Hilltop Eryri Adventurer Review

This Welsh company makes great-value campervans on a variety of bases.

Hilltop is based in Wales and has been around for 20-plus years. Owner, Phil, told us that while the company will convert many different vans, he prefers the Renault that this model is based on. He states “the squareness of the Renault gives it more room and I like the way they drive as it feels more car like.” We also know that Renaults offer great value for money in terms of standard specification normally. 

This model is the Eryri Adventurer, one of a new range of layouts, with two more set to follow, the Nomad and Explorer. While the Renault is a standard conversion, the model can also be ordered on the Ford and VW vans, too.  

That’s not the only option, however, because everything is built in-house, so Hilltop is able to tailor models to customers' individual needs. We’re all different after all.  

A van you build 

This is the LWB model, measuring in at 5.40m, but you can order the model in SWB (4.99m) form, too. And the model we previewed was a gas-free option with a Wallas hob/heater powered by diesel; you can order it with gas systems if preferred. A 2,000W inverter will be standard fitment going forwards with an uprated 220Ah lithium battery. 

What’s interesting to see in this model is the Renault double passenger cab seat. It has an interesting feature in that the innermost seat back drops down to create a drinks holder and snack tray. Use it on the road if there’s just two up front, or even when on the campsite as a coffee table.  

This allows for five belted seats, three up front and two in the rear. The double cab seat swivels round to face the rear and the Vulcan system used allows it to slide forward, too. You do have to undo five bolts to do this – make sure those bolts are stashed away on the campsite, as you wouldn’t be able to drive with the seat unbolted and swivelled.

Hilltop told us it could provide a drawstring bag to help keep these important bolts all in one place when the seat is swivelled. 

And while it does slide forwards, it’s not enough for four to dine at the one table. We’d probably want to see another table offered – maybe the free-standing Loc8 one that can be stashed away in a recess on the sliding door.

The alternative, if there’s more than two travelling, is to dine in shifts. Hilltop tells us it will provide a wider one for future models, but that anything much bigger would get in the way. The owner added that most people tend to use awnings and outdoors for dining as a family. 

This table is currently stored above the cab, but the company is working on a new table with dedicated storage. 

This is a side kitchen model that is pretty well specced. The 50-litre fridge (form Alpicool) is a decent size with a small freezer compartment and two door shelves. It’s got Bluetooth, which allows you to control the temperature of the fridge and freezer using an app. This sits below the sink, again a good size with a good-quality swan neck tap in on-trend black. 

Next to this is the hob. As already alluded to, this is a diesel-powered hob that has a flat glass cooking plate with space for two pans. It also can act as a heater, too. The gas version comes with a double-burner gas hob and Autoterm heating. 

There are USB-A and C sockets and a mains socket near the kitchen as well as the simple control panel. 

The lower part of the kitchen under the hob has two locker doors. The lowermost one contains two water tanks, though if you wanted to save space you could always only travel with one. 

It might not be an issue for all, but I find these small pull-tab catches – fitted across many other campervans – fiddly and painful to use and have lost count of the number of nail breakages. They have to be operated with a single finger, you see.

Hilltop says customers can choose a push-button latch, but these don’t self-lock, so it really is a personal preference. 

The liveability

The rear seat is a Vulcan model that converts into a double bed pretty simply. It makes a very flat bed, too. However, the rear parcel shelf, where most campervanners store their bedding, is a touch small. It would be OK for a couple of soft cloth bags, but you would have to take care opening the rear doors.  

The benefit of the Vulcan seat is that the backrest can be set at different rake positions. The well-regarded Mobiframe seat is an option and this does come with more rear storage, but it also has its downsides (the frame is central, leaving storage areas on either side that are often not boxed in properly).  

You can still access the cutlery drawer and water storage with the bed in place – handy if you need a teaspoon for your morning cuppa or need to top up. 

The under-bed space can be accessed through a rear hatch but this is quite small – I’d like to see a bigger door here, or a drawer that slides out, the latter of which Hilltop can now offer. 

The storage unit at the back is not quite full height, but this does create a useful shelf while on the campsite. The front section is accessed through a tambour door, while the rear has a shelf with the lower part for the electrics and storage and the upper section is a good space. 

While the model previewed did not offer access to this top section from the inside, there will be a hatch through to the upper shelf from the wardrobe in future models. 

The lowest locker at the rear stores the 105Ah lithium battery and offers more storage but this is likely to be where the gas locker is on the models with LPG systems. I’d like to see some of the wires ducted off to protect them.

However, what’s important to note is that because of the space available, you can increase the battery capacity; one customer had 500Ah installed. Plus, there is a 200W solar panel on the roof for helping to keep charge flowing back into the battery. The Victron app helps you stay on top of power usage and demands. 

However, there is a mains and 12V socket handily located between the electrics and the battery locker. Perfect for inflating awnings, outdoor gear or more. 

Another layer... 

Up top, the pop-top is a Van-Lidz model. It lowers and raises easily on gas struts which are crisscrossed. This model is fitted with the Premium fabric, though the Deluxe is the standard on Hilltop campervans. Whichever you opt for you get a window at the front and two mesh side panels, all with zipped covers.  

There is just a flat base up here and it does come with a mattress as standard, although a sprung base is an option and customers can choose from different mattress types. 

Lighting-wise there's a spotlight in the pop-top with a USB socket. There are four spotlights along the roof near the door; they touch on and touch off.

Then there’s two spotlights, also with USB-C and A ports, at the back of the seats. The lights under the bed are dimmable and then there's strip lighting under the kitchen, too. 

And for anyone wondering, the Eryri name is the Welsh word for Snowdonia and is pronounced ‘eruhri’. Remember to roll your ‘rrs’ if you can. 

This is a solid, practical camper and the fact that it offers Renault base vehicle options for customers is great – not everyone wants a vee-dub. The price is another big factor, with the standard model coming in at around £53k – and that includes spec like the lithium battery, solar panel and more. The model we reviewed was £56,950 (with the Vanshades blinds, stitched leather seats and the Wallas hob all being options). Plus, you can get the specification tailored towards your needs. If you’re interested, get in touch with Hilltop and book in to view the workshops and demonstrator models.