contain DEET or DMP. Although DEET and DMP are more effective than non-DEET or natural midge repellents, they are capable of melting some plastics (such as credit cards, glasses and synthetic clothing) and that’s not really something we want to put our skin. As non-DEET insect repellents seem to work fine for midges, we don’t find DEET repellents necessary. Best midge net for Scotland It is only the female midge that bites. When female midges emerge they have built up enough fat reserves as a larva to lay their first batch of eggs. To mature more batches of eggs than this initial batch, the female midge needs a blood meal. Icaridin works similar to DEET, but its adoption is not as widespread. For example, Canada only allowed the use of icaridin in 2012, a long time after the United States and the United Kingdom did. Take the bite and burn out of summer and give your family uninterrupted outdoor fun with the full collection of Bug Guard mosquito repellent and DEET-free bug sprays and lotions.Bought this for a holiday , partly as I know Avon products are good quality and then as it was recommended by friends. It was. A very good dry oil moisturiser as well as a useful insect repellent. I normally get bitten by everything, but using this I had no insect bites at all. I agree with the reviewer who disliked the initial smell, but I found the scent vanished within a couple of minutes. The recommended product to achieve that goal is Smidge which uses a proven formulation that deters midges while also being safe to use, non-greasy, well-priced, and comes in a tough, easy-to-use container. There are an estimated 181 trillion midges in Scotland and for every square metre of ground in the Highlands there could be 250,000 eggs waiting to hatch and go on the hunt for their next meal of tasty human blood. Midges have been around for thousands of years but with climate change, they are increasing their range and extending their season.