Anybody else worried about it being too hot for camping?

[MinimalistMommi]

We going once the children have broken up next week. The long term forecast is still showing approx 30 degrees for Friday next week after thunderstorms on Thursday? Worried we are all going to fry. We don't have a tarp for shade but we are in a bell tent so that should keep a bit cooler than a regular tent. We were camping during the hot week August last year and I remember we had a find shade for days out like woodland walk etc. Is anyone staying at home because it is so hot?

[troutsprout]

Yes... Not going til early August ... But ds and I both struggle with heat ( dh and dd not so bad). I'm taking the double skinned tent ( the living area is double skinned too) that should help.it also has a large door you can prop as shade. Other than that I guess we will need to be up and about looking for cooler spots.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Yes I am off to guide camp this weekend,it is going to be very hot and last time we did a hot camp some of the girls got sunstroke due to lack of hats!! We had them with tea towels on their heads in the end.

Hopefully this camp will be easier as we are surrounded by trees so we should have plenty of shade.

Get all your vents open and leave them open at night. Be prepared to get up early before it gets too hot in the tent.

Good luck and enjoy

[GobblersKnob]

We have just got back from three nights in North Norfolk and jesus it was hot.

However, having spent the last god knows how many years in wet tents, I was determined not to moan. It was wonderful to truely use the tent only for sleeping and we just had to find shady things to do through the heat of the middle of the day.

[hillbilly]

Goblers - how was it at night? Did you need sleeping bag? We are going on Friday and I'm considering taking the duvet instead or even just a sheet and blanket.

[poachedeggs]

We camped this last weekend. Putting the tent up almost killed me. I made DH drive to a supermarket for cold cider

The first night was just comfortable. The second night was a lot colder and I closed all the vents and wore extra clothes, and the DC had fleeces on top of their PJs. It was very hot during the day though.

[3rdnparty]

Camped in the only nice week last summer and again booked for next week - last year was not as hot but v sunny-main solution was to make lots of shade so got a gazebo + tarps +windbreaks - and got the kids doing slow things like playing board games/craft stuff/sticker books- watching dvd in the cotton tent during the hottest part of the day - running around early or late on...also going shopping - nice cold supermarkets....

[GobblersKnob]

Lol at going shopping to cool down, we went to the co-op it was like the arctic, I was tempted to re-pitch in there.

hillbilly, two nights were pretty mild, one was extremely windy and surprisingly cold. Dp and I both have enormous square sleeping bags so if the weather is mild we unzip them completely, sleep on top of one and under the other, so you can stick a leg out if it gets too hot.

I think you'd be fine with a duvet if the weather holds, but you might be too cold with a blanket, your body tends to really feel the drop in temperature in the evening when you have been out in the sun all day.

For example, last night back at home I stayed in the shorts and vest I had worn all day, but camping evenings were spent in jeans, vest, long sleeved tee, fleece, beanie.

[SweepTheHalls]

We camped last weekend and melted. I recommend a cheap little paddling pool, buckets, and lots of water pistols!

[MinimalistMommi]

Good idea about try padding pool

[Bramblesinforrin]

We're heading south tomorrow. Early. Fortunately the site has freezers for rechilling cool packs, little streams for paddling and we have a tent with zig and can roll the sides up. :)

[Lucycat]

No - I've just checked the Dordogne for when we are there on Accuweather day we arrive to put up the tent = thunderstorms.... then 23/24c all week - would you believe it

[3MonthMaid]

I've just stocked up on mini paddling pools and water pistols and I'll take the thinnest sleeping bags. IME it still gets chilly overnight...

[wigglybeezer]

Hmmm, we booked the west highlands for the end of next week as it was the only dry place in Scotland last summer, the forecast is 14/15 degrees overcast and rainy and we have booked a site on a beach.

It's the fourth summer in a row that I seem to have randomly selected the crappest weather week to go camping in, I am cursed!

I have been checking and re checking the long range forecast in the hope it changes.

[wigglybeezer]

Just checked again, the long range forecast has improved a bit!

[FunnysInLaJardin]

yes, we are going to Eurocamp in Brittany in a mobile home without aircon and the forecast is 35! We will be spending a LOT of time in the pool

[wigglybeezer]

I have never managed a really hot camping holiday, I am struggling to feel sorry for you, unless you have little babies/ toddlers.

[LostInWales]

We camped last year in Spain and France when there was a heatwave, some days it was 40 degrees early afternoon. We spent a lot of time underwater in the pool, buy those soft 'flower pot' hats that can get wet and they keep heads lovely and cool. Night was ok most of the time but we each have a plant water mister bottle and used them as in tent air conditioning! I gave the inner of the tent a good mist 30 minutes before bedtime and then we could squirt the air above us whenever we wanted in the night too. I also second the poster up thread who said supermarkets, we made sure we were in the car by 12, went to McDonalds (I know, I know but the airconditioning was amazing plus free wifi and they do delicious salads in the ones in France!) then went shopping for that evenings tea in a nice cool supermarket, quick stop in Decathlon then back to the pool until 7pm. Was a bloody brilliant holiday

I love the idea of a paddling pool, might get a small one to sit under the tarp so I can cool my ankles in the evening.

[FunnysInLaJardin]

wiggly I have a 3yo...........he will get hot!

[MinimalistMommi]

Sorry wiggly
We're fair weather campers so have never really been when it is wet (DH is teacher so we can choose when to go) but this might be a bit to 'fair' (hot) for us but we are still going to go and just do shady days out/paddling etc.

[MinimalistMommi]

We were planning to go to France this year and book a ferry last minute to find sun but obviously now we don't need too. We will save our money for next year...

[Lucycat]

phew they seem to have changed their mind about the weather in France - normal service is resumed

[TheRealMBJ]

I'm South African, and this is totally normal spring temperatures there, but having lived here for more than a couple f years, I now appreciate why the British get in so much trouble when mercury rises above 24/25°.

That said. I can't bloody wait. Am extremely excited about our holiday. It's going to be brilliant.

[TheRealMBJ]

I think we are still going to go to France, but we have always planned September after the schools go back (no DC in school yet), so a little cooler than August and extending our summer here really

[fossil971]

We're camping in central France atm. (Our schools broke up last week). It's gorgeous and the DC are fine with hats drinks and sunblock. We have rigged up a bit of shade next to the tent but most people are taking advantage of trees. We also have EHU to keep the cold things cold. Honestly when will we have such lovely weather again? Don't miss it!

[MrsDimples]

We did our first family camping trip two weekends ago. It was too, too hot during the day. We planned trips to the supermarket for midday to be able to be stand in air conditioning and cool down.

Thankfully the site had a large clubhouse that was coolish and an indoor pool so we spent a lot of time in there.

We've got a poly tent and we had luckily bought a carpet as the groundsheet was too hot to stand on.

We were quite high up and next to some trees. Not planning another trip til it cools down. People thought I was bonkers complaining it was too hot, rather than raining, but pitching a tent in mid day sun when everything is too hot to touch within minutes is no fun. Ditto, packing the car up and putting the tent away when it's sweltering by 9am