Anyone camping in Cornwall Sat 11 Aug. Storm. Do I strike tent?

[colouringinpro]

Hi mumsnetters, really need your advice! Am pitched at lands end, exposed site, v windy now, but due to be gusting 35mph from 11am to 3am Sunday. Really wondering if I should strike camp.

Just me and two kids. Only pitched yesterday and wishing I hadn't. Not camped in strong winds before. Tent is bum to wind, all guy ropes pegged, but feeling v nervous

[DamsonGin]

Is that tonight, it does look windy on the forecast. What are your options?

Can you had home for a night? Or if you stay and the tent rips or something in the night is there somewhere you can retreat? If you stay, I'd have a back up plan. Maybe talk to the campsite owners.

[0hCrepe]

How old are the kids? Where would you go? I think I would tbh. I’ve done a lot of camping.

[Believeitornot]

Are there any other campers about?

I’d probably come home if I was due home anyway. It’s no fun camping in rubbish weather.

[Piffpaffpoff]

In similar weather and with the kids, I have pulled out early. Was west coast Scotland, very windy and wet and I just decided to go while I theoretically could still get the tent down myself (although the lovely campsite owner came and helped). The kids were scared and it had stopped being fun.

How far from home are you? If you are booked for the week could you go home and come back?

[colouringinpro]

Thanks so much. We arrived yesterday, here for week. Sue to be windy through to early hours Sunday morning, but it's the gusts of 35mph that make me nervous.

[ScreamingValenta]

What's everyone else doing?

[colouringinpro]

Amazingly a friend of my ex is staying nearby and he would put us up for the night.

I would really rather not strike camp after pitching last night but don't want a destroyed tent! We go and ask some other campers shortly I think.

[colouringinpro]

I'm a 7 hour drive from home!!!

[colouringinpro]

Cos of the wind and rain there's hardly anyone about. A few people went home late last night.

[Tinywhale]

I’ve never camped, is it really such a big issue to take the tent down? I don’t really understand why you wouldn’t take up the friend’a offer to put you up tonight?

[DamsonGin]

That offer sounds good, I'd be very tempted to take that up. We've camped in the wind and been fine but also camped and had broken and bent poles (both steel and fibre glass) and had to come home early, which would be no fun at the very start of your hols.

[0hCrepe]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you want to keep your tent intact you’ll need to take it down too. Empty tents get it worst. If you can stay elsewhere locally I’d take that offer.

[thetigerthatcamefortea]

I would get the tent down.
My business is bell Tents. Those winds speeds make my bum twitch
-
And I do it for a living. Get the tent down safely and easily whilst you can

[colouringinpro]

Thanks everyone. Canopy is down..... just got to break it to kids....

[Branleuse]

Can you find a more protected site or is everywhere full?

[colouringinpro]

Friends floor currently more appealing than attempting to pitch in wind and sideways rain tbh!

[Gibble1]

Get it down. We once spent the night in a camp site near lands end physically holding down our tent to stop it blowing away. We lost gear and were lucky to not lose the tent. MiL was with us and isn’t a camper. She thought I was bullshitting when I said the next day that it was the worst weather I had ever camped in.
I insisted we left the tent come daylight and went to get a hot meal in Penzance as we were all hypothermic and on our knees. Terrible. Lots of people lost their tents that night.

[0hCrepe]

Hope it clears up quickly so you can start again soon!

[colouringinpro]

Thanks all and ohcrepe weather looking much better tomorrow. Tonight is torrential rain and 35mph gusts so did the right thing. As a single mum, pitching, striking and pitching is bloody knackering! Hey ho, off to cinema now after lovely trip to bakers

[DamsonGin]

Sounds good, and I bet you'll sleep better tonight!

[0hCrepe]

Cornish rain always seems particularly wet as well! You’re doing a fantastic job and still sound upbeat.

[colouringinpro]

Ah lovely mumsnetters you rock xx.

About to sleep on warm dry sofa in warm dry house after curry wine and games - bliss!