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John

If it's that wet it's actually best just to take up the groundsheet tbh and wear crocs or wellies inside. As long as the sleeping pods are dry it's not crucial to have a dry living area after all. And in Ye Olde Days we'd have dug a storm trench uphill of the tent, to divert any running water from coming through the tent. Of course that was in the days when all campers took a spade with them. And sometimes the wardens used to object, but as long as you're careful you can turn sods back into place when you leave. The drainage holes seem to be a good compromise.

Just count yourself lucky you weren't pitched in a dip. Or, as we found ourself one year, on the part of the field that served as the overflow drain for the whole area. We  actually had to rope the TT to a tree on that pitch as we were afraid the wheels would get undercut and the TT start to move. We were digging storm ditches that day I can tell you!

And on a very wet evening in Arnhem last year the entire campsite flooded to a depth of about four inches when the rains finally arrived after several weeks of dought. The ground just couldn't soak it up fast enough. Most of the tenters (even these with SIG) ended up sleeping in the games hall. We were in the TT and had to clear the awning and undertents out into the car in about twenty minutes flat, then we all piled into the upper cabin and slept there. We were paddling just to get to the toilet block, lol.

We had some very wet weather near Valence in July but were luckier than most in that our pitch was flat and seemed to be a bit more 'drained' than others - some had dug 'trenches' round theirs to divert the water - one had a river right through the middle - if it wasn't so upsetting it would have been funny.  They really had no choice - one woman was out digging her trench with her wooden spoon!! the ground was so soft.  If its needed then I'd do it this country or abroad.  Let the owners/warden complain - they should have better drainage in most sites - from what we've seen its almost like youre on your own some places.  In the aformentioned site, the pitch we got was the 2nd offered and the last one available - the first one was a puddle!!!

Fiona

Been there witht eh lake inside teh tent.   One year we had to move pitch a couple of yards, adn then if when people came to pitch next to us, we had to say don't pitch there and say that we weren't being anit socila, but ended up with a lake inside the tent when we were there.

One year after so much rain we woke up one morning and although it was dry insdie our tent, the site was flooded - some fo the caravans obviously had flooded awnigns, and everyone was packing up to go.

Never put me off camping though - we just make the most of the dry days when it has been bad.

Been there witht eh lake inside teh tent.   One year we had to move pitch a couple of yards, adn then if when people came to pitch next to us, we had to say don't pitch there and say that we weren't being anit socila, but ended up with a lake inside the tent when we were there.

One year after so much rain we woke up one morning and although it was dry insdie our tent, the site was flooded - some fo the caravans obviously had flooded awnigns, and everyone was packing up to go.

Never put me off camping though - we just make the most of the dry days when it has been bad.

Ugh! soggy wet stuff, we've had it so often that when it rains my kids sniff the air, jump for joy and say ' yay! it's camping weather '

 I think we've caused them some long term emotional damage personally.