‘Prevention is better than cure‘ as the saying goes, and this is very appropriate with tick bites. The potential consequences of their tiny, almost unnoticeable bite can be lifelong debilitation through various bacterial diseases. It is true that not all ticks carry these bacteria. But it is also true that infection rates are increasing in some places, likely driven by climate change and other factors. With tick season in Scotland starting earlier and lasting longer, we recommend following the steps below when hiking or mountainbiking.

Apply insect repellant

Although ticks aren’t insects, most types of insect repellant should help prevent tick bites (but you should check the label to be sure). Apply it as per the manufacturers instructions, concentrating on ankles, lower legs and perhaps forearms.

☠️ It is dangerous to use livestock/pet anti-tick products on yourself. These strong chemicals are precisely dosed and designed to penetrate animal fur or persist in the bloodstream!

When deciding on hiking wear or biking wear remember the dress code for tick areas! Anything that creates a physical barrier between you and the vegetation is recommended. So, long trousers, shoes/boots and socks and even long sleeves are the items to choose. To be really thorough, tuck your trouser legs into your socks and forget about how it looks! To stop ticks in their tracks, some people even wrap wide tape, sticky side out, around the bottom of their trouser legs. Save the sandals and shorts for elsewhere.

Wear light-coloured clothing to make it easier to spot ticks crawling on you.

Because ticks cannot fly they must climb up vegetation to attach to a new host. Therefore, minimise hiking or biking through dense, tall, dry grass or leaves. In Scotland, we also recommend taking extra care in bankside vegetation when canoeing and kayaking. Where possible, choose a wide path that avoids contact with tall grass, etc. If you can’t avoid it, take the precautions above and do a thorough tick check afterwards (see below). If you are bivvying or camping, a groundsheet, bivvy bag or hammock can also help prevent tick bites.

😮 Undress and toilet carefully! Be especially careful when going to the toilet or undressing near vegetation. If possible, use rocky or sandy areas instead.

A tick check can prevent bites by removing ticks before they attach. Despite moving very slowly, they grip tightly and can be extremely small, so take your time. Ticks will usually go for parts of the body with soft skin and rich blood flow. So pay particular attention to ankles, behind the knees, armpits and chest. Unfortunately, this also includes intimate areas and you will likely want privacy before checking here! So a good time to do this might be during a swim, wash, shower or visit to the toilet.

You may need help to properly check parts of your body you can’t see. Use a mirror, or consider asking someone you trust.

If a tick is found attached, it should be removed with a specific tick removal tool as soon as possible. In the UK, doctors recommend within 24 hours, to minimise the risk of any infection. Ticks will eventually fall off after completing their blood meal, but this will almost certainly occur too late to prevent transfer of bacteria into your blood. Tweezers are an OK alternative to a tick remover, but almost any other method increases the risk of leaving the ticks mouthparts embedded in the wound. This can lead to secondary infection, even if the tick was ‘clean’. Outdoor retailers, pet shops and vets are good places to buy tick removers.

Tick removal tools come in various designs, but they are usually small, inexpensive plastic or metal hooks or ‘cards’. These are easily the most effective way to remove the entire tick.

First, place the tool directly between your skin and the ticks head. Follow the manufacturers instructions to carefully pull the entire tick away from the wound. Usually, gentle, continuous pressure is enough and there is rarely any pain or blood. Next, dispose of it carefully. Removing it won’t kill it and you don’t want it to find its way back to you (especially if it is infected).

⚠️ Don’t put anything on ticks to make them let go. Applying alcohol, toothpaste or a flame, etc actually increases the risk of them spitting the disease-causing bacteria into you.

Tick bites can cause several harmful diseases in humans including tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis and Lyme disease. For many years, Lyme disease (AKA Lyme borreliosis) has been the main risk in Britain, caused by the Borrelia bacterium. This disease can involve a wide variety of physical and mental symptoms, some of which can be quite severe and long-lasting. Unfortunately, symptoms can easily be overlooked or misdiagnosed. Diagnosis usually involves a blood test but, because of the risks and difficulties, treatment with strong antibiotics is sometimes started prophylactically (ie: before a confirmed diagnosis). If caught early after the tick bite, treatment is often very successful at preventing further illness. If not caught in time, it can lead to lifelong debilitation.

🎯A ‘bullseye-shaped rash’ centred on a tick bite, is often associated with Lyme disease. However, this rash is not always present.

Tick-borne encephalitis in Britain

Unfortunately, locally-acquired human cases of TBE were confirmed in Britain for the first time in 2025. TBE is a viral disease which, in many human cases, actually shows no symptoms. However, some cases result in meningitis or encephalitis, which can be fatal. The very thorough study investigated 21 potential TBE cases in Britain from as far back as 2015. 3 cases during tick season in England and Scotland were classed as ‘definite or highly probable UK acquisition’¹.

TBE is a similar viral disease to LIV, which is endemic and transmitted to red grouse via ticks from mountain hares.