Holidaying in… a Benimar Benivan 144

I rarely have the opportunity to take a campervan away for more than a night or two but this time I decided to do things differently… I was going to drive further and be away a little longer. This would give me a real chance to test the Benimar Benivan 144, kindly loaned to me by Marquis Northants.

Now, this van neatly demonstrates why compact campervans continue to win over buyers looking for freedom without fuss. Measuring less than six metres in length, the Benivan 144 strikes a balance between manoeuvrability and liveability, making it as comfortable threading through country lanes as it is settling into life on site.. as you’ll see later. It’s built on the Fiat Ducato platform and powered by a 140 horsepower diesel engine with a transverse rear bed and four travel seats.

Monday

I’d be covering around 500 miles, leaving the dealership and heading up to Cumbria via Yorkshire and County Durham staying at a series of Camping and Caravanning Club sites along the way. First stop was Elsecar Heritage Centre for a wander around the antiques centre and to find some cake. The car park is relatively big and, despite the length of the vehicle meaning it slightly overhangs a standard space, there was more than enough room to park.

Cake and tea consumed, I spent a happy hour looking at the antiques before getting back in the cab bound for a little village just outside Sheffield to meet my friend Ryan. He’d originally suggested I park in the pub car park opposite his house, but on seeing the van decided it was better on his drive. As soon as the engine stopped, he opened the door for a look around. He is easily the most enthusiastic person I know and loved it. We headed for a wild swim and of course, having a van makes changing out of wet clothes much easier… so that was a win. I swim most days and a van like this would be perfect for me.

Tuesday

I was due to check into the Boroughbridge Club site in the afternoon but had a few stops on the way for meetings. I left Ryan’s early and managed to get out of his tight driveway without too much drama. However, there was one casualty, his lobelia plant which was spilling beautifully into the road until…well, it wasn’t. The van has a reversing camera with really good range but, like everything, these things take some getting used to in a new vehicle.

Once my meetings were finished and I’d mastered parking the van in some tight car parks, I started to make my way to Boroughbridge. The approach was easy enough and the site is next to the river with so much wildlife, making it a super spot for relaxing. I cooked some pasta on the hob and sat outside in the sun – you can move the table and clip it onto the outside the van but I found this a bit heavy and fiddly so left it where it was.

After a walk around the site at sunset, I settled in for the night. I would have liked there to be a little shelf to put my cup of tea on as I read in bed but the mattress was so comfortable I was asleep more or less as soon as my head hit the pillow. You can open the back doors and enjoy the view from the bed and there’s plenty of storage space underneath it so you’re not tripping over stuff in the night.

Wednesday

I slept better than I had in a long time and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the van – I was feeling so fancy, I’d even taken my teapot. This is a van I was starting to really feel at home in, I felt in no rush to pack up and move on but I was Barnard Castle-bound.

I’d only visited the Bowes Museum once and was keen to return and I knew that parking wouldn’t be a problem. This gem of a museum opened in 1892 and was built with stone from a local quarry for John Bowes and his wife Joséphine Benoîte Coffin-Chevallier who wanted to share their eclectic collection with the public. The jewel in the crown is the Silver Swan, a lifesize automated replica of a female swan dating back to the 1770s which performs daily – oh, and there’s a top tearoom.

Before I left, I couldn’t resist getting a cheeky shot of the van in front of the building and then it was onto Barnard Castle Club site for the evening. I was settled into the van now and felt truly at home – my clothes were in the lockers, the bed was always made, and I’d found a place for everything. Laying in bed that evening looking up at the sky through the rooflight, I felt pretty content.

Thursday

I was off to Kirby-in-Furness for a meeting and on the way I encountered plenty of winding, narrow roads but felt completely confident behind the wheel. I can’t drive without music and appreciated the quality sound system making me feel like I was on a proper road trip; just me and the open road. 

En route, I found a perfect layby to pull over in and looked out over the landscape with a tea and the biscuits I’d stowed away. It’s times like these you feel quite smug having a motorhome. Once my meeting was finished (everyone came out to look at the van), it was time to check into the Kendal Club site. The staff here were utterly lovely and if you’re a Camping and Caravanning Club member you’ll know why it’s called The Friendly Club. Perfect pitch located with views over the hills, I once again congratulated myself on my choice of site and walked into town for some food.

Friday

I woke on Friday with some apprehension ahead of my long drive home; the traffic was likely to be bad and I had to get the van back. There were no planned stopovers and sure enough, no sooner had I left, I was in a queue. So, I took a few diversions which shaved off little to no time but gave me a better view than the main roads. The Benivan is a real performer and takes the ups and downs of country lanes with ease, and when I realised how close I was to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park I decided to make a spontaneous stop-off and I am so glad I did. 

Parking was a dream and after a walk and refuel (for me), I felt refreshed. On the way out of the park, I snapped a picture of the van in front of a Henry Moore sculpture and then it was onward to the dealership to return it.

Would I recommend one? Certainly. It’s perfect for individuals and couples who don’t want the faff of making the bed every night but still value storage space. Most of all, it feels like home.

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