Map of midge hotspots and where to avoid the blood-sucking insects

Midges are the blight of Scotland's summers, with the blood-sucking insects swarming around popular beauty spots every year.

A bumper hatch is expected to thrive this year - but experts have now located exactly where the biting bugs will be located.

The Scottish Midge Forecast has created an interactive map to show places in Scotland which will be midge-free - and also the places to avoid.

The map uses a scale of one to five depending on the number of biting insects there are, with five being the most annoying.

Popular tourist spots such as Glencoe and North Ballachulish are currently high on the midge-biting scale, with campers to expect a huge number of the pests.

However, the whole of the central belt, Dundee, Perthshire and the north-east coast - including Aberdeen - are all midge-free, making them the perfect destinations for wild camping.

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The midge forecast, developed by Smidge, uses data collected from biting midge traps and mini-weather stations across Scotland.

This is extended nationally using weather forecast data, giving you a big picture view of midge levels throughout the season.

It comes after experts have revealed a delicious way to evade the ferocious insects by using a simple combination of ingredients.

A marinade, made from a combination of 'midge-proof' herbs and spices, including rosemary, thyme, bay leaves and garlic, is not only delicious but very effective at repelling midges.

Dr Alison Blackwell, from Smidge, said: “This year there’s due to be a bigger hatch than ever of Scotland’s famous Highland Midge – but that doesn’t mean you have to hide indoors all season.

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"Using a combination of natural deterrents like rosemary, thyme, garlic and bay leaves can help save summer by making midges less of a nuisance."

The midge expert added that with the season becoming even longer each year, having an arsenal of ingredients to call upon will be key to outwitting the midge.

She said: "As well as the ingredients used for the Scotch Beef marinade, other herbs like mint, dill, lavender, geranium leaves and lemon balm are also effective, pairing well with beef as well as meats like Scotch Lamb.”

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The interactive midge map can be viewed here.

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