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hello there we are goint to be touring scotland this year but we want to go before the midges get going, when is the best time to go to hopefully miss them

hope to get our first outing this week

We went mid September last year and never saw a single blighter

Jane

THIS site will give you a fairly accurate forcast of the worst areas. However, it is too early in the season and it is not up and running for 2008 yet.

Camping anywhere where there will be a breeze, will help to keep the Midges away. They tend to prefer still air, usually near to moist or boggy areas. So anywhere coastal or on high ground.

I live in Argyll and despite the damp conditions of last summer, I was bitten twice through the year and on each occasion, taking one Priton tablet soon afterwards, and the bites cleared up almost immediately. I would never go anywhere camping unless I had Piriton with me. They are thee most important part of our camping equipment.

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 29/3/2008

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THIS site will give you a fairly accurate forcast of the worst areas. However, it is too early in the season and it is not up and running for 2008 yet.

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Thans for the link LD, I will be making good use of that later. 

I am often badly affected by them and sometimes have to resort to tablets.  Trouble is if I drink only one can of beer it feels like six.  It can be a good economy measure but can also be very inconveinient.  Would Piriton be likely to have that effect do you know?

 

>>> hello there we are goint to be touring scotland this year but we want to go before the midges get going, when is the best time to go to hopefully miss them  <<<

YESTERDAY  

>>> hello there we are goint to be touring scotland this year but we want to go before the midges get going, when is the best time to go to hopefully miss them  <<<

 

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Winter !!!   

Seriously. If your camping then have a camp fire in the evenings they hate smoke.

Quote: Originally posted by anniemac on 29/4/2008

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As all have said above, before end of may and after September. East coast not affected normally, and a lovely part of Scotland. Obviously our favorite, so much so we bought a house here 10 years ago! Banff Links is our favorite site, brilliant beach. We have stayed there many many times, in all units from small tent to static, highly recommended.

Avon skin so soft is a very good repellant, applied liberally, and the midges cannot get a grip. If you are affected, piriton as said above would be essential. apparently birds eat midges so anywhere with lots of birds is good? anyone else heard this?

Good luck.

Annie

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I agree re the East Coast Annie.  Not always quite so dramatic scenery as the North and West but with the advantages of not so many visitors or midges.

Non of the midge repellants seem to work for me.  It's a case of trying to keep skin covered and taking anti-histamine if needed. 

Some birds might take lots of midges, swallows, swifts, martins and perhaps nightjars for example,  but I can't see that they would make any noticable difference to the numbers involved.