People camping in Argyll & Bute might like to have a certain lady calling! Skin So Soft (trademarked) is used by islanders and forestry workers to prevent the wee beasties making your holiday a nightmare! Comes in an oil or cream (former seems to be more effective and economical, but does depend on your skin type)! And it doesn't smell too bad, either!

Yip Midges can be a real menace on the West Coast. Stayed in a campsite to the North of Conan Bridge in 2004 and the little pesky devils drove me beserk. Only consolation was to see the reaction of a party of German campers who had never experienced the Scottish midge before. The way they were slapping their arms and thighs was reminiscent of a bavarian folk dance

the worst wee beasties ive seen were in applecross,the midges were really bad,soon as you stepped out of your tent you were swarmed on.

I live in Argyllshire and the midge is most certainly our biggest problem. They are an absolute nightmare. I know they like our climate, however, the problem is nowhere near as bad in other, similar climatic areas such as the Lake district. I belive that the midge problem is so much worse here because of the Forestry commission's activities. I have met people who have come here to live and subsiquently sold up and left soley because of the midge problem. There are always more midges in densly forested areas of spruce and similar plantations. The industry is of little benifit to the local populations as it employs few people to manage and farm great swathes of landscape. Most of these plantations are no more than tax dodges for rich people from elsewhere. The problem gets worse every summer. Something has to be done to save our tourist industry and our basic way of life! STOP THE FORESTRY!!!

[quote=MADGAZ35]
the worst wee beasties ive seen were in applecross,the midges were really bad,soon as you stepped out of your tent you were swarmed on

we were in applecross last month & we were'nt bothered at all by the little blighters, just wondering what month you were there -we are going back there this week-should we be stocking up with skin so soft?

Or get a wee campfire goin? Worked for us!!!