Joined: 24/4/2005 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 1157
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0  |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Gypsydoll on 11/10/2009Don't completely agree Andrew. Having lived in a midge-infested area of Scotland for several years (as well as holidays in others !) I & quite a few others are pretty sure that some folks do seem to get bitten more than others.
I am one of the fortunates. I am not allergic to the bite of the Highland midge. Most of the time I simply do not notice that I have been bitten - and any effects disappear very quickly.
We spent a week at the very small "Northern Lights" site at Badcaul several years ago. It must be the midge capital of the planet. One muggy evening, I went out for all of 10 minutes to refill the Aquaroll. When I returned, Mary noticed that I had midge bites all over me. We counted over 200 on the underside of my left forearm alone (they appear as little red circles, about 3mm across). They were not itchy or in any way uncomfortable. Within an hour, they had all disappeared.
Mary is allergic to the bite of the midge - and comes up in large red, very sore wheals that last for days. If she had changed the water instead of me, we'd probably have had to call an ambulance!!
We've been to midge infested parts of Scotland more than once every year for more than the last 10 years. If I hadn't had the experience at Badcaul, I'd have probably said that midges didn't bite me. It wouldn't have been true - it's simply that the bite has little effect on me.
As an aside, we do use midge repellants - they can be annoying, whether the bite affects you or not. The Avon stuff works to some degree but not very effectively and not for very long. We've tried just about everything that's available - and the only ones that effectively repel midges (for several hours) are those based upon DEET. We use one called Expedition Plus.
I don't know whether we have been lucky, but we've encountered very few midges in Scotland for the last couple of years. Last year, we spent two weeks at Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, a week at Reraig (on the mainland, near Skye) and a couple of weeks at Clachtoll. Only once did any of us encounter midges for more than a minute or two.
Visitors really need to take on board that midges are part of the price you pay for holidaying in such nice places. There's no need to be hairshirt about it, though - take or buy a DEET based repellant and Piriton or some other antihistamine for those who are allergic to the bite. Oh - and keep away from clegs (horseflies) - they can do you damage whether you are allergic to midge bites or not.
Andrew
Post last edited on 28/03/2010 17:52:23
|
Topic: Scottish Midges !!!!!
