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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel so sorry for anyone on a British holiday right now

613 replies

itsaugust · 09/08/2021 08:17

It’s been raining for about a week where I live. I’ve just woken up to yet more heavy rain this morning. It must be utterly miserable for anyone holidaying in the UK right now. You have my sympathies! Hope you’re managing to have a decent time despite the grim weather.

OP posts:
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15
StColumbofNavron · 09/08/2021 09:30

Although it’s at least a change of scenery. We’ve not been anywhere (last year or this year) and live in a flat in a city so being cooped up in a cottage might not be so bad. And being cooped up in a cottage that looked out over the sea would be a massive bonus.

Campers though, you do have my sympathy.

Porcupineintherough · 09/08/2021 09:30

Meh, we're on a weeks holiday in London and it's ok. Would be nicer if less rain but it's manageable.

zombielady · 09/08/2021 09:30

It's lovely weather in Robin hood's bay!

DottyHarmer · 09/08/2021 09:33

It depends on expectations and the composition of your family. If you were imagining cocktails at sunset and kids gambolling around national trust properties in fairy wings and wellies, then you and your Instagram aspirations are going to be pissed off. Likewise if you have active dcs who were hoping for sailing/cycling etc.

People who enjoy wading through a pile of books, or who are enjoy8ng a family group holiday with cousins etc playing together (nicely!) then that’s a good holiday, whatever the weather.

It cannot be denied, though, that a bit of sunshine is a tonic for us all. It is sopping where I am. No one could possibly camp; everywhere is soggy. Reminds me of 2007 when we had to cancel our motor home holiday in Wales as all our stops were under water….

lynsey91 · 09/08/2021 09:34

@OhGiveUp

I don't understand why anyone would pay out to do exactly the same as you would do on a wet week at home. As in.....stayed inside, read a book, watched TV, played board games etc, did the laundry, cooking etc. You might as well save your money and stay in your own home.
I couldn't agree more.

Me and DH agree we have a nice house, nice garden, comfy bed, powerful shower so why on earth would we pay to stay somewhere else where the bed is likely not as comfy and the shower will probably be pretty awful (never seem to get decent showers).

If we wanted to spend a week reading, playing games etc we would be much better off at home.

We have had some good holidays in the UK but we have had some shit ones. Cornwall in a caravan with a big hairy dog and it poured every day for 5 days. We gave up and came home. We have good waterproof clothes but sorry who wants to be on holiday and have to wear waterproofs every day?

Showers I can cope with but, despite what some posters say, it can AND often does rain literally non stop for a day or even more than 1 day. Heavy rain plus often fairly strong winds does not make for a nice relaxing fun holiday.

We don't go abroad for hot weather which is why we never holiday in June, July or August. We do want some warmth though when we are sightseeing

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 09/08/2021 09:36

It's summer in the U.K. I would be weirder if it wasn't pissing it down 🤷‍♀️

Buy yourselves some cute wellies and a snazzy rain coat and get on with it. And let your kids get wet and muddy, they love it.

Chloemol · 09/08/2021 09:36

Get over yourself op

Auntienumber8 · 09/08/2021 09:36

With UK holidays I just never ever have any expectation of the weather being good. I remember going to Wales, Northumbria, Yorkshire Dales and Scarborough and having complete weeks in glorious sunshine . I also remember New Forest multiple times and other places where it rained almost every day heavily. We put on wet weather togs and had shorter walks and then had board games and toasted crumpets on the open fire.

I was always just relieved to have a break from work.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 09/08/2021 09:37

PuppyMonkey
No such thing as bad weather just poor clothing choices as they say.
That is utter bollocks though, isn't it?

Who enjoys a holiday in the lashing rain? Some might be able to make the best of poor weather by wrapping up in waterproofs and heading out anyway. But it's not FUN to do so. And depending on where you're staying, drying out the wet gear is impossible. How do you dry a family's 4 sets of wet clothing in a tent or small caravan?

We had a UK holiday at the beginning of July and the weather was good. The mid part of July was roasting. August in the past few years seems to have been worse than June/July.

