Skin-crawling moment camper’s tent is covered in blood-sucking insects

A hiker shared shared skin-crawling footage showing the ‘worst swarm of midges he has seen in 20 years’.

Dr Alan Mackie, from Edinburgh, was camping at Gleann an t-Slugain, Aberdeenshire, when he was set upon by the mass of midges.

The footage, taken on Friday morning shows Alan’s tent besieged by thousands of the blood-sucking mites.

Dr Alan Mackie, from Edinburgh, was camping in Gleann an t-Slugain, Aberdeenshire, when a swarm of midges covered his tent 

The video cuts to footage from the night before showing the insects in groups stuck between two layers of the tents

The video cuts to footage from the night before showing the insects in groups stuck between two layers of the tents 

As he films from the safety of the tent, the insects are seen swarming all over the outside of his shelter.

The camera pans around to reveal how Dr Mackie is surrounded on all sides by the pesky parasites.

Another video taken the previous evening shows dense patches of the bugs trapped between two layers of the tent.

The ‘ferocious’ midges also managed to sink their teeth into Dr Mackie, who accidentally left a gap in his trousers.

He shared a photo showing his leg covered in painful, red lumps which he says have joined together to become ‘one huge bite’.

Dr Mackie, who teaches at the University of Edinburgh’s school of education, took to social media to share the itch-inducing footage.

Dr Mackie left a hole in his trousers and the bugs left him with itchy, red bumps all over his legs

Dr Mackie left a hole in his trousers and the bugs left him with itchy, red bumps all over his legs

Dr Mackie said they were the worst he has experiences in 20 years

Dr Mackie said they were the worst he has experiences in 20 years

He posted the clip on Saturday [15 Aug] with the caption: ‘Midges. Camping. Scotland.’

His video has since been liked more than 4,000 times with many sharing their own midge horror stories.

One user named Kevin shared a snap of his own mottled hands and said: ‘Camped Glendevon a couple of weeks ago and it’s the worst I’ve ever seen the midges, absolutely brutal.’

@Look_its_Rhonda added: ‘I’ve always wanted to go camping across Scotland. People always scoff a bit and mention the midges. Now I understand.’

And Steve Smith said: ‘Jeez! I’m really looking forward to my trip to Scotland now.’

Speaking today, Dr Mackie said: ‘They were the worst I’ve experienced in 20 years. Ferocious.

‘I’ve been left with itchy legs. I was all kitted out.

‘Unfortunately my trousers had patches of mesh on the calves which I hadn’t noticed. Thought I was golden until the next day.

‘I’m an experienced camper and hiker and have a long experience of the midge. Just the damned trouser oversight. That’ll teach me.’

Midge season in Scotland typically lasts from the end of May to September.

It has previously been estimated that the biting bugs cost the Scottish tourism industry around £268 million per year in lost visits.

The scenes come as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 56, prepares to take his partner Carrie Symonds and their baby Wilfred on their first family holiday in the Scottish countryside.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 56, is preparing journey to Scotland with his partner Carrie Symonds and their baby Wilfred next week for a trip that could include camping

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 56, is preparing journey to Scotland with his partner Carrie Symonds and their baby Wilfred next week for a trip that could include camping

Mr Johnson and his family are expected to journey to Scotland for a ‘paternity holiday’ next week that could reportedly include some time camping, according to The Sun.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman declined to confirm the report and said more details of the trip would be announced ‘closer to the time’. 

The reported trip came as Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged him and anyone else coming for a ‘staycation’ to follow local advice.

She said: ‘Whether it’s the Prime Minister or anyone coming to Scotland, I can’t wait for the date where I can say ”everyone come to Scotland and holiday” because we’re over the worst of this virus but right now we need to encourage everybody whether they’re living in Scotland or visiting Scotland to take great care.

‘So, whether it’s the Prime Minister or anybody else, when you’re in Scotland – and you should hopefully be doing this wherever you live – abide by all the advice.’

She added: ‘If we all do that where we are then we’ve got the best chance of keeping it under control.’ 

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