This Years Weather - How has it affected you?

[Litespeed]

Just a general question, How has this years weather in the UK affected your Caravan Breaks and Holidays?

Personally we have just returned from 3 fantastic weeks in the French Alpes, but....we did venture out in the UK at Easter and eneded up going home early because of awful weather, 3 weeks later for the next bank holiday we went to padstow - awful weather again and high winds. we were also booked for Godrevy Park at Hayle in cornwall for this Friday for 2.5 weeks but gave postponed this until next wednesday....

We live in Cornwall and the last 3 weeks have been totally appalling so what are others doing and how has it / is it affecting your views on holidaying in the UK?

 

[Chrisbee]

It does't stop me going away. Caravaning in the UK is as popular as ever if the trouble I am having booking a CL for the beginning of September is anything to go by.

 

[Dustydog]

It never stopped us . In fact over Easter we were in a snow blizzard at Buxton. It was lovely!!

Cheers

Alan

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Does'nt make any difference to us either!

When you holiday in the UK, you have to take what comes.:O)

 

[Hamer_5041128]

In approx 40 years of caravaning i have never cut short a holiday because of the weather.

All types of weather make for the joys of our great hobby caravaning.

The best of all for me is sitting in a nice warm caravan watching snowflakes falling.

In three weeks time we are going to Derbyshire and Exmoor for 4 weeks to celebrate my 65th birthday and meet up with friends.

Hamer

 

[Chaps]

Not made any difference to us but then we're still flushed with newbie enthusiasm! Towed through a snowstorm at Easter and hasn't put us off, just took a bit longer than anticipated.

Had a glorious first week of main fortnight at end of July and second week wasn't bad, just rained during the night. Bought some earplugs to drown out the 'marbles on roof' sound and all well.

You've just got to embrace the weather and make the best of things. We always do more when we're away as you just get on with it whereas at home we'd end up staying in.

 

[Mr C]

We went to the Caravan Club site at Tintagel two weeks ago, fantastic view of the ocean, Mediterranean type weather Saturday - Tuesday, brilliant, went to bed Tuesday night, a storm blew through , bent the poles on our Bradcot Awning, used only three times ,it was well tied down with storm straps ftted ,it was the best we had ever put it up ! When the alloy poles went, they went, whole thing collapsed, in the wet and dark, the gusts and canvas pushed and held my Wife against the caravan side, we got it all down and cleared ,then fell into bed, in the morning we got up and went outside scared at what damage to the caravan we would see, we were very lucky, none occured, a number of other awnings were damaged or destroyed that night, then it rained ,for the rest of the holiday, not our best one so far, and to the point my wife is looking at going abroad next year and I do not think she means in the caravan ! We are going to Ferry Meadows for five days next week from Friday so I pray for good weather to restore my wifes faith in the caravan !

 

[Sedo]

We went to the Broadway site at Easter and had a brilliant week,nice weather and plenty of friendly people. Went to Balckshaw Moor at the beginning of July, weather iffy but great stay. Third week in July, stayed a night at Baltic Wharf en route for Trewett Farm at Tintagel. From arriving at Baltic Wharf on the Saturday, eight nights at Trewett Farm and then two more nights at Baltic Wharf on the way back, we had mainly brilliant weather and terrific holiday.

Oh forgot to mention, had two nights of very strong winds at Tintagle but with Apache porch awning storm strapped we had no bother.

Only problem we're having is trying to get unplanned bank holiday booking, seems uk weather not putting caravanners off too much eh.

Regards Tomo

 

[papafulton]

The weather hasen't affected us either.

A week at Craigie Park CC site in March, 3 weeks at Burnside Farm (small commericial site)nr Stirling, week at Silverbank CC site, week at Monturpie CL in Upper Largo and 3 days at CL at Dunning during May and June. a week at CS Glenmidge Smithy, Aulgirth, nr Dumfries, 2 weeks at Dunning and another 2 weeks at both Dunning and Burnside Farm during July and beginning of August. Had some beautiful weather especially in Banchory and also some very wet weather especially towards end of July but you just get on with it. Visited friends on another site and the tenters woke up to find themselves marooned or under water, although some of them packed up and went home,many others simply bodily lifted the tents and carried it to higher ground. With the British weather now if we only went away when we thought it was was going to be good I don't think we would be away much. Happy caravanning.

William

 

[Karen_5115459]

Just had 10 days in Wales cancelled due to adverse weather.Anyone got any ideas as to where to go for the bank holiday week ,so far all enquiries have been fruitless please help already booked the time off work.

 

[Hamer_5041128]

Karen,

Go on the Caravan Club web site. Under search for sites look at "Late Availability" and check for dates you want.

There are some vacancies in England and plenty in Scotland as it is not a Bank Holiday in Scotland.

Hamer

 

[Ray R]

No such thing as bad weather in my book, just the wrong clothing.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

I think the weather DOES make a difference if you are trying to keep young children entertained in a caravan for several days of wet weather. I can remember this from experience more than once! It also got very costly trying to find undercover places to visit. Now there are just the two of us we can easily sit and read or go out anyway, but this is not so easy when young children are involved.

 

[Moonstone1]

Just had 10 days in Wales cancelled due to adverse weather.Anyone got any ideas as to where to go for the bank holiday week ,so far all enquiries have been fruitless please help already booked the time off work.

Just come back from 8 days in Tenby, South Wales and it was very wet - then moved on from there to Forest of Dean for 7 days and it was again - very wet! Heard Freshwater CC site was flooded out.