///// I'm with you Gene. We had a week by the coast a short while ago. What, with having to pack clothes for all weathers (in a caravan so no chance of washing while away), taking what seemed like every towel in the house (again, van was nice but no where to really air towels properly after a shower) plus bedding because of Covid, we filled the car to the brim with "just in case" stuff. I needed a holiday just to relax from packing! Thank Christ for wine.

Porcupineintherough · 09/08/2021 09:39

You dont have to do the same as you do at home just because it's raining @lynsey91

undersleptagain · 09/08/2021 09:41

We live in Dorset right near the sea so we decided to go to London on Holiday with a 3 year old. It was brilliant, plenty of things to do if it is raining, hotels are cheap at the moment and the roads weren't that busy. There are things to do in Dorset when it is raining but everything is so booked up at the moment and the roads are rammed.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 09/08/2021 09:43

@JesusIsAnyNameFree

It's summer in the U.K. I would be weirder if it wasn't pissing it down 🤷‍♀️

Buy yourselves some cute wellies and a snazzy rain coat and get on with it. And let your kids get wet and muddy, they love it.

Your kids might, it would make my two absolutely miserable.

NoBetterthanSheShouldBe · 09/08/2021 09:44

South Devon - cloudy but mostly dry. Ideal for exploring or Paignton Zoo.

LizzieSiddal · 09/08/2021 09:44

I do feel sorry for people in tents, but any other accommodation you just need to change her expectations and plans!

Yes it’s harder work but let the kids lounge about, read books, get to the shops and buy art or activity sets out, go out for dinner or lunch or both, have indoor picnics, watch family films with popcorn etc etc. And when the rain stops for an hour rush out and do something different. (Wine helps too!)

Marcee · 09/08/2021 09:44

@pineapplecat21

YABU. We are in the middle of a heat wave this week where I am.
Same here. Going to be sunny all week. Not necessarily a heatwave though. Just sunny all week
Abraxan · 09/08/2021 09:45

@PuppyMonkey

No such thing as bad weather just poor clothing choices as they say.
But not everyone wants to spend a summer holiday in jumpers and rain coats, dodging puddles and downpours.

I can wear all the clothes I can buy, but it still won't make the grey clouds, wind rain a pleasure. All the clothes in the world won't stop my joints from being painful when we have so much damp cool weather either.

Neverrains · 09/08/2021 09:45

@PuppyMonkey

No such thing as bad weather just poor clothing choices as they say.
I hate the rain. I find walking in it miserable. I could wear whatever I wanted, I’d still hate the rain. We’re all different!
Throwntothewolves · 09/08/2021 09:45

We've had cracking sunner weather for pretty much all of July here in Scotland. Back to the norm now; sunshine and showers.
xksismybestletter you've really missed out if your hol was meant to be in July, even now the weather is not that bad (for Scotland).

christdoinghisunspecifiedhobby · 09/08/2021 09:46

We're in NI this week and it's been up and down, generally showery, windy and miserable. One day we drove to the coast and the driving rain was so torrential that we couldn't see the road, all the traffic on a 70mph dual carriageway slowed to maybe 30mph as you just couldn't see. There is no clothing in the world that would make this enjoyable, or anything other than shit.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 09/08/2021 09:46

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

Then I would strongly suggest you don't go on holiday in the U.K.

christdoinghisunspecifiedhobby · 09/08/2021 09:47

Couldn't agree more. I despise the rain. I would much rather just not go on holiday.

GintyMcGinty · 09/08/2021 09:47

@xksismybestletter I agree. We were supposed to be going to Scotland and the weather is wall to wall rain every single day. We've not gone.

I live in Scotland and while we've had a few downpours but mostly it's been dry.

You just pack a rain coat and sun cream in your bag.

Such a shame you've missed your holiday.

OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 09/08/2021 09:48

After the past year it felt good to get away and be in a different environment. Prior planning I.e looking for indoor activities, does help.

Neverrains · 09/08/2021 09:48

And because I hate the rain, we’re going on holiday to Spain instead. Can’t wait!

Equimum · 09/08/2021 09:48

We’re in Cornwall and making the most of it. Weather is changeable, but when it’s really wet we are huddling up, playing games, watching films be reading. When it’s mediocre we’re donning waterproofs and going for walks or hiring kayaks, and when it’s nice, we’re straight to the beach. It’s a typical British holiday and that always involves beach wear and waterproofs.