Midges!How can you keep the little blighters away? Raisingkids.co.uk's guest travel expert Barbara Murray, has some suggestions.

Raisingkids member's question
I'm sick and tired of midges spoiling our holiday. Have you any suggestions to keep them at bay this year?

Barbara Murray's advice
You wouldn't think that something so small could cause so much trouble! In certain parts of Scotland, these little devils are known as 'flying teeth'. Itchy, infuriating midge bites can ruin a holiday but there are a few things you can do ward them off.

First, know your enemy... Midges prefer dawn and dusk to strong sunshine, and are happiest in damp, windless condition. They like sheltered valise, woodlands, and adore anywhere near water. Dark clothes seem to attract them more than pale clothes. Midges are also choosy - a study from University of Edinburgh's Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine has found that some individuals' sweat is more appealing to midges than other people's is.

There are a huge number of insect-repellents available, both natural and chemical. Finding the right one to keep your particular midges away can be a matter of trial-and-error and it's a good idea to ask local people what works for them. In recent years, health concerns have been raised over DEET (di-ethyl toluamide), the most common chemical used in insect-repellents and some parents prefer to use alternative methods.

Natural (non-chemical) methods of discouraging midges range from the common-sense to the bizarre. Using midge nets and window screens at night is a sensible precaution and, if you're severely plagued, you might want to take a midge hood or hat to keep them away from your face.

Other methods include:

• Citronella, tea tree and eucalyptus oils - you can buy impregnated candles or use an essential oil burner
• Chewing raw garlic cloves, although it might keep everybody else away too
• Wiccans recommend attaching a sprig of bog-myrtle to your clothes
• Joss sticks
• Wood smoke from a camp fire
• Don't wear perfume or perfumed moisturiser
• Stay indoors
• Rinsing your hair with dilute TCP solution
• The fragrance of cytisus battandieri (pineapple broom)
• Politician Tony Benn claims his pipe smoke keeps midges at bay

I can't vouch for any of these techniques, but I hope one of them works for you. Good luck!