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Hello, myself and two friends are off to camping to the lovely North Devon next monday for three nights. As I know what the North Devon weather is like I thought I would ask for your advice on this matter,

I have an old frame style canvas tent. It's in great nick but as an older design doesn't have inner tents or a sig. I have a ground sheet for it but need to cut it to size. Would it be best to cut it short or have the ends poking through.

Also without inner tents I'm concerned it will be cold? Can you put my mind at rest.

Thanks, James

Normally I would suggest cutting the groundsheet slightly smaller than the tent, otherwise if it sticks out beyond the bottom of the flysheet any rain/drips from the flysheet will land on it and run inside.

However, with no inner tents, yes, it will be rather draughty to say the least, so I would suggest cutting the groundsheet about a foot larger all round than the tent and fold the spare foot inside the tent and up the inside walls of the fly which will afford you some protection from the wind coming underneath the fly. You could stick it to the inside of the fly using sticky back velcro strips to hold it in place. Won't be perfect but better than nothing.

If the tent has been dry stored for a couple of years or more, the fibres may have opened up a bit, enough to let a fine mist through if it rains while you're away. Once it stops raining & the tent dries out, the fibres will have swelled & closed up, and it will be completely waterproof again.

However, I would suggest that if you have the chance, pitch it today or tomorrow & give it a hose down to soak it and let it dry and become waterproof again. It's no fun if you're bedding feels damp on holiday.

If it's only been a few months since it was last used & got wet, then the canvas will be perfectly waterproof anyway.