At your wit's end? Here are some more… unconventional methods to rid yourself of midges. Bog myrtle is a plant found throughout the Highlands which is apparently effective at repelling midges. Tie it to your hat for maximum protection (but don't tell anyone else what you're doing, just own it). Avon Skin-So-Soft comes in many different forms, all with varying levels of reliability when it comes to repelling mosquitoes, but there are 3 types that are touted as being good repellents: bath oil, lotion, and bug guard. Mozzies are more often found in warm climates and make a distinctive and loud buzzing noise. Scottish midges, on the other hand, are only about 1-3mm, and often grey in colour (unless they've just been guzzling blood, in which case they turn red. Lovely). There's usually a first generation (or wave) and a second generation of midges. In the early autumn midge numbers are on the decrease, which is why September and October are great hiking months in Scotland. WHERE BEST TO AVOID MIDGES IN SCOTLAND? It’s only the females that bite as they need lots of protein to form their clutches of eggs, but while they mostly feed on cattle and wild animals they’re also quite happy to chow down on any passing human that comes within range whether young, old, male or female.

The midge has a mighty reputation for such a miniscule insect. Weighing just one 8000th of a gram, it has a teeny wingspan of 2-3mm. Midges breed in vast numbers across 25 per cent of Scotland's land mass. Midges are found in the Highlands of Scotland because they like to lay their eggs in wet soil. All the damp moss and rushes in the Highlands, therefore, makes it a paradise for midge egg-laying. Only half of them bite – male midges prefer chilling and eating – but the females need the protein in their blood to help grow her eggs. And that's where you come in. Application/consistency: A lightweight, aluminium cannister with pump spray that dispels a fast-absorbing, water-based lotion.Midges don't like hot and dry weather. They also love dawn and dusk. They prefer mild temperatures and wet conditions, which is what makes bonny (code for rainy) Scotland during the summer such a perfect habitat for them. Equally, midges aren't a big fan of the cold, and can't survive frost. The good news is that there are plenty of parts of Scotland where midges aren't even a problem. The Lowlands, for example, and anywhere when there's a high wind - queue the dad joke. No seriously the tiny little nuisances can't take off when the wind speed exceeds 5mph - the not so mighty Scottish Midge ladies and gentleman... Our immune systems all react differently to midge bites so some people may experience swelling and itching from the biting whilst others might barely notice. DO MIDGES LIKE SOME PEOPLE MORE THAN OTHERS?

However, the time of effectiveness varies from study to study. One study showed that Avon Skin-So-Soft worked for 40 minutes, ranking below DEET products 3 while another showed a 5-hour working time. 4 Though it’s unclear if the 40-minute study used Avon’s Bug Guard repellent brand, despite mentioning it in the paper . Also, the 5-hour study used Avon products that contained icaridin, an ingredient found in some lower-tier repellents, at least in Canada . Wandering around shops and supermarkets across the Highlands during the summer months, you will see tourists clutching this elixir.If you want the best protection against midges, Skin So Soft from Avon is the ideal choice. It was originally created as a skin moisturiser, scented with citronella oils. However, outdoor types discovered that as well as keeping skin soft, the product was also highly effective at keeping away midges. Via word of mouth, the news spread about this unexpected benefit and Avon attracted a surprising new set of fans.