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Original poster

Another "shit weather" holiday thread

67 replies

Crunchymum · 18/08/2021 08:04

Currently half way through our holiday and what a disappointment.

I know this is the chance we take with UK holidays, I know it could be worse (if we'd come a week earlier we'd have had even worse weather!!), its not about the weather its about the clothes but even with our layers and our beach tent the toddler was frozen after an hour yesterday and she didn't go near the sea

We couldn't have afforded abroad but we've spent circa £2k on this week away. We just wanted a little sunshine (not grey, overcast, gloomy, drizzle and rain which is what weve had)

It's Kent coast but no car to "chase the weather"

I know we are luckier than some to even have a holiday and I'm keeping my game face in front of the kids.

Just wanted a nice few days on the beach Sad

OP posts:
DinosApple · 18/08/2021 08:23

It's horrible OP. We can't put our tent away until the grass is dry long enough to put it up, sweep it out and pack it away neatly. We've been back three weeks Hmm.

It's grey with heavy drizzle here too (East Anglia) so even if you had a car I'm not sure you could chase the weather!

People say it's typical British weather, but it is definitely not. This summer has been rubbish in our part of the world. So much so that the crops are still unharvested, and our garden tomatoes are no where ripe. Normally both would be ready by late July.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 18/08/2021 08:29

I definitely think the S.E haven't had much if a summer. .

I was reading another thread and it seems as though Scotland / N.E have had a decent enough summer. I'm glad some people have had good weather (if they can send some our way, that would be fab Grin)

OP posts:
Antsinyourpanta · 18/08/2021 08:30

A few weeks ago there was a thread about the upcoming heatwave....that never materialised, with loads of posters moaning about the 5 days a year of hot weather
I hope they're all enjoying this dull/drizzly/ breezy weather !

SoddingWeddings · 18/08/2021 08:31

If it's any consolation, I love in Cornwall and right now it's grey and mizzling but warm - but for the air temperature, it could be November or March.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 18/08/2021 08:36

I posted on that heatwave thread... hoping that our week would be nice (it hasn't been / won't be looking at the forecast)

No consolation that everyone has shit weather (I wouldn't wish crap weather on others, although I suppose there is an element of "misery does like company" !!)

OP posts:
DrMadelineMaxwell · 18/08/2021 08:41

Weve come to south wales for a week. We paid 1.4k and got a house rental on the river overlooking pembroke castle. It's a lovely location but would be much nicer to enjoy if it was not cloudy and grey with showers. Forecast says this is our last dry day til we go home.
At least the house is warm (and much nicer than the one we live in!) As if we were camping we might have bailed.by now.

Had a glorious week in Devon in May though. Sunny and hot. Perfect beach and pool weather.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 18/08/2021 08:45

Our house is nice enough but certainly not luxurious (the £2k included house, trains and spends) or big.

We've done all the walks we can, we've been crabbing, we've played lots of cards / board games. It's just all a little tedious now.

I would never have considered camping to begin with, hats off to anyone that does.

OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 18/08/2021 08:47

I’m in a caravan in the north west. I can barely be arsed to get out of bed today!

Debetswell · 18/08/2021 08:48

I'm in SW France, the locals say this is the worst summer for 40 years.
Had to put blankets on the bed last night.
Almost 10am here, grey skies and I'm wearing a jumper.
On the plus side the dog is happier!
Set to be hot by Friday hopefully.

SwanShaped · 18/08/2021 08:49

Yeah it’s shit. Do you have a toddler wetsuit for her. We managed a bit of sea on Monday with wetsuits on. But didn’t last long and it wasn’t care free. It was a bit bracing

MissyB1 · 18/08/2021 08:51

The last few years I've been saying that August can no longer be counted as summer, it's more like an Autumn month. Basically Autumn comes sooner now as part of our seasons changing.

But yes you take a chance on the weather anytime in UK, which is why we haven't been on holiday since the pandemic began. We will hopefully resume going abroad next year. I just cant justify paying 2k to holiday here and potentially have it ruined by weather.

RampantIvy · 18/08/2021 08:52

I'm sorry the weather is so awful for you. It is one of the reasons we never book a weather dependent holiday when we holiday in the UK. We always book somewhere where there are wet weather options.

We had a week in Wiltshire last month and had a lovely time exploring local market towns, visiting Longleat and visiting a couple of National Trust properties.

Granted we needed a car for some of what we did but the town we stayed in had a railway station and if we didn't have a car we would have had other options.

