We’re lucky in Scotland to be home to some of Europe’s most maginficent animals – playful otters, cute red squirrels, elusive wildcats, regal red deer and majestic golden eagles.
Unfortunately it’s also home to an estimated 180,750 trillion Highland Midges, each one capable of giving a painful and itchy bite.
As if that isn’t bad enough, they tend to hunt in packs, with thousands descending from seemingly nowhere to feast on your skin.
If you are venturing to the Highlands this summer there is hope though – a range of clever tricks to avoid the troublesome insects, or at least stop them from biting you.
Here are the 10 best way to stop being eaten alive by midges.
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1. Midges
Midges can make walks and camping in the Scottish Highlands a misery - but there are ways to avoid their irritating bite.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
2. Smoke then out
Smoke will make midges flee to the hills. While lighting up a cigar or cigarette would be worse for your health than the bites, the smoke from a campfire will certainly do the trick.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
3. Take the advice of the Royal Marines
It wasn't designed to repel midges but Avon's Skin So Soft dry oil spray has long been the secret ingredient used by everyone from anglers to ultra marathon runners to avoid being bitten. It's even been reported that it's an essential part of Royal Marines' kit when they are training in the Highlands.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
4. Net up
If you can't get rid of them completely there are a range of wearable nets to keep the winged menace at bay. For total protection there are body-length models to cover you from head to toe.
Photo: Jon Savage