A camping trip in the South Downs near Petworth, West Sussex, has highlighted concerns about tick exposure and the risk of Lyme disease in the region. The experience, recounted by a recent visitor, underscores the challenges and anxieties of outdoor activities amid growing awareness of tick-borne illnesses in the UK.
The visitor and his wife attended a barn dance at a countryside property designed by architect Adam Richards, with the option to camp on-site. Despite previous camping experience, the couple had not used their equipment for about a decade. After reassembling their gear, they traveled by taxi and train to reach the location but faced delays due to a train breakdown and cancellations, illustrating the logistical difficulties of camping without a car.
The day of arrival was unusually hot, coinciding with one of the first heatwaves of the season. Before departing for the event, the visitor’s Norwegian friend raised concerns about tick activity and Lyme disease, referencing regions in Norway’s fjords known for high risk. Online research confirmed that the South Downs is considered an area with increased tick presence.
The hosts and local guests offered mixed advice on tick risk, cautioning against long grass and areas frequented by sheep, with some indicating that woods could pose a danger. Ultimately, the couple chose to camp in the woods, pitching their tent amidst bracken and under tree cover despite initial worries over ticks. The visitor wore shorts and a T-shirt initially but changed into long trousers and a shirt, tucking trousers into socks as a precaution after walking through the vegetation.
During the evening, guests shared information about local deer ticks—the primary carriers of Lyme disease—and noted a possible decrease in ticks due to a cold winter reducing the deer population. The gathering continued late into the night, but anxiety over ticks lingered, resulting in a mild argument between the couple about best practices for managing footwear within the tent.
The following morning, after returning to London, the visitor found a tick attached behind his knee. He promptly sought assistance at a pharmacy where he obtained a tick remover. His wife successfully extracted the tick at home. Subsequent medical advice led to a blood test after symptoms including headaches and fatigue developed, though the initial and well-known Lyme symptom—a bull’s-eye rash—did not appear.
About ten days later, a doctor informed the visitor that his blood sample had indicated a partial positive reaction to Lyme disease antibodies. In response, he began a three-week course of doxycycline prescribed at 200mg daily, with plans to discontinue treatment if a conclusive negative test followed later.
The visitor noted an ongoing sense of fatigue during treatment, raising questions about whether symptoms stemmed from Lyme disease, antibiotic side effects, or other factors including age and general physical condition. His wife, worried about possible transmission and influenced by a friend’s concerns over other tick-related illnesses, also reported fatigue and headaches and sought medical testing herself.
After a week, final results returned negative, leading to cessation of antibiotic treatment. Despite this, the visitor described persistent tiredness and reflected on the psychological and physical impact of the experience. The episode serves as a cautionary tale regarding the risks of tick exposure in areas like the South Downs and highlights ongoing uncertainty around prevention, detection, and treatment of tick-borne diseases in the UK.