Gnats are considered an important part of the food chain for birds and other insects. When it comes to people, they're considered a nuisance.

To go outdoors wear light colored clothes, with long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes. Also apply insect repellent -- Deet is the most effective, also longest-lasting -- before you go outdoors.

The vast majority of the time I find there is an insect hatch and they swarm and attract the birds, dragonflys, and whatever else and then die off shortly (at least those that did not get eaten) and they are not there anymore. This hatch usually only lasts a few hours and is not something worth trying to control.
Now if this is at a beach cottage you may have sand fleas.

THESE GNATS ARE STILL THERE AND IT'S SO GROSS I STILL CAN'T GO OUTSIDE. I HAVE A BUNCH OF LEYLAND CYPRESSES - DO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT?

HELP!

I HAVE A DOG AND CANT USE PESTICIDES

Gnats need an aquatic environment to get started. Are these gnats biting you? If so, they might be the gnat commonly called the 'dreaded' black fly of the north. Those little things bite and draw blood. If they are simply swarming gnats, or even midges ( also aquatic), perhaps you can learn to get used to them. They will disappear as the weather gets warmer. They are simply a result of living in a 'seasidecottage'.

There are many repellants that can help you and your animals survive a few hundred gnats.