Midges, weather and ticks

The weather in Scotland changes fast, often several times a day, and the west is wetter than the east. In summer, the tiny Highland midge can spoil an evening. Neither should stop you coming, but both are worth planning for.

Last checked 11 November 2026. Timetables, prices and opening dates change: check the operator before you travel.

Weather

• Changeable is normal. Sunshine, showers, wind and sunshine again within an hour is common, especially in the west. Forecasts for mountain areas change quickly.
• The west is wetter. Fort William and the west Highlands have far more rain than Edinburgh or the east coast. Islands are windy more often than not.
• It is rarely hot. Summer daytime temperatures are typically 15 to 20°C, sometimes warmer, and much cooler on the hills and by the sea. Winter is usually a few degrees above freezing at sea level, colder inland and on high ground.
• Mountains have their own weather. On Ben Nevis or the Cairngorm plateau it can be near freezing with gale-force winds in midsummer. Check the Mountain Weather Information Service before walking high.

Plan days with an indoor alternative, and do not save the one thing you most want to see for your last day. If the forecast is good, go.

Midges

The Highland midge is a tiny biting insect, barely visible on its own, that appears in clouds on still, damp days. The bite is not dangerous, but in numbers midges can make standing outside unbearable.

• When: roughly late May to September, worst in June to August.
• Where: mostly the west Highlands and islands, around lochs, bogs and woodland. Edinburgh, the east coast and windy headlands are rarely bad.
• Conditions: worst on calm, overcast, humid days and around dawn and dusk. Even a light breeze of a few miles an hour keeps them down. Bright sunshine helps too.

What helps

• A repellent made for midges. Smidge and products with DEET or icaridin (picaridin) are widely used. Apply before you get out of the car.
• A midge head net, cheap and light, for evenings outdoors or walks in still weather.
• Long sleeves and light-coloured clothing.
• Choose exposed, breezy places for picnics and campsites, and keep car windows closed when parked in still weather.
• A midge forecast service is published online in summer and gives a useful idea of how bad a day will be.

Ticks

Ticks live in long grass, bracken and heather, and are common in the Highlands from spring to autumn. Some carry Lyme disease.

• Wear long trousers on walks through vegetation, and tuck them into socks.
• Check yourself, children and dogs after walking, including behind knees and in hairlines.
• Remove ticks promptly with a tick removal tool, by twisting gently without squeezing the body.
• If you develop a spreading red rash or flu-like symptoms in the weeks afterwards, see a doctor and mention the tick bite. NHS Inform has guidance.

Sun and wind

Long summer days and clean air mean you can get sunburnt even when it is cool, particularly on beaches and boats. Wind makes it feel much colder than the thermometer says. Pack for both; see our packing list.