Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Midges in June — Risk, Peak Times, Kit
Hard going at dawn and dusk. Head net essential outdoors. The first proper midge country going north from Glasgow. Loch Lomondside, the Trossachs lochs and the Arrochar Alps all hold strong populations. The east shore at evening in July is a textbook case of why head nets exist.
Current risk
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs in June: High. Hard going at dawn and dusk. Head net essential outdoors.
When they bite
Peak biting windows are dawn 5–8am and dusk 7–10pm. Long daylight (sunset after 10pm by solstice). First-generation midges active. Loch Lomond east shore, Trossachs woodland and the Glen Falloch corridor at high pressure. Arrochar and Crianlarich summits remain workable above the active layer.
What to wear
- Smidge repellent (75ml)
- LifeSystems head net
- Light-coloured long-sleeve baselayer — midges have a strong preference for dark clothing.
Tactical notes
June is when Loch Lomond and the Trossachs deliver their distinctive midge surprise. This is the first proper midge country going north from Glasgow, and the visitor culture has not always caught up with that fact: day-trippers and weekenders arriving from the central belt routinely camp at Inversnaid, on the [Loch Lomond east shore](/blog/loch-lomond-camping-management-zones-guide) management-zone pitches, or in the Trossachs woodland around Loch Ard, expecting Highland scenery and getting their first proper Highland midge education. The Inversnaid bog ground in particular — sheltered, humid, lush — is the textbook West Highland Way nightmare camp in June.
The Arrochar Alps give the standard ridge escape. [The Cobbler](/hillwalking/corbetts/the-cobbler) is reliably wind-exposed on its summit boulders; [Beinn Ime](/hillwalking/munros/beinn-ime), [Beinn Narnain](/hillwalking/munros/beinn-narnain), [Ben Vane](/hillwalking/munros/ben-vane) and [Ben Vorlich](/hillwalking/munros/ben-vorlich-arrochar-trossachs) similarly. The walk-in from the Arrochar & Tarbet station is short but the Coire Croe approach to the Cobbler is sheltered and humid — dawn starts work better than the typical 9am family ascent.
The Crianlarich Munros give the same ridge-summit-vs-walk-in pattern. [Ben More](/hillwalking/munros/ben-more-arrochar-trossachs) and [Stob Binnein](/hillwalking/munros/stob-binnein) give a long ridge day; the long sheltered approach from Benmore Farm is the painful part. [Ben Lui](/hillwalking/munros/ben-lui-beinn-laoigh), [Ben Oss](/hillwalking/munros/ben-oss), [Beinn Dubhchraig](/hillwalking/munros/beinn-dubhchraig) and [Cruach Ardrain](/hillwalking/munros/cruach-ardrain) all work mid-day, hurt at dawn/dusk. [Ben Lomond](/hillwalking/munros/ben-lomond) from Rowardennan stays workable mid-day but the canonical 'pitch at the SYHA' approach pays the tax at sunset. The Trossachs viewpoint hills — [Ben Venue](/hillwalking/grahams/ben-venue), [Ben Ledi](/hillwalking/corbetts/ben-ledi), Ben A'an — give short half-day options with reliable wind on the open summits.