Scottish miggies

[starlightdj]

Hi going back to Scotland for our main holiday in a few weeks.

Can anyone give hints ot tips how to repel those little miggies that seam to attack in swarms.

Does insect reppelent work if so which is the best brand?

Although caravan has fly blinds what do you use inside the van to kill the ones that will inevitibly get in.

Any ideas greatfully received.

Cheers

John

 

[Cate_374453296]

Hi, avon skin so soft is good because it kills them if they do land on you, just be prepared to have lots of drowned midgies all over you. Smole can help repel them, never really tried the citronella candles so can't comment on them. Where about are you going, not all areas as that badly bothered by them.

 

[starlightdj]

Hi Cate thanks for your reply, we are doing a three stop break, Oban for 5 days - skye for 4 days then upto grannies halen for 5 days.

Last time only had a problem when we went to loch ness and nothing we had with us worked ended up moving on.

Just want to be prepared this time as in all my travels i cant recall anything as bad as the scottish miggies.

Ps my wife is asking which skin so soft product is it ie. oil. body cream etc

Thanks

John

 

[Cate_374453296]

Hi John, it was skin so soft pump action spray and it really did work. Also invest in midge nets for your head they are a lifesaver if you are out walkiing and get attacked. We have been lucky around Lock Ness tend to stay at Borlum Farm and never been too bad for them ther, but on SKye we stay at Dunvagan caravan site and you do get attacked there, midgenets are a must if it is damp.

Have seen people use the candles and they seem to be happy enough. The good thing about highland midge is that the bite is itchy but unlike the fife ones it doesn't make you swell up like you have a boil.

Enjoy your holiday, we will be on Skye in a few weeks for our honeymoon it's such a lovely place to go.

 

[starlightdj]

Hi Cate, once again thanks for the advice.

By the way congratulations on your wedding, I do hope you have a fantastic Honeymoon.

Best wishes

John

 

[cara89]

We used the (mentioned )skin so soft, wristbands with citronella oil on them and insence and candles. I also hung the wristbands by the kids bunks. We kept them at bay (the midges!) and the overdose of scent now reminds of our holidays if we smell it elsewhere! Seasonal caravan owners had bird food out as if there are birds there are not as many midges.

p.s the Oban site/s by the sea dont tend to get midges due to the breeze and less trees.

 

[Barkas]

Hi Folks.I read that Back over a thousand years ago, monks in Scotland recorded that Viking invaders and settlers arriving and living on the islands and west coast of Scotland wore lavender sprigs hung in various places on their clothing to ward of midges which is also a Scandinavian problem. Having read that, I bought some sun tan cream and a bottle of Lavender oil and put a few drops into the cream bottle, shook it up and rub it into all exposed flesh, and it works a treat. And you smell very nice too, even for a bloke. Even better, is that it repels the dreaded tick(although not 100%) which is rampant in the highlands this year because of wetter warmer weather patterns and the sheer number of roaming sheep and deer.there were 1800 cases of Lymes disease reported in Scotland last year all linked to tick bites.

 

[Gumbo]

Hi

You should be ok at grannies midges don't tend to like the North East Coast. No real way to get rid of the midge, just look at the children who go to school on Skye and at Arisaig they tend to wear nets to protect face and neck.

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks Gumbo

I'm off to the Islands in mid august but like Cate armed with plenty of Avon skin so soft. We bought four lots earlier this year direct from Avon half price.

I'm hoping most ofthe midges will have gone but I shall dongle into www.midgeforecast.co.uk

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[GregClaire]

The only thing that really works is a product called MozzyOff.

Made by a scottish family so they know plenty about bugs.

I know of it because its made by a my wifes ex partners family. (Long story & not enough time!) But it really does work as i've used it in the wilds of scotland and back home on the welsh border.

Only downside is that there is a slight smell to it, but theres no chemicals in it so its good for your skin aswell, just do an interweb search for MozzyOff & you will find the website.

 

[Edwin_374454901]

I heard that neat scotch whisky works wonders.. apparently it won't stop the midges, but will dull the pain...

