we have just got back from a long break in Derbyshire, our Dutch Pyramid was fine during the worst of the storm on Thursday night - they're not called storm tents for nothing . . .
Our hefty Blue Diamond windbreak that I put up (and guyed) to 'defend' the tent was blown completely flat that night - and we didnt get much sleep either
Most people seemed to act sensible (no gazebos up, tents bum to the wind, guy lines in use) but we watched a few battered campers leaving, I think it was tiredness rather than damage. One big Outwell had been pitched side to the wind (!?)in the middle of the field (!?) and looked pretty sorry for itself . . .
It is such a shame for folks to have both their holiday and their equipment ruined especially so if kids are involved as it was frightening enough for adults. I have made a lengthy post regarding pegging down and tight guys at shell island here
The problem is some people are pretty stupid some times. But Shell Island is nothing like an inland campsite, it is exposed to the sea with the snowdonian hills and mountains behind it. Its like tornado alley at the best of times and the ground is very sandy in which pegs work loose.
So why when people arrive do they try and pitch on the headland with no shelter whatso ever? I have seen them do this as the wind was blowing gale force, 4 blokes trying to nail the thing down as it blows around like a landed parachute. I mean at that point I would be thinking blimey its a bit rough here. They are normally gone next morning! I have even seen guy ropes tied to the sign that says no camping here.
Its a bit like walking up Snowdon the weather can turn in an instant, you have to have the proper equipment, and to know when to get off the mountain. Only in this case you have to know when to drop the tent down. Dont walk up Snowndow without checking the weather, boots coats phone etc. Dont go to shell island without checking the weather (daily) deltas or sand pegs.
Post last edited on 18/07/2010 20:43:49
------------- July 1-9 Nantcol Waterfalls meet Sept naturist week Sept SVR w/e Oct Secret meet Nov hopleys meet
Gosh some good advice here, thanks for that. I must admit seeing some of the winds recently this is one of my biggest fears, not least cos it would be mightily scary for the children, but also possibly really expensive and a real shame if a holiday had to be abandonned.
I have a really rubbish base tent that I use for my kitchen storage and stuff, but it's only a halfords base tent, and it was fairly wind-struck at just the second bank holiday in May when it wasn't all that windy. Next time I pitch I will put my bigger wind break around it to protect it a bit more, but if it's really bad I know it won't survive, it's just not well enough designed, so that's a really good idea to just let it collapse on the floor.
Actually here's the tent, what would you do to try to help it in the wind? Other than don't pitch it LOL:
------------- Single mum of 4 crazy children!!
2011 So far...
April - 2 nights in Easter Hols in Haven, Burnham (down the road).
Taking my sister and family for a trial camp locally 20th May
GLASTONBURY!! And *no* kids this year!! (Working: secure camping too!)
Chy Carne July/Aug 2011...
we arrived at shell island on friday morning 11.30 to see blown down tents, trailer tents battered & twisted, & i have never seen so many tents destroyed & just left were they were pitched,the skips were also full of battered camping equipment, we found a place to pitch the frame tent a litchfield 5dl which stood up to the gales thru friday & sat night,loved shell island even tho the weather was bad the shower & toilets were kept clean.
At shell island I always try to pitch near one of the large dunes to give a break from the wind and put my landy on the other side to help act as a wind break.
There are some nice spots under trees scatterd around but they always go quickly along with the other nice wind free spots. People tend to avoid the dunes a bit more becuase of getting sand in the tents etc. I take a dustpan and brush and consider sand in my tent part of a beach holiday
the wind always seems to pickup a lot during the night so good tying down is recommended there.
------------- Ex Trailer tenter, Ex VW Campervaner. Currently Rooftop tenter. Owner of several tents and a garage full of camping gear
you really need to watch it if camping under trees in windy weather, old or hooked up branches can be very damaging - due to their shape they almost always fall pointy end first . . .
we were away with our young kids in the storm and they were fine, one slept like a log (she always does) the other was unsettled but fine - grumpy in the morning though. Kids seem to pick up from people around them so we treated it like an adventure
if you camp on sandy spots army surplus sand pegs are very useful if you can get them, I have a stack of lightweight alloy 9" ones (paid £5 for 10 I think) and some serious 15" steels ones (maybe £10 for 4)
the spots i was thinking of are kind of out of the wind and are not big old heavy branches. You have to see it to udnerstand where I mean. Littleskink is right about being careful about trees and winds in most circumstances.
I have some heavy duty plastic sand pegs that do quite well
if you dont have sand pegs simply dig a hole for your peg then fasten up the rope then stamp down the sand around it and cover back in with more sand stamping down as you go.
------------- Ex Trailer tenter, Ex VW Campervaner. Currently Rooftop tenter. Owner of several tents and a garage full of camping gear
Had a bad storm here and even made the news back in 2008 in our then vermont and to be honest I hope we never see that again. Our tent stood the test but only just and this was the reason why we upgraded to the Cabanon. Tents where getting smashed to peices along with countless cars getting scratched by cheap windbreaks. Felt really sorry for some of the familys as the skipss where bursting with old tents and I only hope everyone got away safe.
Shell island is one of our fav camp sites but you need to go well prepared for anything the weather can throw.
------------- Always make the effort, life is too short.
Owner spent 3 hrs in his boxers helping people pack up.
Still a very scary night although my 4 yr old slept through it and upon waking asked where everyone had gone.
Mom complained of noise but she was snoring lolz
Nephew was awake all night but stayed in bed because he is double hard lmao
Got away with two minor bent poles and a sleepless night.
I would recommend using Hard Ground Pegs on Shell Island because sometimes Mother Nature can have attitude. She certainly did that night!
Best bacon, egg, beans, mushroom, sausage, hash brown, scrambled egg, fried bread, black pudding and toast (well you've gotta have a bit of toast havn't you) breakfast the next day.
with Shell island you prepare for the worst and hope for the best
All's well that ends well
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Shell Island & this week`s storms
) tent there once - pitched on clifftop 
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