Highland Midges?
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- Posts: 87
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- Location: North Downs, Kent
Highland Midges?
I'm making my way down from JOG early June and will be camping much of the way including a probable first night in the Strathnaver area. Will the famous midges I've heard about be a nuisance at this time of the year?
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Re: Highland Midges?
BottomGear wrote:I'm making my way down from JOG early June and will be camping much of the way including a probable first night in the Strathnaver area. Will the famous midges I've heard about be a nuisance at this time of the year?
It is very difficult to tell, last summer was very quiet then we saw an invasion in the autumn. This website should help http://midgeforecast.co.uk
Take your repellent just in case.
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Re: Highland Midges?
Probably - take a midge head net or buy one whilst you're there - just in case!
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- Posts: 87
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- Location: North Downs, Kent
Re: Highland Midges?
phil parker wrote:Probably - take a midge head net or buy one whilst you're there - just in case!
Good idea, for negligible weight a head net would be a sound bet!
Re: Highland Midges?
Camp in the most exposed place you can find - midgies can't cope with much wind. Even a gentle breeze will deter them.
Re: Highland Midges?
Midges love coniferous forests. Avoid camp sites in or near coniferous forests. 50% DEET repellents have some effect. I'd try netting too.
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- Posts: 87
- Joined: 11 Jun 2015, 8:34am
- Location: North Downs, Kent
Re: Highland Midges?
pwa wrote:Midges love coniferous forests. Avoid camp sites in or near coniferous forests. 50% DEET repellents have some effect. I'd try netting too.
Ah, didn't that! thanks pwa
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Re: Highland Midges?
Probably yes, after a particularly awful night with them one June, the nearest shop to top up the deterents had run out....... they had been a nuisance from early April, following on from a damp mild winter....
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
Re: Highland Midges?
Before my Lejog in 2010 I bought some Pyramid Ecoguard Xtreme, seemly now called Piramid Trek Sensitive and a head net.The insect repellent is DEET free and the reviews on Amazon give it a high positive rating.
http://www.travelpharm.com/repellents-c ... 20ml-p7924
However, mending a puncture near Spean Bridge after some light rain, I got multiple bites on my thigh which remained intensely itchy for a couple of days. I hadn't applied any insect repellent beforehand. Be warned, puncture+no insect repellent=bites.
http://www.travelpharm.com/repellents-c ... 20ml-p7924
However, mending a puncture near Spean Bridge after some light rain, I got multiple bites on my thigh which remained intensely itchy for a couple of days. I hadn't applied any insect repellent beforehand. Be warned, puncture+no insect repellent=bites.
Re: Highland Midges?
This is about the best thing for me for midge bites (apart from prevention of course) - it stops the persistent itching
http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/Care-St ... -25ml.html
http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/Care-St ... -25ml.html
Re: Highland Midges?
I live in the Trossachs in Scotland. So take it from a local. Trust me. Avon skin so soft. Is the best things for stopping midge bites. But also take a head net and crucially some duck tape. If they get really really bad you will want to tape your gloves to your sleeves and your trousers to your socks. Yes. They get that bad.