Camping in the rain

[RosaLuxembourg]

We are off to Hay on Wye in a couple of days and the forecast is horrific. Any tips for making the best of it, keeping dry etc. I guess we won't be able to cook much if it is peeing down. I just don't want the children to be miserable and DH to decide he is never camping again (it has taken me years to persuade him in the first place).

[MorocconOil]

Take as many clothes and towels as possible with you. Good waterproofs are very important as once you get wet it is really hard to get dry again.
Find a nice pub with good food. Do some research into local day-trips before you go. Take some board games you can play in the tent. Drinking lots of red wine helps you forget about the weather,but remember to pack an umbrella for trips to the toilet! Good luck!

[dissle]

Ahhh, lay in your tent, snuggled in your sleeping bags and listen to the rain on your tent...i ABSOLUTELY love that sound when im all warm and cosy. You cant beat it.

[RosaLuxembourg]

Thanks guys. We have to go, we have booked tickets for literary festival events. Will get waterproofing spray - tent is new 1500 hg (we have practised putting it up btw). I have accumulated every spare duvet, blanket and rug in the house for making people cosy at night. Good tip about teatowels etc. Umbrella for Loo! Excellent.

[TinyGang]

We've just come home. It was HORRIBLE. Packing up in stair-rods of rain. It was freezing too at night. Oh dear...you say it's dh's first time. I'm already vowing never again. Mind you, I know some people love it - I'm not a big fan of it from the outset, so sorry for the less than enthusiastic post all you hardened campers!

[MoreSpamThanGlam]

Take hot water bottles!

Put them in your beds an hour before you get into bed...COSY!!!!!!!!!!

Wear flip flops as much as pos, or even better - crocs! They will dry out and other shoes might not.

Could take a mini plug in radiator?

[MoreSpamThanGlam]

I found those massive poncho things fab too, perfect for putting up and putting down tents.

Make a big pot of curry/chili/stew and take it with you in a tupperware box. Then put it on stove once you are there. we do that every year at the v festival and when we go camping. Its like heaven, especially if you are cold and damp.

[Peachy]

The forecast isn't that abd (and its only a few miles from here)- the rain has stopped now. Its supposedly dry tomorrow, damp tuesday evening so not too abd really!

[Peachy]

Ogh and if it is wet and you need a dry day out try caerleon Roman Museum coz its free) and have lunch in the village.

[RosaLuxembourg]

That sounds more promising Peachy. I looked at the five day forecast and Wed/Thur is looking bad with heavy rain and thunderstorms but maybe it won't come to that.

[MorocconOil]

We've had a few wet camping trips and TBH those are amongst the most memorable and fun camping experiences(though they didn't seem like it at the time).
You can make the tent lovely and cosy by keeping the cooking stove on for a while, hanging a couple of torches up and serving cake and hot custard. The children love it!

[Peachy]

The rain stopped here before I posted last and ahsnn't restared! Its even- dare I say it- brightening! (Typicallya s we're off away from here in our tent tomorrow LOL)

The forecasts aren't worth a penny atm. yesterday BBC said raining every day bext week; HTV had sunny for all but one day.

Truth be known they ahvent got a clue.

Last year it was the same for Whitsun- loads of people on MN saying should I go or not? We went, ended up sitting on Bournemouth beach eating ice cream LOL!

[FeelingOld]

We have a halogen heater and it is fab!! We have just been away for the weekend and it would have been very cold and miserable without it.

[LambethLil]

We have just come back from our FIRST ever camping holiday, from Saturday pm 'til this morning.

It rained constantly.

What saved the day was: getting the tent up in the dry, not sure how we would have coped otherwise, having lots to do (non weather dependant) in the day, and lunch out.

Definitely a good idea to keep as much as possible in the car and lots of nagging about shoes/ wellies away from sleeping bags. All tucked up, warm and listening to the rain was wonderful. Sheeps' dawn chorus as 4am..was unexpected.

[quadrophenia]

as a hardened camper there is no way i would have gone away this weekend so hats off to those who did. Whilst i agree that it can be cosy etc, I think when sustained amounts of rainfall are expected you get sick of the cosiness.

[TricityBendix]

We hang up our wet coats and shoes in the car overnight if they've got soaked through. Seem to dry out better there than in the tent.
And doormats for the tent. So you can wipe your feet as you go in without walking wetness all over the groundsheet.
I put a clothes line up in the tent too - basically a length of string and take some clothes pegs so you can dry things out.


Though if the weather stays like this, I'd stay home too. Sorry if that doesn't help!

[Wotsit]

I have put a tent up in the rain. Did it shoeless, my feet were easier to dry than wet shoes.

Jeans get wet and stay wet. So take light cotton stuff which dries quicker. Wear lots of layers.

Have a nice time and take some spare towels.

[RosaLuxembourg]

Doormats!!! Great idea. Have just made DH pack six pairs of socks (for three days). Will make everyone wear wellies when feasibly poss and take off outside tent. Am gathering up every old towel in the house. I have five airbeds, six sleeping bags, five duvets and seven or eight blankets between the five of us.
Children all have fleecy pjs.
As long as we are warm and dry don't care about anything else.

[chocolatebirdy]

I do too dissle!