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

Quick Summary

• Wind is the most effective midge control — a steady breeze keeps them down; plan routes and campsites on exposed ground
• Smidge(affiliate link) repellent gives up to 8 hours of protection (the maker's figure) using 20% picaridin, which the maker also calls Saltidin
• A midge head net(affiliate link) 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 struggle to fly in a steady breeze; (2) Smidge repellent (20% picaridin, up to 8 hours) 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, mild, humid. Dawn and dusk. Low ground below 400m. Western and northwestern Highlands. June–August.

Inactive conditions: A steady breeze. Bright sunshine. Rain (during). Cool temperatures. Altitude above 600m. East coast and northeast Scotland. The edges of the season, either side of June–August.

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 20% picaridin as its active ingredient — the maker also calls it Saltidin. The maker says one application protects for up to 8 hours, and cites the World Health Organization's conclusion that picaridin repels comparably to DEET, and often better. It is DEET-free. The maker says it is safe for adults, including pregnant women, and for children over 24 months.

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). The maker says to reapply every 8 hours, or more often after swimming, hard exercise or very wet or humid conditions.

Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil is the other commonly recommended option — but Avon sells it as a moisturising dry oil, not as an insect repellent. Plenty of people like it for a short spell outside; don't rely on it in place of a repellent. 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 weighs next to nothing.

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

Covered skin is skin the midges can't reach. 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.

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 (20% picaridin, up to 8 hours by the maker's figure) 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 — a steady breeze keeps them grounded.

Does DEET work on Scottish midges?

Yes, DEET repels midges. Smidge's maker cites the World Health Organization's conclusion that picaridin — Smidge's active ingredient — repels comparably to DEET, and often better. Either is a real repellent; which you carry is down to preference.

When are midges worst in Scotland?

Late May to mid-September, peaking in 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.

Related articles

• When Is Midge Season in Scotland? — monthly calendar and regional guide
• Smidge vs Avon Skin So Soft — repellent comparison
• Midge Forecast Tool — real-time conditions

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Prices correct May 2026. OutdoorSCOT participates in the Amazon Associates programme.

Sources

• The science of Smidge — active ingredient, protection time and age guidance — Smidge (APS Biocontrol)
• Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Spray — Avon UK
• Midge biology and behaviour — The Midge Forecast