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Camping

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Original poster

Any tips/advice for camping in strong winds?

34 replies

NannyR · 08/08/2019 14:36

It has forecast very strong gusts and rain for tonight and tomorrow into Saturday. I've camped in thunderstorms before but not very strong winds so not sure if there's anything specific I should be doing. I've got a good Outwell tent that's pegged in tight and guyropes all pegged out correctly. Does it make any difference if the air vents are open or shut?
Any advice would be most welcome, thank you.

OP posts:
DingleyDells · 09/08/2019 00:20

I once endured a night in a storm force gale in a tent on the Isle of Wight. (Disclaimer - the weather forcasts were wrong and we didn't know how bad it was going to get).

We parked the car with the wheels actually over the tops of the tent pegs to help hold it down. It was grim. Most other people on the site ended up sleeping on the floor in the shower block. We wanted to decamp in there as well, but the weight of our bodies lying down was stopping the tent from blowing away. It was a long night.

Kahlua4me · 09/08/2019 06:46

We are due to go camping today ☹️. I am wondering now if it is best to leave it until tomorrow morning although we are all packed and ready to go.

We have a new bell tent and I have no idea how it will stand up to the wind. Our old tent was an outwell bear lake which I wouldn’t have worried about as that would stand up to anything.

Apart from using our truck as a windbreak is there anything else I should be doing? We are going to be on coast in Dorset if that helps..

Kahlua4me · 09/08/2019 06:49

Yubaba are you still camping? Just wondering how busy the site is and if people have already packed up and gone home.
We are going to Weymouth today to start our holiday.

Yubaba · 09/08/2019 07:09

Kahlua4me we’ve decided to come home today, the weather was awful last night and it’s only going to get worse today and tomorrow.
I’ve had about 4 hours sleep, the wind was so noisy. I would say about half the site is now empty and it was pretty full on Wednesday, lots of people packed up and left yesterday.
We are in Fleet so just outside Weymouth, the site is fairly exposed and close to the sea so we don’t want to risk it, the kids are bored too, so we’re coming home early for the first time ever on a camping trip Sad

Kahlua4me · 09/08/2019 07:21

Yubaba Aw that’s a shame for you. Next time will be better though. We camped once in an electrical storm in France. I was absolutely terrified as we were surrounded by tall pine trees and could see bolts of lightning hitting the ground! Hasn’t put me off though 😊

Which site are you in if you don’t mind me asking? We are booked at East Fleet Farm so guessing it’s near you. Sad that everyone is leaving.

Yubaba · 09/08/2019 07:31

Kahlua4me we’re at west fleet so practically next door.

Kahlua4me · 09/08/2019 07:50

Hope you have had a good week though despite leaving early.
Really not sure now whether to go today or wait until tomorrow...

PurBal · 09/08/2019 08:52

How was last night OP?

ILoveAnOwl · 09/08/2019 21:07

We're in Cornwall at the moment in a tent with a 1 year old and a 4 year old. It's really picked over the last hour. Really hoping we make it through the next 12 hours especially as we're in a borrowed tent!

Thanks for all the top tips.

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