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Know Your Enemy: The Scottish Midge

The Scottish midge is a tiny biting fly, and only the female bites. She needs blood to develop her eggs, and she finds you by detecting carbon dioxide, body heat and dark shapes against the sky. Midges are weak fliers. They cannot cope with strong wind, dry air or direct sunlight. That is why they thrive in still, damp, overcast conditions — exactly the sort of weather you get in a Highland glen at dawn and dusk. They are most active from May to September, with peaks in July and August, though a mild, wet spring can bring them out earlier. Bogs, damp woodland, loch margins and long grass are their favourite haunts. Understanding this is the first step to managing them.

Time Your Walk and Camp Around the Weather

The single most effective tactic is to avoid still, damp air at dawn and dusk. Midges are at their worst in the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset, especially when there is no breeze and the air is heavy with moisture. Plan your walking for the middle of the day, when the sun is higher and a thermal breeze often picks up. If you are wild camping, pitch your tent where you can feel even a light breeze. A movement of air as little as 5 mph will keep most midges grounded. Ridges, exposed loch shores and open moorland are your friends. Deep glens, sheltered clearings and hollows are not. Check the forecast for wind speed and humidity. A dry, breezy day is a gift; a still, muggy evening is a trial. If rain is falling steadily, midges usually shelter, but a light drizzle or immediately after rain can be almost as bad as a calm dusk. Use a midge forecast if you can find one — some weather services include them — but always trust your own senses. If the air feels still and clammy, expect company.

Kit That Earns Its Place

You cannot beat midges with cleverness alone. You need the right equipment, and you need it accessible.

• A head net. This is non-negotiable. Buy one that fits over a wide-brimmed hat so the mesh stays away from your face. Keep it in your pocket, not at the bottom of your pack. The moment they start landing, put it on.
• Long clothing. Midges can bite through thin fabric, especially on shoulders and knees. Wear long sleeves and trousers, and tuck your trousers into your socks. Light colours are less attractive than dark ones.
• Repellent. A repellent containing DEET or picaridin works well. Apply it to exposed skin and to cuffs, collars and socks. Remember that DEET can damage synthetic fabrics, so keep it away from your tent and waterproofs. Permethrin-treated clothing is another option, but treat it well in advance and follow instructions carefully.
• A midge jacket or smock. These are fine mesh tops that you wear over your clothes. They are brilliant for cooking or sitting still in camp. Some come with a hood and elasticated cuffs.
• Gloves. A light pair of gloves stops them biting your hands while you cook or adjust your tent.

Do not rely on citronella candles or wristbands. They are not effective. Smoke from a fire can help, but you cannot always have a fire, and it will not save you if the midges are thick.

Pitch Your Camp for a Breeze

Where you pitch matters more than what you pitch. Midges gather in sheltered, damp places. So choose a spot that is exposed to the wind but still safe. A grassy knoll above a loch, a ridge shoulder, or a clearing on a hillside will often have enough air movement to keep them away. Avoid deep hollows, dense birch scrub, boggy ground and the lee of a hill. If you are in a glen, remember that cold air sinks at night, bringing midges down with it. A pitch even 20 metres higher can make a difference. Face your tent door away from the wind if you can, but do not create a dead air pocket. Keep your tent zipped at all times. Midges can find their way through the smallest gap. A tent with a good inner mesh is fine — they cannot bite through it. If you use a tarp, consider a inner nest or a bivvy bag with a midge net. And when you leave camp, zip up immediately.

Routines, Retreats and Keeping Your Sanity

Even with the best kit, midges can overwhelm you. The key is to have a routine and a retreat plan. Cook and eat before dusk, or wait until after dawn. If you must cook in the evening, do it in a windy spot away from your tent, then retreat to your sleeping bag. Do not cook inside your tent — the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is real. Keep moving when you are outside. Midges land on still targets. If you stop for a break, choose a breezy spot. If they become unbearable, walk to a ridge or an open shore where the wind is stronger. Sometimes the best tactic is simply to go to bed early and read. A midge net hung inside your tent gives you a sanctuary. Remember that midges are part of the Scottish experience. They are the price of those lush, green glens. The first hard frost of autumn kills them off, and a windy day is a holiday. With a head net, a breezy pitch and a bit of timing, you can walk and camp in comfort. Do not let them win.