Most campsite owners will tell you that Easter is usually the first weekend in the year when motorhomers come out en masse. But with Easter Sunday falling in March this year, when it was still a tad chilly, I opted out of making an excursion then.
However, the first bank holiday weekend in May seemed much more promising, so I grabbed the keys of the Bailey Adamo 75-4I we have on long-term loan and headed for the hills of North Wales.
The Adamo range was the first Bailey line-up to be built on a Ford Transit and I was especially glad about that as I slogged up the motorways. Even now, I feel the Transit has a more car-like seating position for the driver than a Ducato, so it was more comfortable on those long rides, one of the features that you may look for when choosing the best motorhome.
My first destination was Gwynus Caravan and Camping Park, near the little village of Nefyn on the Llŷn Peninsula – tucked away down a broom-lined hillside track off what is already a narrow and twisty (if busy) B-road.
It was worth the drive: from here, there are wonderful views of the sea in both directions. You really get a feeling of being on a peninsula.
My second destination was an old favourite of mine, which I am glad to see made it into our Top 100 Sites Guide again this year, where we reveal the best UK motorhome sites.
It must be at least five years since I last visited Tyddyn Isaf, on Anglesey – it was before Covid. But developments the owners have put in place there, despite what must have been a bit of a hiatus in business during the pandemic, are truly impressive: a new bar and takeaway, plenty of environmental improvements to encourage wildlife (including red squirrels and barn owls) to inhabit the on-site wood – and even a gym! The gorgeous sea views, of course, remain.
Navigating challenging routes
Bailey Adamos come with a fully automatic gearbox as standard, and because the approaches to both of these campsites are, shall we say, challenging, I was grateful for that.
With Ford’s automatic transmission, just a tap on the accelerator is all you’ll need to inch this 7.49m-long vehicle safely around narrow corners (see our motorhome driving tips for advice on cornering). None of that frantically trying to get the gears to engage that comes with manual transmission.
Once on site, I found the Adamo’s front lounge exceedingly comfortable. With the passenger seat swivelled, you can turn on the spotlight directly above and put your feet up on the side settee for a leisurely spell of reading or watching TV. And you still have great views from the windows.
I prepared food in the kitchen without needing to use the fold-out extension, although I did miss having a microwave. Personally I’d prefer one of those to the conventional oven that is fitted here – but that is probably just my cooking style.
This is an island bed motorhome, and it’s superbly comfortable, even if there are a few steps up to it. It was also good to see the light switch was near at hand, in case of night-time manoeuvres.
So is there anything I don’t like about this ’van so far? Well, I’m not keen on having the electric hook-up point so close to the door. This could sometimes mean the cable has to lie across the doorway; it might also trail through any awning.
Another minor niggle is the trapdoor between the shower and the washroom, giving access to the piping below. In our test model, it is a little loose. This was disconcerting, because it is also right where you stand to close the swing door.
I ended up stepping into the shower. Not that there should be any danger of getting your feet wet if you do that, because this shower tray comes with two handy drain holes.
Are you looking for a way to achieve better internet connection in your ‘van before your next tour? Take a look at our guide to internet in a motorhome for our top tips on achieving it.
Technical spec of the Bailey Adamo 75-4l
- Price: £75,499
- Berths: 4
- Belts: 4
- Base vehicle: Ford Transit
- Engine: 2.0-litre, 160bhp
- Length: 7.49m
- Width: 2.38m
- Height: 2.85m
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Payload: 358kg
- Expenses: £80 on sites, £194 on fuel
- Distance travelled: 670 miles
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.