rgg - Jan 19, 2011 7:08 am - Voted 10/10

Even before I ever went to Scotland, the reputation of these tiny vampires had reached me. That was a really good thing, because although I've never experienced anything like what you're describing, I really don't like being bitten by mosquitos, sand flies, midges, or any other similar little critters. And for that reason, I visited Scotland last May.

Your experience of being swarmed by a small cloud of midges inside your tent reminds me of a time in New Zealand. I was in a back country hut, but somehow hundreds of sand flies found their way in as well. They must be distant cousins, if not genetically, then certainly by behavior. Like midges, they are tiny, hardly visible when flying, and they bite, but even one bite is already annoying. They also like woodlands and water, especially still. They too cannot keep up if you're moving and they cannot handle cold or wind. I spent a good time squatting them, before turning in! Mind you, these midges you are describing seem a lot more aggressive than the sand files I had to contend with. They would mostly crawl over the inside of the windows, attracted by the outside light, instead of all zooming in on me.