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How to Avoid Midges in Scotland: 7 Methods That Actually Work

Practical, tested methods for avoiding and managing Scottish midges — from repellents and head nets to campsite choice and timing your walks.

OutdoorSCOT 2 May 2026 7 min read

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Quick Summary

  • Wind is the most effective midge control — anything above 7mph disperses them; plan routes and campsites on exposed ground
  • Smidge(affiliate link) repellent gives 8 hours of protection using IR3535 — the most effective single-product defence for a full day outdoors
  • A midge head net(affiliate link) (£8) is essential for peak conditions — June–August in the western Highlands at dawn and dusk
  • Timing matters: midday on a breezy day is almost midge-free; dawn and dusk in calm conditions are peak exposure

Scottish midges are manageable. The problem is that most visitors encounter them without preparation and conclude that nothing works — because they were standing in a glen floor at dusk in July without repellent or a head net. With the right approach, midge exposure goes from genuinely miserable to a minor inconvenience.

Quick Answer: The most effective midge avoidance strategy combines: (1) wind-exposed campsites and routes — midges can't fly in 7mph+ wind; (2) Smidge repellent (IR3535, 8-hour protection) on all exposed skin; (3) a midge head net for peak dawn/dusk exposure in the western Highlands June–August; (4) long-sleeved clothing covering exposed skin; and (5) timing stationary activity (cooking, eating, camp setup) for midday rather than dawn and dusk.

1. Understand when and where midges are active

Half the battle is knowing when to expect midges and when you won't encounter them:

Active conditions: Overcast, calm, warm (12–18°C), humid. Dawn and dusk. Low ground below 400m. Western and northwestern Highlands. June–August.

Inactive conditions: Wind above 7mph. Bright sunshine. Rain (during). Temperature below 12°C. Altitude above 600m. East coast and northeast Scotland. May and September.

This means: a windy summit on a bright June day is midge-free. A sheltered glen floor at dusk in overcast July conditions is peak midge territory. The same area can be both within 12 hours.

Check our Midge Forecast before any trip to get a condition-specific activity prediction for your location.

2. Choose exposed campsites

This is the single most impactful decision for wild campers. Midges need still air. A campsite on a headland, exposed ridge, open shoreline, or hilltop with 5mph of breeze has dramatically fewer midges than a sheltered glen floor or loch bay a quarter-mile away.

Rules for midge-resistant wild campsites:

  • Headlands and points on lochs and sea — airflow from two directions
  • Open ground above 200m — even small amounts of elevation help
  • Lochside, facing the prevailing wind — the windward shore is better than the sheltered bay
  • Away from bracken, long grass and woodland edges — dense vegetation hosts the highest concentrations
  • Don't camp in hollows or bowls — cold air pooling means calm air and midges

3. Use Smidge repellent

Smidge(affiliate link) uses IR3535 — the active compound shown in research to give approximately 80–90% reduction in midge landings. One application lasts up to 8 hours. It is DEET-free, has no strong smell, and does not damage synthetic fabrics or plastics.

How to use it: Apply to all exposed skin before you leave camp or the car park — face, neck, hands, ankles (tuck socks over trousers). Reapply after heavy sweating or sustained rain. One 75ml bottle lasts a full week of daily use.

Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil is the other commonly recommended option — it gives approximately 40% reduction in landings and needs reapplying every 1–2 hours. Fine for brief exposure; insufficient for sustained midge conditions. See our Smidge vs Avon Skin So Soft comparison.

4. Carry a midge head net

In peak conditions — July and August, western Highlands, calm evenings — repellent alone is not sufficient. Midge density at peak times exceeds what any chemical can fully manage. A midge head net(affiliate link) provides complete facial protection and costs £8, weighing 30g.

Every wild camper in Scotland from May to September should carry one. It takes up no space. You may not need it for weeks — then you will be very glad you have it.

How to use a head net: Pull over your head before entering a midge zone, tuck into your collar. The mesh is fine enough to block midges without significantly restricting vision. Combine with a hat underneath to keep it off your face.

5. Cover exposed skin with clothing

Midges cannot bite through fabric. Long-sleeved tops, long trousers, socks covering trouser hems, and gloves (in extreme conditions) eliminate exposed skin as a target. This is the cheapest and most reliable physical barrier.

For camping: change into long trousers and a long-sleeved top before cooking dinner rather than shorts and a t-shirt. Combine with repellent on face and hands.

Midges are particularly attracted to: the face, ankles, wrists and the back of the neck — all places where blood vessels run close to the surface. Cover these first.

6. Time your day around midge activity

Least midge exposure: 10am–3pm on a clear day with any breeze.

Most midge exposure: Dawn (first 2 hours of daylight), dusk (last 2 hours before dark).

Practical applications:

  • Set up camp at midday, not at dusk — pitching a tent in midge-free conditions is dramatically easier than fumbling with guylines in a swarm
  • Cook and eat at midday or early afternoon — stationary activity at dusk is miserable in July without a net
  • Start early for long days — be moving by 7am, above the midge line by the time they activate
  • Make and eat breakfast inside the tent vestibule in peak season

7. Use a midge coil or burning repellent at camp

Smouldering midge coils (available in most Highland supermarkets in summer) provide a radius of protection around a campsite — effective if you are sitting still outside. They are not practical for moving, but for an evening around a fire or a camp chair dinner, they extend the usable outdoor area significantly.

Citronella candles have a similar (weaker) effect. Effective for short-range, short-duration outdoor sitting.

What doesn't work

  • Dryer sheets (tumble drier sheets): A popular folk remedy with no evidence of efficacy against midges.
  • Vitamin B1 (thiamine) supplements: Another persistent myth. No controlled trial has shown any midge-deterrent effect from dietary supplementation.
  • Generic insect repellents designed for tropical insects (e.g. some DEET products at low concentration): Work, but Scottish midges respond better to IR3535 at the concentrations in Smidge than to 20% DEET products designed for tropical applications.

Try it yourself

Our free Midge Forecast

gives condition-based midge activity predictions for your location — use it to decide whether to pack the head net before you leave.

No sign-up required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to avoid midges in Scotland?

The most effective approach combines exposed campsite choice (midges need still air), Smidge repellent (IR3535, 8-hour protection) on all exposed skin, and a midge head net for peak dawn/dusk exposure in the western Highlands. Wind is the single most effective midge dispersant — any breeze above 7mph keeps them grounded.

Does DEET work on Scottish midges?

Yes — DEET at 20-50% concentration reduces midge landings by approximately 80%. However, Smidge (IR3535) achieves similar effectiveness without the plastic-dissolving and strong-smell drawbacks of DEET, and was specifically formulated for Scottish midge species. For most walkers, Smidge is the preferred option.

When are midges worst in Scotland?

June–August, peak July and early August. Worst conditions are calm, overcast, humid evenings in the western and northwestern Highlands below 400m altitude. Dawn and dusk are peak activity times within a day. See our midge season guide for the full monthly calendar.

Can you avoid midges completely in Scotland?

Not in June–August in the western Highlands without avoiding the outdoors entirely. You can reduce exposure to a manageable level with repellent, head nets, covered skin and exposed campsites. In May, September, and on the east coast, midge avoidance is straightforward — the conditions for peak activity rarely occur.

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Sources

Tagsmidgesscotlandwild campinghillwalkingsummermidge repellent