Good morning
I just saw this video on Instagram with a lot of Midges and Tiques. I went to the Isle of Skye in August 2024 and I have no bad memories.
I'm going back for 5 weeks this summer to cycle around Scotland and this video on Instagram really worries me….
Do you have any advice???

by DepthOk9473

40 comments

  1. Im so repellent that I dont get bitten. Though my lovely partner gets eaten alive if she doesnt get sprayed with bug spray, so try that.

  3. You could sacrifice a blonde-haired, blue-eyed person.

    I have been spared more than once because someone in the group was blonde haired and blue eyed.

    It seems like they much prefer Aryan blood.

  6. Long sleeves, long trousers and a midgie net. Carry at least a couple of pairs of tick tweezers and inspect every evening and morning.

  8. They love me too Im a three course meal to them. Get the tick out asap though.

  9. Smidge spray. It’s the only one I’ve ever found actually works and I am the one in the group who usually gets eaten alive by midges

  10. I wouldn’t worry so much about the midges, they tend to stay in the same spot and you can move past them after a brief annoyance.

    It’s those bastardy deer/horse flies which follow you for hours and hound you down until you want to cry… That’s what you really should be worried about.

  11. Most places, most of the time, they’re not a problem. If you’re moving on a bike, or if it’s windy or raining or sunny, you’ll be fine. It’s really if you’re doing something which involves being outside when it’s still and you’re not moving- like if you’re camping or having a bbq. If you plan to do that, get some repellent and nets, and wear sleeves and trousers. And Or be like the locals and go inside .

  12. I’ve found smidge to be a fairly effective midge repellant, but you’ll need to reapply it continually. Lots of folk recommended Avon skin so soft but afaik they changed the formula for it years ago – it’s certainly never worked for me.
    The best thing I’ve found for removing ticks are O’Tom tick twisters. I think they’re about £3 – £5 for a packet (of 2, I think?) but they’re really good at not leaving any bits behind.
    You might also want to get some antihistamine cream to deal with any swelling and itching.

  14. I used Smidge repellent this year and didn’t get bitten whereas usually I do.

  15. Smidge and a headnet are literally the only solutions. Everything else is child’s play. I still get bitten on occasion, even with smidge. A head net with a Skipcap or broad brim hat is the only reprieve, if you’re caught in one of those spots.

  16. midge jacket, midge hood, midge mittens.

    make sure they are midge rated, not mosquito, that wont stop midges.

  17. The west of Scotland is not your friend between May and August

  18. I would walk the highland way but I don’t know what the capital of Assyria is.

  19. Smidge is the way to go, works like a charm. That and long sleeves and trousers, and a head net for when they’re real bad.

  20. They’re attracted to CO2, the trick is to not breathe out.

  21. Bug repellents containing picaridin (AKA Icaridine) rather than DEET are as effective as DEET but less likely to damage any plastics/synthetics they come in contact with.

    Jungle Formula Dry Protect products and Autan DEET-free (but not the ‘botanicals’ one) have always been good against midges and ticks for me. You can use them to spray your trousers, shoes and socks to deter ticks from hitching a ride, and on your hat brim to help keep midges off your face. Midges aren’t often bad enough to require putting repellent on your skin, if you are keeping moving.

    (Edit: lots of people are recommending Smidge. That also has Picaridin as its active ingredient, it does come in a spray, but it’s more a spray/squirt of lotion than a fine mist, so it’s great for applying to skin, not so great for spraying on clothes and shoes. )

    Also, not everyone reacts to midge bites like in those pictures. I do, but my partner just gets little flat red dots that don’t itch.

  22. I work outside in the Highlands.

    Firstly I tuck my t-shirt in trousers and trousers in socks.

    I also wear some of those UV/athletic arm sleeves. They keep you cool if it’s hot means you don’t have to feel greasy with sun tan lotion (if it’s the one allocated sunny day a year we are allowed) on your arms and the midges cannot bite through them.

    For my head I have a midge net built into a simple hat to keep it off your face and it folds up nicely if I’m out walking or carrying it in a bag.
    https://amzn.eu/d/2DUnkLJ

    Ticks wise just do regular body checks or if with a friend whenever you go through a overgrown area etc and you come out the other side just do a quick scan of each other and flick them off. (This is why I tuck in stuff when walking)

    I found these removal tools work the best, just hook them and sloooooowly rotate so the tick loosens about 5 360 spins and then just pull them away.
    https://amzn.eu/d/9g2P8J3

    You only need to worry about a tick if around where you got bitten becomes an obvious red circle, then just go to the doctors. Likely give you some antibiotics.

    Also get some spray like midge magic (others available but it’s the best one for me) it will help repel ticks and midges so spray you on boots, socks, waisband etc. any potential opening of clothes they could crawl between.

  23. Hoggs of fife ‘midge master hoodie’ . Smidge. Smoke fags. Citronella incense. Tick tweezers (and know how to use them properly). Long sleeves. 

  24. Full strength DEET spray, just do not go swimming with it on or you’ll kill everything in the water

  26. They’re after your blood. If you leave it at home they won’t bite you.

  28. Look for a product called Beastie Be Gone. Have lived in Scotland for 50 years and it’s by far the best I’ve found for keeping midges away. Natural ingredients, doesn’t sting or make your skin sticky, smells nice and works a treat.

  29. Hallo und Grüße aus Deutschland. Wie waren von Mitte Mai bis Anfang Juni in Schottland. Wir haben uns ein Mittel für Pferde gekauft. Gegen Bremsen und Mücken. Nennt sich Taon X von der Firma Kerbl. Das möchten alle Insekten nicht und wir hatten Ruhe.

  30. The freakiest thing for me was waking up and seeing the insect middle sheet thing on my tent having 5 ticks on it in a circle about 3 inches from my face where I was breathing whilst asleep. 

  31. Buy a tic remover and keep it on you. Buy good midgie repellant and you’ll be fine. Just make sure you check yourself daily and get someone else to check the areas you can’t like the back of your neck etc.

    Tics are something you should be checking your pets for regularly too if you have any.

    Enjoy your trip 🙂

  33. Get midge magic. It acts as a repellent for both midges and ticks.

  34. Yup midges and ticks are in kamikaze mode. I’ve never found ticks on my dog until last week and the midges are fuckin brutal.

    Make sure you buy TWO midge nets so you can wear both layered.

  35. They are mainly active when the sun rises and when the sun sets, if you’re cycling during these times you won’t even notice them will only swarm around you when you’re stationary. Even a slight walk pretty much outruns them.

    If you plan on camping in a tent during your time away having a fire going can help quite a bit. Usually though you’ll just get attacked during sunrise and sunset, if they start swarming you just go in your tent for an hour or two (bring a good book with you), they will eventually stop and you’ll be able to relax outside again.

    For ticks, make sure you have insect repellent on your legs, and cover them. Then just check your legs here and there when you go through a grassy area.

  36. If you are camping at night, citronella tea lights can help. Fire / smoke will also keep them at bay.

    Incoming objections to campfires in three, two, one…..

  37. Be worried, you’ll die, there is nothing you can do to prevent midgies

  38. Avon “skin so soft” used to be great against midges — for unknown reasons! Is that still a thing? (I haven’t been in midge territory for a few years)

  40. They follow sources of carbon dioxide, so just stop breathing and you’ll be grand !

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