we are thinking about having a family holiday in scotland this year in july or august can you tell us where is least affected by the midge, we live in fife and were thinking loch inver
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At that time of year the west coast has zillions of midges, while there may only be billions on the east coast, so the east is generally better. But where you are planning to go is so incredibly beautiful I wouldn't worry. Midges don't like the breeze, so head for ridges and hills, or beaches, all of which are in abundance up there. Moziguard is good stuff. We were on holiday all over the NorthWest this July, and I only once got a couple of bites when I was unpacking the car. Don't scratch them, and they stop itching in 10 minutes. Much of the area is now a Geopark, famous for it's geology and the discoveries made there - Knockan Crag is a good place to visit and look out for the viewpoints along the Rock Route - really sensational.
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Lochinver is in a beautiful part of Scotland but it will be full of midges. It has rivers and forests and ferns around and midges love this terrain. The more barren ground in nearby Scourie, Tarbert and Oldshoremore is less affected and I think more beautiful. There are nice mountains around to climb up - Conival and Ben More Assynt, Quinag, Suilven, Foinaven. Also there are some little cottages you can rent next to the Kylesku bridge in a place called Unapool (not Ullapool which is 70 miles South).
If you like fishing - go to the hill lochs which will have midges in plenty round the edges but none when you are out in the loch in a rowing boat with a bit of breeze.
You will soon work out how to avoid midges - the terrain and time of day makes a difference.
Go online and buy Avon's Skin so Soft which is an oil based moisture spray which smells foul but prevents the midges biting by forming an oily layer on the skin. It is very cheap - the P&P costs more than the product. Lighting a cigarette is also very effective.
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 The best buy is a midge net and put them on before going outdoors. No point in waiting till the midges start biting as it is too late by then. Unlike my midge net there are now a number of different styles.
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 I'm not sure about Scottish midges, but the Noriron, Irish version can olny fly if the wind is below 7mph, otherwise they get blown away!! they also don't like beening to far from "still" water, nor do they like Height. So if you can stay away from these, you should be ok and the "windier the day maybe the "better" !!!!
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Work on the basis that you will come across them....there isnt a huge practical difference between zillions and millions......! Avon So Soft does it for me - works a treat. They dont like breezes, too cold, too warm, too wet (clag) or too dry.....which makes me wonder how they survive, but they do! And by the time you realise they are flying...its too late! Prevention is way better than cure!
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I have tried the Avon So Soft unfourtunately it didn't work for me, so have had to go ack to using DEET! Wish I could find something else, as I don't like using chemicals that strong!! h
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First timeI used So Soft, it didnt work - then got some advice. Put it on thick and early....do not skimp at all otherwise you wont get a sufficient coating.
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We are thinking of going on Onich - near Fort William in August 2010. What are the chances of midges at that time of year ?
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 In Onich itself it might not be too bad as it's on the coast (depending on where you are actually staying) but anywhere else around there it could be pretty bad but it will really depend on the actual weather when you are there.
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 There's a v good book called "midges in scotland" by george hendry ('fascinating reading - the observer) which while only 84 pages long tells you a heck of lot of useful info about midges. I'd recommend it (sp?) to anyone.
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we would like to go to the west coast in either mid april or early june .i am allergic to midges so whic would be the best time
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 It depends on how warm / mild it has been, as if its warm it brings them out sooner, but nornally they appear around the end of May for sure, if there is frost during May it can put them back a week or two. The males appear first but dont bite, the females appear a few weeks later and they bite.
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hi jane---if you really are allergic to midges go in april----i have pestered by them in the first few days of may camping on the shores of loch sunart----regards lr
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 A GPS jamming forecast might be handy too... for those folk who use a GPS. The signal will be jammed in parts of Scotland between 16th and 26th April while a military exercise is taking place. This doesn't affect map 'n' compass users.!
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 socks tucked into troos,long sleeves,baseball cap with very fine midge net......you might look like a Chav on street corner but then you wont need any of these creams that people say work for some and not for others. Breeze does work,tho i have had many midge attacks on summit all over Scotland so they do like hieghts over here! Me I'm either well Ard or plain stupids  ............. Or visit earlier or later.
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 Lochinver will be midge hell, in a couple of weeks time, I've seen the eggs in the bogs, billions and billions. Lochinver area is cracking place, a real nice community much better than Ullapool, but go in the winter. I've just come back from 2 weeks up there. By the way the males midges are appearing in the area at the mo! (very early this year.) Midges are utter bastards , hence why i go in the winter, anyway scotland without snow??? Got to have snow on the hills! 
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