Fizbosshoes · 18/08/2021 08:54

Ah "fresh" and "bracing " or "invigorating" - the words we use to put a positive spin on shit summer weather!🤣

itsgettingwierd · 18/08/2021 08:54

I usually always go away abroad from this week for a week.

Costs £1.2k for ds and I.

I've really been struggling with not going away for the second year and have been gutted we couldn't find anything in that price range in uk for a week or even 5 days.

But the shit weather has made me glad in a way we didn't but made it harder to accept abroad can't happen. (Yes I know we can go but the risk of quarantine hotel abroad with autistic ds isn't worth it)

We are south coast Uk. The fact we haven't even been able to use the beach 10 minutes down the road has been quite depressing!

Original poster
Crunchymum · 18/08/2021 08:54

Will see if I can source a wetsuit.

The older two have had a paddle.... under duress "you are on the beach, you will paddle" but no-one is really having fun.

We actually have some friends coming to join us today, on the beach. I'm going to suggest they postpone Shock as I can't face the whole day on the beach (our cottage is too small for us all and all the restaurants etc are booked!)

OP posts:
GiveMeAUserName123 · 18/08/2021 08:55

It’s rubbish, so many people disappointed this year with their U.K. holidays, come next year of everything is ok I can see U.K. holiday owners struggling to get people booked in as it’s not worth it due to the weather. Packing twice as much too, wellies and sandals, rain coats and dresses, it’s all a palaver

Antsinyourpanta · 18/08/2021 08:56

The last few years I've been saying that August can no longer be counted as summer, it's more like an Autumn month. Basically Autumn comes sooner now as part of our seasons changing.

I think the same. Often the end of June - mid July is much nicer weather than school summer holidays.

Bobbybobbins · 18/08/2021 08:57

We were away last week and I was really disappointed in the weather. We had one hot sunny day. We didn't stay long in the beach but would second wetsuits - they meant my kids managed to get in for a swim every day. I was kicking myself that I hadn't got myself one!

Original poster
Crunchymum · 18/08/2021 08:57

I do appreciate we took a chance weather wise. But a week of shit weather in Mid August? You'd kind of expect a few nice days?

We had a break in September last year and the May half term this year and had decent weather. So I guess we used up all our weather luck.

(These were the first breaks we'd had in 5 years by the way. We don't usually have two holidays a year!!)

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 18/08/2021 08:57

That's actually interesting point give.

Although ds and I often whizz off for a few nights camping when the forecast is good. We book last minute. That's the thing this year. Everything is twice the price and booked out.

Will be very interesting to see what availability and prices are like next year and if the demand and supply will alter.

jellybeanteaparty · 18/08/2021 09:02

A wet suit will help if you can find one or even water wetsuit shoes mean the paddling is fine so more likely to venture further in. Flask for hot chocolate plenty of blankets in the beach tent ? We are in Scotland prepared for lots of rain but have needed the suncream I optimistically packed!

TyneView · 18/08/2021 09:03

Sorry it has been awful for you, I believed the hype about the heatwave too ( likely another 'lie' to get us to book and spend😆).

I was away in Suffolk and I must say the weather was great. Even had the bikini out! Out of a week, three times sunbathing on the beach (3-5 hours at a time) lots of visits out, local free concerts, walking and riding our bikes. We ate outside the village pub three evenings.
In the week, an hour of rain which 'bounced' and another half hour of drizzle, then a blue sky, clear sometimes, a bit more cloudy others. I'm suntanned and feel fit and healthy. The break we needed.

Feelingoktoday · 18/08/2021 09:05

Kent normally has the warmest driest weather of all of the U.K. but not this year. It’s been terrible.

Feelingoktoday · 18/08/2021 09:08

I will be going abroad next year. I’ve spent a lot more money this year having a U.K. holiday than j normally spend travelling around Italy and using Eurocamp.

DaxtheDestroyer · 18/08/2021 09:10

We're on holiday at the moment and have been having a lovely time. Not a beach holiday though, so we've been doing activities, sight-seeing, visiting castles and market towns etc. I think if you avoid the beach and have a look for other attractions that would help? Are there any interesting train rides, or national trust type places with good playgrounds or mazes or anything like that?
I think august has been shit for weather for years. I remember planning our wedding and deliberately avoiding July/august because the weather then was so unpredictable and that was 17 years ago. June and September seem to get much better, more settled weather.