 

[Catsparkey]

Last week on Isle of Wight CL site for the week Wednesday afraid to leave caravan and awning as we thought it might be blown over on our return. The earlier part of the week showers.. Thursday & Friday pretty good.Did it affect me, no not really just adapted.. more red wine and exciting Olympics. Mind you she who will be obeyed wasn't too happy. Have to convince her that flying to Tenerife next year isn't the best alternative. And yes we had a snow storm at Easter.

 

[patey]

After taking us 16 hours to get home last year from devon, due to the floods, we decided to have a change - we have been to Tenerife for 2 weeks, must say had a fantastic time and definately the right decision for us. Back to the caravan for next years holiday just booked for St. Ives.

 

[Chaps]

Spoke too soon - just had our 4 night bank holiday weekend break in Filey cancelled as the site is waterlogged. Absolutely gutted as we were going with lots of other families and the kids were especially looking forward to it. Have resigned ourselves to staying at home, we'll try out the new barbeque in the back garden! At least we had a great fortnight in Brighton a few weeks ago and have got a week at Longleat booked for October half term to look forward to. Bl**dy weather!

 

[ajmacintosh]

I can't understand some people's comments that the weather makes no difference and does not affect thier holiday?

Of course it affects your holiday. the weather is bloody awful.

Would I rather sit outside my caravan under the canopy in an evening drinking a glass of red listening to the birds singing and the friendly hello of fellow campers? --OR-- sit inside watching the usual awful broadcasts on the tv only to have to go outside in the hammering rain with mud up to my knees to refill the aquaroll or empty wastemaster?

Not a difficult choice. is it not?

Call me a fair-weather Camper but I for one would rather stay in the house!

 

[mistermac]

Hi

We've had ten days on the Isle of Wight (great weather) and 9 days at Sandringham C&CC (mixed weather).

I would agree that I prefer the weather to be good, there's no doubt, but when we were snuggled up in our 'van at Easter in Keswick, with the wind blowing a gale, we felt very cosy indeed. Admittedly, I wouldn't want this all the time!

We love the Isle of Wight - the weather always seems to do us proud. In last year's floods and torrential rain, we saw none of it on the IOW.

Mac

 

[RogerP]

My holiday time is precious to me and spending it with my wife and son is the most important factor. I think it would have to be extremely bad for us to up sticks and come home.

When we're away we do more as a family and our time together , unrushed and without rat race interuptions , seems so productive and refreshing. Which is why we go away in the first place.

After all i get to jump in puddles and make a right old mess when we're away , something I probably wouldn't do , or get away with , at home.

With the right gear it shouldn't be a problem as one postee has already said.

 

[mark_374368910]

For those of you sad enough to be interested;-) last year up here in Milford Haven we had 54mm of rain for the month of August. To date we have had 138mm of rain this year in August! Allmost =3 times as much. No wonder Kiln Park are flooded out.

Theres some figure on my website ()But note the Anemometer (wind) broke a few weeks back and the replacement hasn't arrived yet, so no upto date wind details. http://www.woodyswoodwork.co.uk/weather.htm

woody

 

[Guest]

I'm the same view as andrew (Maesteg)

This year down Cornwall the weather has been relentlesly bad,even worst than last year, I do not go away just for the sake of sitting in my van so yes it has been a washout/almost waste of time and money, but we had 4 nice days in two weeks, you expect 4 bad days in two weeks though and a good dollop of sunshine, having said that, in 2002 we got down the Vendee and it was 90 for three days then it rained and raided and rained....

 

[SimonVokes]

Have been lucky this year. Normally go to I.O.W (Got the only 2 weeks of summer there last year!!) but this year went to Normandy for 2 weeks.

Weather was awful here but great there!! Have had beach days with our kids (8 and 3 ) which we wouldn.t have got in UK. Going further South next year, but in Sept off to New Forest for a last long week end. Always sunny when we go there (honest!)

Simon V

 

[AndyR]

I'd never spend a main summer holiday in the UK because of our appalling record of summer weather in recent years!

For me, going somewhere with good weather and sunshine is vital. That's why we always go for the South of France for the summer break. This year, the weather there was not as good as usual - but only 4 wet days in 3 weeks and temperatures low to mid 20s most of the time, some days up to 30.

It might be nice and cosy in the rain in a caravan, but for me the whole point of going away in the caravan is so you can enjoy the outdoors, and for me, enjoying it involves good weather!

 

[David_from_Ashby]

We started the year with a week in the Forest of Dean in february, generally dry and sunny, but seriously cold with the water freezing at night. Kids loved it, a fan heater int he awning made a huge difference. We then had a week in the snow at Sandringham at Easter, again, the kids loved it. It helped that the sun shone occasionally. It did rain though and even on a gravel pitch at the high part of the site the awning still flooded when it rained hard. Dried up quickly when the sun came out though. Managed to get the awning packed away dry!

Then we had 3 weeks in France in July and the weather was perfect.

We are just back from a week at Gowerton CC site. The warden phoned us on the morning we were due to travel to advise us that the site was very wet and waterlogged and did we still want to go. We chose to brave it. It was sunny when we arrived, but the grass pitches were VERY waterlogged. Walking across the grass was like wading through a shallow lake. Luckily the Warden foudn us a couple of pitches that were not too bad. Our awning stayed reasonably dry and mud free for the whole week despite very heavy continuous rain. The kids loved the puddles and mud, great for jumping in. Our son learned to ride his bike without stabilisers. We made it to the beach (twice) once in a gale the next in a heavy rain shower.

Has the weather stopped us from enjoying our time away? Of course not. We have 2 young children (2 + 5) and just dress them accordingly and they love to spend time outdoors whatever the weather. It just helps if the site has good laundry facilities!!

Now looking forward to a nice warm dry and sunny autumn half term at longleat.

Cheers

David