Nordic Summer

Product Information

In towns and cities, you can expect to see wasps wherever there are people and discarded food lying about, but I don’t see wasps as a problem. Yes, their sting hurts, but seriously, what do people expect when they instantly start flapping their arms around as soon as a wasp comes nearby? I don’t usually get spots, but recently I got the mother of all blind spots on my chin. I did exactly what you’re not supposed to do, I squeezed it and squeezed it some more and just made the whole spot situation a thousand times worse than it ever needed to be. It still hurt but, instead of looking like a small raised bump, I now had Mount Vesuvius firmly planted on my face. Another side effect of histamine is that it sends signals to the nerves surrounding the bite which your brain perceives as an itchy sensation. We then scratch the itch to relieve it but this just increases the inflammation making it even itchier. It’s a vicious cycle – aarrgh! Scottish Midge Bite Treatments

On a similar note, you could try burning wood in a campfire as the smoke will usually deter insects – but only if it’s directly in their flight path. Smoke is as much use as a chocolate teapot if the wind blows in the wrong direction.Spraying it onto your clothing, which should last up to 6 weeks provided you hand wash or use a wool programme (it is damaged by vigorous washing). Another gadget – ok, it’s not really a gadget – that flying insects hate is the midge candle. These produce a strong scent when lit and are a natural way to keep midges away and I recommend you buy a few for your next Scottish holiday. They help with insect swarms and they look nice too, and I think there’s something incredibly relaxing about watching a candle burn down in the evening. To summarise, the worst place for midges in Scotland is anywhere close to their breeding grounds (usually boggy moorland) and anywhere close to their favourite food sources of sheep, cattle, and deer (most of the Highlands and Western Isles). This compact tin of insect repellent is small and light enough to take with you on the trail. It will last for a long time as only a small amount is needed. If it’s a warm summer, midges will be out in force well into early autumn due to the emergence of the third generation.

Bog myrtle is a common plant of wet bogs, heaths and lake edges and is well known traditionally as a natural insect repellent. Photo: Alison Delaney.

Wilma NORDIC SUMMER is a traditional insect repellent made in the forest region of Swedish Lapland. Utilising the old knowledge and techniques used for centuries by the forest people who have lived and worked there. This gives this product a very pleasant and aromatic smoky scent of woods and wilderness that evokes feelings of forests and campfires under a northern sky. I've a hunch though that various other tree oils might work as well as eucalyptol--it's just that the research hasn't necessarily been done yet. When I read about the kinds of potion used against insects, there's a theme: cedar, tea tree oil, pine, neem, cinnamon ... all from bark. Oils that trees have evolved to protect themselves from insects. We promote the utmost respect for the environment, the ability to pass unnoticed through the woods brings with it a deeper understanding of the wilderness, and our part in it. It is this philosophy which forms the very core of our work. Factory applied - which should last for the life of the garment and is offered by an increasing range of manufacturers

The final option popular in Scotland is, strangely, Avon's Skin So Soft body spray (blue bottle). It became widely used by the Royal Marines after their wives reported that it worked. There are rumours that the SAS and the US Special Forces are using it for jungle warfare. Some swear by it, while others find it useless.

Final suggestions for midge repellents are definitely in the old wives’ tale camp, but I’ve heard more than a few people mention these tips during my travels in the Highlands so there might be something in it. We have 37 species of midge here in Scotland but the most prevalent is C. impunctatus which loves laying its eggs in wet soil, something we’re not exactly short of in this country.