Scotland's midges come out on still evenings. Here's how to plan around them.
From June to September the Highland biting midge swarms on calm, damp days on Skye, in Glencoe and around Fort William. Wind, the midge forecast and a head net handle most of it. England is close to bite-free, and Highland ticks are a separate item for hikers.
Scotland's midges are real, and from June to September they can spoil a still evening on Skye or in Glencoe. The Highland biting midge swarms on calm, damp days and at dawn and dusk; wind, sun, the midge forecast and a head net are how you beat it. England is close to bite-free for a visitor, and CDC's UK page lists no mosquito-borne diseases.
The Highland midge season
Adult midges emerge in May and June. The director of the Scottish Midge Forecast has said the biggest peak usually comes in the first week of June if May is warm. A second generation follows about six weeks later, in mid-July, and a third is possible in September. A cold spring can push everything back by two to three weeks, and the season eases through September.
The west coast is the heart of it. Glencoe, Oban and Fort William are typically named as the worst, and Skye varies from year to year, according to the Press and Journal. Sheltered glens, boggy ground and still water tend to be worse than a breezy shore. Loch Ness and Inverness aren't among the usual worst-named spots, but expect midges there on calm evenings too.
Wind, forecasts and head nets
Midges are weak fliers, so a steady breeze grounds them, and strong sun keeps them down. Calm, damp, overcast weather brings them out, especially at dawn and dusk. The Scottish Midge Forecast uses trap and weather-station data to rate the risk from level 1 (negligible) to level 5 (nuisance). Check it the night before, and plan exposed walks, picnics and campsite evenings for breezy or sunny spells.
For the bad days, pack a midge head net for Skye or Glencoe. Picaridin 20% or DEET 20–30% on exposed skin helps, and both also work against ticks; our picaridin vs. DEET comparison explains the trade-offs. Long sleeves and trousers at dawn and dusk do the rest. Our Ireland midge briefing is the sister page for the west of Ireland, where the same defenses apply, and our Iceland briefing covers the swarms at Lake Mývatn.
Ticks: a separate item for hikers
The Highlands carry a bite-borne risk that has nothing to do with midges. NHS Highland has Scotland's highest rate of Lyme disease, with about 44 lab-confirmed cases per 100,000 people a year in 2008–2013, against about 7 for Scotland as a whole. A 2024 study of family-doctor practices in the northern Highlands found clinically diagnosed cases running at roughly twice the lab-based rate. CDC's UK page also mentions tick-borne encephalitis. After walks through bracken, heather or deer country, check your whole body for ticks and remove any promptly. A spreading red rash or a flu-like illness in the weeks after means a doctor visit.
England and the cities
London and the rest of England have no comparable problem, and bites are rarely an issue. UK Health Security Agency surveillance found Asian tiger mosquito eggs at a motorway service station in Kent in August 2024, the first find since 2019. Follow-up found no more, and the agency concluded the species is not established in the UK. One non-insect item: CDC's Level 2 Global Polio notice lists the UK, so make sure your polio vaccination is complete before you go.
Where you're going
How the main stops compare for a June–September trip.
Isle of Skye
Can be severe on still, damp days in sheltered glens and on boggy ground, and it varies from year to year. The coast and breezy days are better. Check for ticks after hikes.
Glencoe & Fort William
Named with Oban among Scotland's worst midge spots. Keep a head net in the daypack and check for ticks after hill walks.
Loch Ness & Inverness
Likely to see midges on calm evenings, though it isn't among the spots usually named as worst. It is inside NHS Highland, the area with Scotland's highest Lyme rate.
London & England
Bites are rarely an issue, and there is no mosquito-borne disease. Tiger mosquito eggs found in Kent in 2024 did not lead to an established population.
The Scotland kit
- A fine-mesh midge head net for still evenings on Skye, in Glencoe and at campsites. Midge-grade mesh matters; ordinary mosquito netting is too coarse.
- Picaridin 20% travel sprays: odorless for daily use, and they work on midges and ticks. One 3.4 oz bottle covers about a week for one person.
- Long trousers you can tuck into socks for walks through bracken and heather.
What travelers report
Paraphrased from a forum thread and linked so you can read it in full. It isn't dated to this season, and midge nights vary with wind, weather and where you stay.
- Isle of Skye · July
Experiences varied: one poster had no trouble on a July trip while another was badly bitten at a summer barbecue. Posters agreed wind and strong sun keep midges away and calm, damp, overcast weather brings them out, that boggy ground and sheltered glens are worst, and recommended Smidge or Avon Skin So Soft (with mixed results) plus a cheap head net, checking the Smidge midge forecast. TripAdvisor ↗
As on any trip, a fever during or after it means a doctor visit, and you tell them where you were, including any hill walks in the Highlands.
Traveler questions
When is midge season in Scotland?
Roughly late May to September. Adults emerge in May and June, and the director of the Scottish Midge Forecast has said the biggest peak usually comes in the first week of June if May is warm. A second generation follows about six weeks later, in mid-July, and a third is possible in September. A cold spring can delay the season by two to three weeks.
Are the midges bad on Skye in July?
They can be. Skye varies from year to year, and mid-July is when the second generation tends to arrive. On still, damp, overcast days in sheltered glens and boggy ground it can be severe, while breezy days and the coast are much easier. Check the Scottish Midge Forecast the night before and keep a head net in the daypack.
Are there mosquitoes in London?
A few, but bites are rarely an issue for visitors, and CDC's UK page lists no mosquito-borne diseases. UK Health Security Agency surveillance found Asian tiger mosquito eggs in Kent in August 2024; follow-up found no more, and the agency concluded the species is not established in the UK.
Do I need to worry about ticks in the Highlands?
If you hike, yes. NHS Highland has Scotland's highest Lyme disease rate. After walks through bracken, heather or deer country, check your whole body and remove any tick promptly. See a doctor for a spreading red rash or a flu-like illness in the weeks after, and say where you walked.
Sources
Health authorities, surveillance reports and news coverage of official bulletins used for this briefing, last checked October 2026. Traveler reports are linked where they appear. This page summarizes public-health guidance and is not medical advice.