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....... Unfortunately a little bit.

We spent 5 nights at Warren Farm in Brean (Somerset) - A couple of nice days and a couple raining.

My father in law rang wednesday saying we would get winds from the tail end of a hurricane and yes it was windy but bearable. On our last day we spent a pleasent afternoon walking along the beach thinking about going home - maybe a little early - but we decided to stay.

Then about 9pm the winds started blowing the tent inward, so we decided to pack up a few non essentials to stop them blowing over.

About 10pm I spoke to a local warden who said winds would go all night, so we decided to leave and stated packing everything away. We packed the kids in the car and within 10 minutes 5 poles snapped all at the same time and the tent collapsed with only a few things inside.

Two fellow campers helped roll the tent up and shove it and everything else in the car and we were home about 1am the following morning.

You read about tents collapsing but when it happens to you it makes you stop and think a bit more. To be fair out tent Pro Action Nevada (From Argos) was probably not the best tent to have but it still makes me think twice about going but OH is still keen.

We had been looking at a SunnCamp Vario tent which seemed not to move on the site during the wind but I'm not sure.

Maybe when a few days have passed I might change my mind

We were in Norfolk last week, and it was a breezy site anyway, a few tents collapsed in the gusts on the sunday night.

However, with gusts of 45mph forecast from wednesday lunchtime thro the night...we came home early.

The only tents on the site we were at that really didn`t have any problems were the frame tents, a couple of Khyams were doing well and and Outwell NL stood its ground.

Several blacks tents blew down, and a couple of massive tunnel tents I couldn`t identify were also bowing badly. All the experienced campers we talked to were going home, which made our mind up for us.

Don`t let it put you off....

 my husband loves it when its windy, i hate the wind due to a experince a few years ago! I fink you did the best thing packing up.We now have a Vango diablo and love it... its stood up to lots of bad wind n  rain.

dont let it put ya off.

Well thinking we chickened out after 3days of non stop battering you have all put a smile on my face.

Our first camping trip and came home last nite just as the winds slowed. 3 nites with only a few hrs sleep our bed was a welcome sight.

On saying that we enjoyed ourselves emmensly and would do it again without hesitation, but not in a hurricane.

As a point as well should the campsite tell the residents of impending doom or not your answers please.

Will camp again at the drop of a hat

Quote: Originally posted by macnewcamper on 29/8/2009

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As a point as well should the campsite tell the residents of impending doom or not your answers please.

 

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I do think it's nice if the campsite post a printout of that day's weather forecast in the window of reception. But I don't think it's their responsibility to watch the weather for us or to tell us what to do about it. Except, perhaps, if there's likely to be a flash flood over the campsite.

It's good to know when to pack up & go home early - never done it myself, though : )

Our SunValley 6 stood up to horredous winds at the north tip of Scotland last year  - It bent and bellowed, but when the wind stopped, the tent bounced back and was fine (apart a cracked pole section which was easy & cheap to repair).

Don't be put off - put it down to experience and move on.  I've been in some very nasty wind and rain a few times now, but have come to like the battle of man against nature!

Second ever trip as a family we sat it out for 3 days in torrential rain(in a frame tent) 4th day the winds got up so we decided to go...FIL came from Leeds to help us...Pitch was a mud bath..FIL slipped..and down he went full length in it...Weather so bad we pushed our trailer in to the tent to pack it...then just flung the tent in any old way...Sickend...we went for some breakfast at the cafe on North Landing (Bridlington) where..as we were the only customers...the staff let us change clothes in the bathroom...and dry our jackets on the heaters etc....Braved the conditions all the way home to Leeds....Where to our supprise...we found wall to wall sunshine and high temps...Stayed with Grandma and grandad for the next week..and had a great holiday..Everyone up for the next camping trip that was planned a few weeks later...Again...the good times...far...far outweight the bad!!!!

Jelboy.

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 29/8/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by macnewcamper on 29/8/2009

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As a point as well should the campsite tell the residents of impending doom or not your answers please.

 

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I do think it's nice if the campsite post a printout of that day's weather forecast in the window of reception. But I don't think it's their responsibility to watch the weather for us or to tell us what to do about it. Except, perhaps, if there's likely to be a flash flood over the campsite.

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Totally agree and couldnt put it better myself.

Some sites here post weather forecasts in the reception window but surely the easiest way to keep track is with a small radio ?

That is what we do anyway

Angie

My OH said about the campsite should put out warnings of severe bad weather - which I feel is a good idea - or do they not care once they have your money?

I think next time we will take a radio (One more thing to pack!!!!)

I feel I'm coming round to go again

Quote: Originally posted by Redskins03 on 30/8/2009

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My OH said about the campsite should put out warnings of severe bad weather - which I feel is a good idea - or do they not care once they have your money?

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I suspect this would be a liability issue in the making. If they did that and a camper went home and the bad weather did not materialise....who would be responsible? And if they said the weather was going to be okay and a freak wind came up...what then? Best just to make the information availible (ie print out of forecast in window) and let the camper make the decision.

We have also experienced the tail end of the hurricane, we camped at Brighouse Bay Scotland last week which is a fabulous site, first time camping for my 8 year old son & first time in many years for me & my friend. I was apprehensive due to never having put a tent up before. Arrival day was glorious sunshine, tent up with the help of 4 nice men who saw 2 females with instructions in hand looking very puzzled  All going well then in the early hours of wednesday morning Oh my lord I thought we were going to take off! Weds & thurs was a mixture of sunshine & rain so not to be deterred we got out & about, used the leisure facilities & enjoyed ourselves whatever the weather unbeknown to us the worst was yet to come  Sat having tea on thurs torrential rain came, the wind got up, the back of the tent lifted so we had to dive in there to keep it down plates in hand, spent the night in & out of the tent re pegging & tightening guide ropes (ground was like a bog) had about 2 hours sleep! However we decided to stay for our last day/night which was much to our relief a lot calmer.

Hasn't put us off camping however the tent has to go as made the mistake of buying an Argos Pro Action Hyperdome in it's defence it did stand up to the high wind just very cold & draughty due to not being a complete unit & rained in through the seams, so I am now searching this site for recommendations on a good family tent with sewn in everything & will stand up to wind/rain. All help & advice would be very much appreciated