Last summer, I got my first chance to take our test Bailey Adamo 75-4I for a spin since joining the PM team. But why the delay? Well, despite great encouragement from my colleagues – and the fact I’d driven smaller campervans before – I admit I found the prospect of driving a 7.5m-long motorhome around the narrow lanes of Wales a little bit daunting.
But no sooner had I left our vehicle storage site in Reading, than I was kicking myself for waiting so long to take my first motorhome trip in it and not taking the plunge much earlier.
I’m used to a different motorhome size. I got my start with smaller ‘vans and the Bailey is not a small motorhome. But it proved a joy to drive, even on the M4.
Driving the Bailey
I was actually looking forward to the two-hour journey to pick up my travel companion from Newport train station. I’d fuelled up, rigged the Bluetooth sound system to play my favourite podcast and the grey clouds behind me were disappearing in the wing mirrors.
The cab and the driver’s seat were so spacious and comfortable that now and again, I had to remind myself to sit up straight and focus. The integrated phone holder was slightly too central for my liking, especially when navigating with Google Maps. But it did come in handy when my own long-suffering stand finally gave up.
We spent our first night away at Heritage Coast Campsite, a small, peaceful site midway between Cardiff and Swansea. We had a warm welcome and were quickly shown to a spacious grass pitch sheltered by a hedge.
Driving the 7.5m-long motorhome didn’t even prove to be too much of an issue when pitching up. Despite carrying the belongings of two notorious over-packers, the Bailey was surprisingly light and responsive when manoeuvring onto our pitch. Once we had closed all the curtains (and wrestled with the useful but slightly awkward windscreen and cab blinds), we could settle in for an early night.
Navigating country lanes
Next morning, after a quick pit-stop for coffee at the pub next door, we set off to our intended destination, the Gower Peninsula.
As we drove, I found that the more beautiful the surroundings became, the hairier the roads got. But there’s not much you can do to avoid narrow country lanes when you’re, well, in the countryside, so I had resolved to take my time (and hold my breath).
The wing mirrors and reversing camera were a godsend, especially the width of scope that the camera gave. We did have one very minor close shave (thanks to my trigger-happy accelerator foot kicking in before the camera image), but emerged from the journey scrape-free.
On the way to our next campsite, we stopped off at the Worm’s Head for a bracing walk across the clifftop footpath. The name comes from the Old English word for sea serpent, which is the silhouette that the rock formation cuts in the water when viewed from the headland.
After a delicious lunch at The View Rhossili, near the car park, we had a cup of tea in the ’van, listening to the wind blustering around us but feeling very snug in our sanctuary.
Arriving at our coastal campsite
For the remainder of the trip, we stayed at Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park on the peninsula’s south coast, a half-hour drive from Swansea.
My only regret about our visit is that it wasn’t longer. The staff were cheery and helpful on our arrival, bustling around the well-stocked shop and little café area at the entrance to the park.
They pitched us up on a level grass pitch next to the facilities block, perpendicular to the sea and with a beautiful view of the bay.
That evening, we planned to go into Mumbles, the pretty harbour town considered the gateway to the Gower. With two of us getting ready, the dressing area got a bit cramped, but when the bed is retracted there is just enough room.
The Bailey’s shower cubicle is definitely big enough, but the facilities at Three Cliffs were so luxurious, we used them at every opportunity.
We decided on a taxi into town, and enjoyed an evening of local music and local beers, before heading back to the ’van and a good night’s sleep.
We blew away the cobwebs next day with lunch at the Britannia Inn, near Llanmadoc, which was hearty, tasty and served by very helpful staff.
In the afternoon, I wandered down to Three Cliffs Bay’s stunning beach. I even braved a dip in the sea, which made cosying up on the ’van’s comfortable sofa even more rewarding once I had trekked back up the hill.
We spent the next couple of days exploring Swansea, enjoying good food and scenic walks near the site. When it came time to pack up and head home, we had established a comfortable routine with our Bailey Adamo, and were quite reluctant to give it up and go back to reality.
If you’re driving a motorhome – and it doesn’t have to be 7.5m-long! – and would like some extra tips on doing so, take a look at Gentleman Jack’s motorhome driving tips to help you stay safe and legal on the road.
The technical spec of the Bailey Adamo 75-4I
- 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
Something else to be aware of before heading off on tour will be the various motorhome weights – these are a crucial part of ensuring you stay safe and legal when you’re on the road.
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