Are There Midges on the Isle of Lewis and Harris?
The most asked question about our trip to the Isle of Lewis in August 2021 wasn’t about the stunning beaches, the incredible wildlife or the best places to surf. No. The one thing that everyone wanted to know was…. “How bad are the midges on the Isle of Lewis and Harris?”
The Isle of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides is Scotland’s largest island and also the most northwesterly tip of the UK. Its scenery is simply breathtaking and we spent a magical two weeks exploring there in the summer season and got lucky with mostly fine weather in Scotland’s warmest summer season in years.
Before we set off, everyone who asked about the trip first commented on the midges. So we started wondering how bad the midges would be on the island and whether or not they would spoil our trip. Were we making a rookie error by travelling in August?
It was as if everyone we spoke to was obsessed by these pesky little biters and we had visions of biblical plagues of midges surrounding the van with us all being locked inside to avoid being eaten alive.
How bad were the midges on the Isle of Lewis and Harris?
We were on Lewis for five days before we even saw any midges. That’s not to say there weren’t any, but we spent our days at the coast and with Lewis holding such an exposed spot in the North Atlantic, the winds helped to keep them at bay. The midges prefer still conditions and apparently winds over 5mph actually kill them off. Even on days where the winds were light, we didn’t see or feel them and were starting to think everyone was being melodramatic!
And then one day, out of the blue, clouds of midges appeared and the tiny but fierce needle biting took us back down a peg or two! We spent almost two weeks exploring these islands and the midges were only really a nuisance on a handful of occasions.
You are probably reading this because you are thinking of planning a trip to the Outer Hebrides and want to be fully armed to take on the Scottish Air Force. So what do you need to know about midges before heading to the Outer Hebrides in the summer?
Midges v Weather: Best time to visit the Isle of Lewis?
The weather in the Outer Hebrides is changeable. Being so exposed to the North Atlantic, the smallest change in wind can either bring in a sea mist or clear the clouds completely. It is a little cooler that the southern half of the UK, but even in winter it doesn’t experience the harsh freezing temperatures or heavy snow of mainland Scotland.
We visited in August and were treated to some delightful weather – plenty of sunshine hours in amongst a few cloudy days. But it certainly is changeable, so make the most of the sun when it’s out and pack a raincoat for when the showers roll in.
Midges thrive in the damp, warm, still air and the abundance of beautiful lochs and rolling hills of heather and machair are what make the summer months and warmer waters the perfect conditions for hatching.
We stayed during the second half of August and locals told us the midges on the Isle of Lewis just hadn’t been as bad that season. And in any case, swarms can be very localised and vary from one day to the next. An unseasonal heatwave may bring them out early in the season, but they can also appear in late September. And whilst the Isle of Lewis and Harris has a far milder climate that mainland Scotland, the winters are dark, wet and windy.
So if you want to explore the Outer Hebrides with the best of the weather, you’re going to have to accept that there will be some midges to deal with at some point over the summer.
How to avoid the midges
Pack your bug spray and if you want to be really well prepared, buy a midge headnet to help cover up. These are commonplace on the island and are readily available in local shops. Long sleeves and trousers tucked into socks will protect arms and legs. You can also check out Smidge here for more information and a comprehensive Midge Forecast.
Stick to the coast
As I mentioned earlier, the coastal breeze is enough on most days to keep the midges at bay. One day we took a trip to the Callanish Standing Stones, slightly inland and with only light winds, there were clouds of midges ready to bite as we pulled up in the van.
At the beach that same morning there hadn’t been a single midge…clusters are extremely localised and even a very short distance away from the coast was a whole other story.
The cyclists certainly fared worse than the surfers as they navigated the inland roads past the lochs, but they all looked like they were having a great time anyway.
Peak Times: Dawn and Dusk
Our cottage was close to the coast but not directly on it and there were one or two evenings when clouds of midges suddenly appeared at dusk. Peak times are dawn and dusk when the light is less intense. A roaring fire kept them at bay and within a day the worst of them had passed.
So, are there any midges on the Isle of Lewis and Harris?
On some days and in some places, yes.
But they really didn’t spoil what was a brilliant trip and I would certainly not let tales of those pesky midges put you off visiting this most incredible island.
For more information on the Isle of Lewis check out our related blogs here:
