Midges and Insects: How to Cope When Wild Camping in Scotland

If you’ve ever pitched a tent in the Scottish Highlands and had your evening ruined by a cloud of tiny, relentless biting insects, you already know exactly what this article is about. The Scottish midge — Culicoides impunctatus, to give it its full, rather grand scientific name — is arguably the greatest challenge facing anyone who wants to sleep under the stars north of the border. But midges aren’t the only insects you’ll encounter in the British wilderness. Horseflies, clegs, ticks, and wasps all have a habit of making themselves known at the worst possible moments.

This guide covers everything you need to know about dealing with insects when wild camping in Scotland, with some notes on what you might encounter in Wales and northern England too. We’ll look at the creatures themselves, when and where they’re worst, what actually works to keep them at bay, and how to structure your camping trips to minimise the misery. Because the truth is, with the right preparation, you can have a genuinely brilliant time wild camping in Scotland — even in midge season.

Understanding the Scottish Midge

Before you can beat them, it helps to understand them. The Highland midge is a tiny biting fly, around 1.4mm long, that exists in phenomenal numbers across the west coast and upland areas of Scotland. Females bite — males don’t, but that’s cold comfort when you’re surrounded by thousands of them. They need blood to produce eggs, which is why they’re so persistent when they find a warm-blooded mammal standing in a field looking helpless.

Midges breed in boggy, wet ground with plenty of organic matter — which describes most of the Scottish Highlands rather well. They’re most abundant from late May through to September, with June, July, and August being peak months. The west coast and the islands — particularly areas around Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Torridon, and the Isle of Skye — are notorious midge hotspots. The east coast and higher, more exposed ground tend to be less affected, largely because midges hate wind and dry conditions.

Midges are most active at dawn and dusk, and on still, overcast days. A bright, sunny afternoon with a decent breeze is generally midge-free. The moment the wind drops and the light starts to fade, however, they emerge in their millions. If you’ve been sitting comfortably outside your tent at 7pm enjoying a brew, and suddenly you notice a faint grey haze drifting towards you — move. Fast.

The Midge Forecast

Yes, this is a real thing. The Scottish Midge Forecast, available through the Midge Forecast website (midgeforecast.co.uk), uses weather data to predict midge activity levels across Scotland on a daily basis. It’s rated on a scale of one to five, and it’s genuinely useful when planning where and when to camp. Before any trip to the west Highlands, it’s worth bookmarking this alongside your weather forecast. A level five forecast on the shores of Loch Maree is not something to take lightly.

What to Wear: Your First Line of Defence

Clothing is your most reliable and consistent protection against midges, and it costs nothing beyond what you might already own. The key principles are simple: cover as much skin as possible, and use fine-weave fabrics that midges can’t bite through.

Long sleeves and long trousers are essential in midge-prone areas during active hours. Tuck your trousers into your socks — it looks daft, but it works. Midges are particularly fond of ankles, wrists, and the back of the neck, so these areas need special attention. A buff or neckwarmer pulled up over the lower face can help enormously.

Midge Hoods and Head Nets

A midge hood, sometimes called a midge net or head net, is a fine mesh hood that fits over your head and protects your face and neck. They look slightly absurd and reduce visibility a little, but on a bad midge evening they are genuinely life-changing. Lifesystems and Pyramid Outdoor both make well-regarded versions that pack down to almost nothing and weigh very little. If you’re heading to the west Highlands between June and August, pack one. You will use it.

Some wild campers invest in a full midge suit — a lightweight jacket with integrated hood and fine mesh panels. These are particularly popular with photographers and birdwatchers who need to stay still in exposed locations for long periods. For most campers, a head net plus long clothing is sufficient.

Repellents: What Actually Works

The repellent market is full of products that claim to deter midges, and the quality varies enormously. Here’s an honest rundown.

DEET-Based Repellents

DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the gold standard for insect repellents worldwide, and it works reasonably well against midges. Products containing 50% DEET, such as Jungle Formula Maximum, offer the best protection for extended periods. The downsides are well-known: it smells unpleasant, it can irritate sensitive skin, and it damages plastics and some synthetic fabrics — so keep it away from your tent, your trekking pole handles, and your waterproof jacket. It’s also worth noting that DEET should not be applied to children under two, and should be used sparingly on young children generally.

Picaridin Repellents

Picaridin (also known as icaridin) is increasingly popular as a DEET alternative. It’s effective, odourless, doesn’t damage gear, and is gentler on skin. Smidge, a Scottish-made repellent specifically formulated with Highland midges in mind, uses a 20% icaridin formula and has built an excellent reputation among campers and hillwalkers. It’s widely available in outdoor shops throughout Scotland, including Tiso and Ellis Brigham, and many walkers swear by it above all others. If you’re new to wild camping in Scotland, start with Smidge.

Natural and Plant-Based Repellents

Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray has been a curious cult favourite among Scottish campers and even military personnel for decades. It wasn’t designed as a repellent — it’s a moisturiser — but something in its formula discourages midges. It’s not as effective as DEET or icaridin for heavy infestations, but it smells far better, is safe for all ages, and doubles as decent skincare for the trail. Worth keeping in your kit as a secondary option.

Citronella, eucalyptus oil, and other essential oil-based repellents are popular but tend to offer shorter-lasting and less reliable protection against Scottish midges specifically. They may work well enough on a gentle evening in the English Lake District, but in the heart of midge country in Wester Ross, they’ll struggle.

Choosing Your Campsite Wisely

One of the most effective ways to reduce midge misery is simply to choose where you pitch your tent with midges in mind. Under Scotland’s Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, you have the right to camp responsibly on most unenclosed land — a freedom that allows you to be genuinely selective about your location, rather than being tied to a designated campsite in a boggy hollow.

Go High and Exposed

Midges struggle at altitude and in exposed, windy positions. Pitching above 600 metres will reduce your exposure significantly. A wild camp on a ridge or plateau with a view — rather than in a sheltered glen below — is often the better choice in midge season. Yes, it might be more exposed to wind and rain, but you’ll sleep better knowing you’re not inside a midge cloud.

Avoid Still Water and Boggy Ground

Midges breed in standing water and boggy terrain. Camping beside a beautiful lochan might look idyllic in photographs, but in July it can be absolute torture. If you must camp near water, choose fast-moving burns and rivers over still lochans. Even a modest stream provides some air movement that discourages midges from gathering in large numbers.

Use the Coastline

Coastal wild camping — which is perfectly legal and enormously enjoyable in Scotland — tends to be significantly less plagued by midges, simply because the coast is rarely completely still. Sea breezes keep midges grounded, and the saltier, drier air of the shoreline is less hospitable to them than the wet interior. The Knoydart peninsula, the Ardnamurchan coast, and the beaches of the Outer Hebrides can all provide spectacular wild camping with considerably fewer midges than the inland glens.

Tent Choice and Campsite Setup

Your tent is your sanctuary. The moment you’re inside with the zip done up, midges become someone else’s problem. But not all tents are equally well-suited to midge conditions.

Inner Tent Mesh

Most modern backpacking tents have a mesh inner tent designed to improve ventilation. In Scotland, however, you want a solid inner tent, not a mesh one. Midges are small enough to pass through standard mesh. A solid inner — combined with a good outer fly — keeps them out completely. When buying or hiring a tent for Scottish wild camping, specifically check whether the inner is solid or mesh. Manufacturers such as Terra Nova, Wild Country, and MSR offer popular models with solid inners that work well in Scottish conditions.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.