Edwin

 

[Nellie2]

Hi,

The avon skin so soft spray you need is the Green/blue bottle.

 

[James_374408700]

John,

The following may be of help to you:

Electric plug in mossie killers seem to get rid of them in the van.

Dont wear bright clothing (it attracts them)

Dont wear perfume (nothing personal !)

Eat plenty of Marmite ( I believe they dont like Vitamin B12)

Yeah and plenty of Malt Whiskey for the already listed reason!!

Enjoy

Jim

 

[Royston]

James I used to have marmite on my bread, still got attacked by the blighters,had to wear long sleeved shirts buttoned up to the collar, and a head covering.now I go nowhere near the west coast even in england yorkshire you can be attacked by their cousons.East coast or Kent thats were I head off to during the summer months.

Royston

 

[Robert_5114463]

NET-TEX ITCH STOP TWIST & REPEL TWIST UP STICK. MIDGE. IT IS ON EBAY

 

[ad841164]

Avon Skin-so-soft spray works for many people, including me.

The best cure for midges is a breeze but of course that can't always be relied on.

Incidentally I have lived all my life in the Highlands and thought I knew all there was to know about midges so I was quite surprised when I was quite badly bitten by them during a holiday in North Yorkshire; it seems they are spreading southward!

 

[Gumbo]

"I have lived all my life in the Highlands" Yes but not on the West Coast !!! We lived in Tain which is the Highlands and never really ever saw midgies. They do seem to be limited to the West Highlans and down to Loch Lomond.

I have read about people staying at Kielder being badly bitten !!!

 

[Dustydog]

Worst places today are Ullapool, Torridon and Glencoe.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[D_374418653]

The more I read the more worried I get! We are off to 3 sites in Scotland in Aug, Edinburgh,Loch Ness, and one in Stirling. After all the horror stories I am reading about the dreaded midges I am trying to be prepared, I always seem to get the most horrendous insect bites even at home in the garden sometimes.

I read that the midges in Scotland can get in through the vents on a caravan so fly screens will not save me! I have some industrial strength repellent and have ordered some other stuff to try, also a powered exterminator to leave on in the van.

I will let you know how we get on, good luck everyone and enjoy your holidays!

D & G

 

[cara89]

Dont worry. Usually it is the thing that you are expecting that is not an issue when you get there! You will forget some vital piece of equipment and there will be no midges in sight! LOL

(That just mirrors our trip to Loch Lomond!)

 

[Royston]

Your right D the midges are so small they sail straight through the insect screens of the caravan, when we in Troutbeck Head the whole of the front inside roof of the van was covered in a black mass of them , used a soaking washing up cloth to get rid of them, temporary, travelled over the A66 to Thirsk opened all, the windows, did not last long in the eastern fresh air.

Royston

 

[Gumbo]

Edinburgh and Stirling will be fine, no problem with midgies. Loch Ness can be both good and very bad I hope you get the latter !!!!! Have a nice holiday

 

[D_374418653]

Your right D the midges are so small they sail straight through the insect screens of the caravan, when we in Troutbeck Head the whole of the front inside roof of the van was covered in a black mass of them , used a soaking washing up cloth to get rid of them, temporary, travelled over the A66 to Thirsk opened all, the windows, did not last long in the eastern fresh air.

Royston

Had to laugh when I read your message Royston as we are stopping at Troutbeck Head on the way back LOL!. Looks like we will need all the help we can get, hope I don't look like a pincushion when we get home!

D

 

[D_374418653]

Edinburgh and Stirling will be fine, no problem with midgies. Loch Ness can be both good and very bad I hope you get the latter !!!!! Have a nice holiday

Thanks Gumbo, so do I we will make it a good holiday I'm sure.

D

 

[Gumbo]

Thanks Gumbo, so do I we will make it a good holiday I'm sure.

D

I didn't mean I hope you get the latter ie not good. I meant I hope you have it good at Loch Ness. Oh well I know what I meant have a great holiday