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  Hi folks we are new to this and go on our first camping holiday on saturday. We have read the reviews on the camp site we are staying at (warren farm brean) and a lot of people say it is very windy. Now this is really starting to worry me as i dont want my new tent to blow away or even worse get ruined by the wind and ruin my holiday.

   I've read some posts about tie down straps but dont really understand if they will work with my tent (sunncamp tourist 12 xp) or even where to get them from. do any of you hardened campers have any advice for me plz to help me enjoy my holiday and keep the tent where i pitch it. thanks in advance.... 

Tie down straps are really for caravan awnings and canvas frame tents. If you use one on a synthetic dome the strap will slide around and abrade the fabric, and there`s no square rigid frame to tie down anyway. Don`t bother.

My advice is to take some extra BIG pegs (the ones you get with the tent are OK, but only just, usually) and if it`s windy double peg everything. Make sure every last pegging point is pegged down well, one peg (or two) per point, peg fully into the ground at an angle of 45` with the head of the peg sloping away from the tent. NEVER peg straight up and down. Sloppy pegging is the No1 reason that your tent will blow away and the identical one next door will stay standing. Remember, if you  pull a guyline or peg loop towards the tent and the peg starts to lift, it ain`t in properly. Do it again.

Guylines should be pulled out so they meet the ground at 45`, in line with the seam they originate from and should be taut...not drum tight, but taut. Also check all pegs and guys every night before you go to bed....takes two minutes to snug everything up and tap the odd peg back in. I do this night and morning, actually, but I`m fussy about pegs.

As said above, don't use the basic L-pegs on your guy-lines, use some delta pegs or other type that won't swivel.

Secondly, use a windbreak to shield your tent and stop the wind getting up the flysheet and trying to lift it off.