Full review

Words: Val Chapman  Photography: Richard Chapman

Camino is the flagship of the three-range Compass brand, made by the Erwin Hymer Group.

There are four Caminos, all four-berths, all with double beds. Two of the models ride on twin axles; these are the 650, with an L-shaped lounge, and the 660, with a parallel lounge configuration, a rear bedroom and central shower room.

Caminos are distinctive caravans with metallic blue sides. And they have a level of luxury that easily befits their status as the Compass flagship range.

Leeds Caravan Centre has been a Compass retailer for around five years; that’s where we caught up with the 2021 Camino 660.

As you step inside you are greeted with a palette of elegant, subtle pastel pinks; an unusual colour in caravan fabrics – and it works. Not just by grabbing your attention but by retaining it.

The surprising hues create a look of calm, of relaxation – which, after all, is what caravanning is all about. Pale, muted pink piping edges the cream and fawn upholstery sections and also the lower edges of the tiebacks. The four cushions each have one side of plain dusky pink fabric and, on the other, a beautiful floral pattern, finely embroidered, in pink shades, plus tinges of grey and mauve. We’re well aware of the huge influence that fabrics can have on a caravan purchase, and this unusual colour scheme, plus the amazing exquisite embroidery, is a definite plus-point of 2021.

Caminos together, of course, with that unique side colour – called Azure Blue – which sparkles in the sunshine.

Caminos are heated by the Alde system, complete with the Alde load monitor that ensures you don’t overload your pitch’s mains supply when you use the microwave (or other high- powered devices such as a hair dryer); the system detects that a device is switched on and automatically turns off the Alde heating until you switch off the appliance.

Other practicalities include a 40-litre on-board water tank (there’s a gauge to monitor the water level) and an Aquasource pipe connection so that you can attach directly to a tap on a pitch.

Kitchen refinements that will impress you are the light inside the oven, the rim of light running under the edge of the work surface, the good amount of illumination from the spotlights that focus down on the work surface, and the generous size of the rectangular sink. The sink cover matches the work surface and has a well-designed recess at one side that’s perfectly proportioned for you to take hold of it to remove it.

There’s plenty of surface space to the left of the sink, plus an extension to hinge up into place when needed.

A major praiseworthy point is the design of the hotplate. It’s raised above the height of the three burners, so that you can use a large pan on it without constraint from the pan trivet.

Kitchen storage gets our praise, too, with a large, two- shelf cabinet, plus three wide drawers, all with positive catches and soft-close mechanisms.

Opposite is the Dometic fridge with a removable freezer compartment; if chill space is more important to you than freezing food, you can maximise on space for that.

Above the fridge is the Russell Hobbs microwave, with a fabulous grey-tinted mirror front.

And, above that, sits a locker; there’s also a two-shelf cabinet to the right by the door, meaning buyers will never be short of storage space in this Camino 660 kitchen.

The showering area is centrally located, with the shower on the nearside and the toilet and washbasin in a separate compartment on the offside.

When the piano-hinged door of the toilet room is opened across the corridor, the 660 really does become a two-room caravan.

The lounge and kitchen take on an apartment-like character. And this is a delightfully bright environment, thanks to the large rectangular skylight that stretches the length of the lounge. Eight small, bright spotlights are set into the skylight’s frame.

Opening the door at the end of the kitchen takes you into the 660’s second room, a bedroom with en suite; a lovely cosy and luxurious environment. A sliding door closes off the shower cubicle and toilet compartment from the bedroom.

This is important, not just for when the shower is in use and you don’t want to disturb the person still sleeping, but for occasions when you may have the lounge-conversion double bed in use; occupants here can use the washing, toilet and shower facilities in total privacy from those in the bedroom.

Wardrobes flank the bed, each with three drawers beneath, and a shelf that’s perfect for coffee cups. The dressing table in the offside corner gives you a two- shelf lower cabinet plus a mirrored, three-shelf cabinet.

A mains socket is here for hair dryer use, plus there are two USB ports also.

A second mains socket is in the bedroom, together with television points; a bracket could be mounted on the wall.

Lovely style points to notice in the bedroom are the eyeletted curtains hanging on chrome poles and the strip of concealed lighting sitting under a pelmet set close to the ceiling on the offside.

You can dress this bedroom in your own style, of course, with a duvet set in keeping with the Camino’s pink and floral theme.

For its promotional picture, manufacturer, Erwin Hymer Group, dressed the bed with the optional extra (£294) bed kit, complete with a wide pink sash and small bolster cushions that match the embroidered ones in the lounge.

The Camino 660 has become a well-established, popular model over the five years since its first appearance and it is very easy to see why.

With twin-axle stability, plenty of space – and also plenty of storage space – this is a caravan to consider if you want the practicality and luxury of a separate bedroom and you also want plenty of equipment and visual refinements.