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We are hoping to tour Scotland next summer but on many of the reviews that we have read, refer to 'Midges' spoiling the holiday.Is this problem widespread in Scotland or just in paticular areas? Anyone any thoughts? Cheers

imo the myth is bigger than the problem really is. Some areas are worse than others (lakes, forests, etc) and some years are worse than others.

Use Avon Skin-so-soft (the green once) which keeps them away from most people.

Have a look here for some info. If you try and pitch where there's a breeze you should be ok as they prefer damp humid conditions.

I live in South Scotland and am never bothered by them here, but may be lucky. They have a tendancy to affect some people and not others.  I have been affected by them on the West Coast, when I have visited Fort William and they are definately worse in forest areas particularly when the weather is moist and mild.  So personnallyI would avoid sites with woods.

As Arthurdent says people swear by Avon So Soft, so there are measures you can take if encounter them.

You will find them on the west coast. That's where I live but I've never found them to be a problem. You do not get midges on the east coast of Scotland.

Get some repellant and come to the West coast it's beautiful (ok I'm bias)

I have been staying in two campsites in the west coast of Scotland this summer. At Ullapool (Ardmair point) we were camped on the seafront, and we didn't suffer midges once we used the Avon Skin-So-Soft (recommended by the campsite warden). At Glencoe (Invercoe) they were a real torture, even when it was raining. The Avon oil worked to avoid bitings, but it was really awful to get a cloud of midges flying around your face. But as soon as we were getting apart from the lake vicinities, midges dissapeared. Breeze (even when it's soft) is the only thing that keeps them at bay.

Both of us use Avon's Skin-so-soft.  The effect of the midge's bite is to cause a reaction in the human body; some people have little or no reaction whereas others can react quite badly.  OH has little or no reaction but I get itchy swellings all over me which can keep me awake all night.  If I'm going into an area of midge activity I start to take a daily Piriton tablet a week before we go and continue the dose throughout my stay.  I now have no problems with oor nippy wee pals.

Carr

We went to the south of france in july and got loads of itchy bites from midges there.  They seemed to cause more of a reaction than our midges.  Have camped in glencoe at whit ( one of the driest whits ever ) and edinburgh in july and had no problem.  I am sure you will be fine if you follow above suggestions.

Brian