How do you cope with the...

[Frog253]

rain of course! I have booked three camping holidays in the last few years and all three have had bad weather
Holiday 1 - we didn't go
Holiday 2 - we went and it drizzled all the time, holiday was ok but hard work for me trying to keep stuff dry.
Holiday 3 (this week) - we managed to get a caravan at the same site instead.

We have three dc (youngest 3yrs old). Assuming that you are all made of sterner stuff than me what are your top tips for surviving the wet?

Full waterproofs all round. Jacket, trousers, boots.
Big enough tent that you can sit inside (we have just upgraded to Outwell Bear lake 6).
Front extension on tent so can cook under cover
Cobb barbeque, kettle style so cooks in rain.
Site with tumble driers to dry towels etc
Allow money for extra days out.

All of what tread says plus;

Fan heater if you have ehu; worked a treat for us this bank holiday just keeping the edge of the cold and dampness.

Just getting out the minute the rain stops and making the most of every dry hour.

Thanks for tips. We already have waterproofs and even in the caravan we go out whenever there's no rain / drizzle.

My 'tip' to myself is to bring plenty of change for washing machines / tumble driers / car parking (for the days out).

Our tent is pretty large and we have bought a portable DVD for the children. Like the idea of the heater. It's just so disappointing that yet again our holiday is a 'make the best of it' type rather than a 'hang out near the tent whilst the kids play outside' type.

Just feeling sorry for myself I suppose. Perhaps I am not mentally suited to camping, not got that blitz spirit.

My ideal would be an easy to put up tent, so even in the rain it would be up in minutes. I know Bells are easy to put up but they don't fit with our accessories, which we bought very cheap from family. I would love a camplet but it's too many £££.
Dh and I need to review the camping situation....

I think it's really hard to just carry on regardless when the rain is persistent.

Tents aren't the most delightful places to be in the rain and there is only so many board games you can play in a closed up tent before wondering why you are there

An easy to put up version of our tent is my dream! I adore the tent but it's huge and takes ages to pitch. Thankfully we've never had to put it up in the rain. We have packed up in pouring rain and it was very miserable!

I am clearly not made of stern enough stuff because although we did 2 week in a tent last summer, we've chickened out this year and we are staying in holiday cottages! I think all our good weather luck ran out last year, only had 1 afternoon of rain and although not hot, it was ok.

Fingers crossed for good weather for you.

We never book v. Far in advance and chance our luck on the weekends when it is forecast dry.

Have decided that yes we shouldn't book v. far in advance.

Also we need to keep a few weekends free in the summer; childrens' parties often break up a weekend for example. I am too keen to say 'yes' to stuff before I really need to.
I will become more of a weather watcher and if the forecast is good on say Tues then I will try and book something.
We're not giving up, the perfect camping trip is out there somewhere for us..

frog253 I share your pain. Deluded by the last couple years of persistent rain anytime we venture near the car with the tent (the Bannana Family Curse!) we have finally burnt our bridgees and are off to sunny France on Tuesday :)
Shame I have just come across a thread in Chat telling how the forecast for all of Europe is pissing down all week

Oh I know. I can't stand the rain. But the weather in the last few years is so unpredictable. when was the last time you remember an actual summer? weeks and weeks of good weather? nope. me neither. last year, mid august we had 2 weeks booked, came home after 10 dyas of persistant rain. dh went back on his own to pack up, on day 14.
I just HATE it. I think the holiday industry in the UK is dying, due to unpredictability.
Saying that My mum went to Europe and even there, the weather was only just bareable. Gone are the days of Italy, Spain, Costa's having 3 month summers. Imagingie how pissed you be, if you booked Ibiza and it rained all the time.
Solutions? I have not much to add. Only my sympathy.

Frog I too hate the rain. Generally, when we camp we get some dry days, if not sunny. Where exactly are you camping, as I find that the S West, Wales and Scotland are always much wetter than anywhere else. The east coast, particuarly Suffolk/N Essex has more dry days than anywhere else in the country (hence the hosepipe ban!).

See, I am a fair weather caravaner. And you don't get into our campiste unless you book way in advance. I wouldn't be happy in a holiday cottage, in the pissing rain either. Anywhere, if it rains and rains and rains, for days and days and days, is just MISERABLE. If it really is persitant rain, I just want to be at home. So this proves to be , a basically impossible situation, given the weather in the UK in the last few years. I serously, know not what to do.

Unfortunately we live in the centre of England and it's not really a holiday if we arn't near the sea, as far as I am concerned that is.

Our nearest coastal resorts are in the East and we have a pitch booked there during the summer holidays. Can't really leave this one 'til last minute as it is the only time Dh can get off work. Again if we get a good forecast then we'll try and go East for a weekend as well.
Our only actual camping trip was in Exmoor and the weather was better than the week just gone but it did drizzle most of the time.

Annoyingly my friend, who raves about camping, has yet to have a wet one in four or five years of doing it!
I am pleased that the frog family arn't the only unlucky ones and thanks for the sympathy.
Nothing like a hosepipe ban to get the rain falling!

It's rained pretty much every time I've been camping, I think. It's just normal to me now, especially as I grew up with rainy holidays in Wales/Scotland every year! We normally just put on waterproofs and get on with it, unless it's really torrential rain(*) it doesn't make any difference really.

Good waterproofs (including footwear) are essential IMO. Take care to keep the tent sleeping compartment dry (strict rule of stripping off waterproofs before entering here, assuming your tent has a porch where you can do this).

A gazebo to cook under is good, if you've got enough space/flat ground for it.

If you can get a campfire going (not easy in the rain, but doable with firelighters), that cheers things up a lot. As does something 'warming' to drink .

(*) in this case, we would go to the nearest pub!

We took up going to France instead just because of the rain! First went when dd was 3.
Have decided to go to Cornwall this year though to stay with friend in their holiday house, but already regretting and wishing we were going to find the sun.
Also will miss camping too!

Have also just thought that one year we went to Woodlands in Dartmouth and had a brilliant time despite the constant rain! Such a good site for kids as loads to do inside

Glad you enjoyed your family holidays Ephiny as I can see my DC's childhood holidays disappearing into the mud.

We will invest in a porch / tarp anyway I think.
Kahlua your not the first to recommend Woodlands to me either, will bookmark it for future ref.