Full review

We’re not known amongst our friends as trendsetters, so what would we make of the Eccles Moonstone and its stand-out-from-the-crowd redesign? Light grain furniture and dark wood worktops seem to me to be a bold move, and couldn’t be any further removed from the first Eccles Moonstone produced in 1962.

Forty-seven years on, and 90 years after the very first Eccles, this fresh approach is turning heads. The end washroom layout, with front and side dinettes, works as well for two people as it does for four; on this test there are three of us, so we should strike a happy medium. And we’re not venturing too far from home, with a couple of days on a small CL.

From the outside, the Moonstone is a very smart tourer; the one-piece side panels and graphics make an impact, even though they’re white and not the silver used in the Sterling Elite range. The 90th anniversary graphics certainly leave you in no doubt as to how old the brand is for 2009. I was pleased to note that the gas locker is large enough to fit in a waste water tank neatly to one side of the gas bottles. A wet locker is a practical touch for those muddy-boot days and the exterior mains socket gives you somewhere to plug in an awning heater to take the chill out of an evening.

The LED awning light gives off a nice blue glow and looks good. Smart alloy wheels, AKS hitch and shock absorbers add up to a good-looking tourer that draws comment from our fellow campers.

Stepping inside, with the heater on and lights glowing, the brave interior design choices start to look inviting and cosy instead of modern and stark.

Just so you don’t think it’s all style over substance in the new Moonstone, the limited facilities on our CL site mean that the end washroom is going to have to prove its worth.

The front dinette’s thick upholstery, with bolster and loose cushions, is comfortable and supportive – and there’s enough space for us to stretch out our legs while napping (me), reading (my wife) and watching TV (my daughter). We agreed amongst ourselves that should we have visitors for the day, the front lounge would’ve easily accommodated up to six people.
At night-time, turning those front parallel settees into twin single beds or a double proved simple and just as comfy. Twin blown-air heating outlets did the job of keeping our feet warm.

The central chest of drawers is set at just the right height when it’s extended to use for a snack and cup of tea. Two mains lights, smart LED spots and twin overhead spots shed plenty of light on the area. With these lights, radio and heating all blaring, the lounge of the Eccles had us captivated for the evening.

When we set up the Eccles, one thing we forgot to do was switch on the charger. Our mistake only became apparent when the lights faded, but a quick flick of the mains switches in the cupboard near the washroom soon brought the lights back on again. This cupboard also houses the large free-standing table and the TV aerial, which would be better placed in a roof locker for ease of access. We did manage to achieve a good signal level, though.

During the day, our sleeping bags fitted nicely into the under-seat storage, accessed by flaps as well as through the seat bases. Even our large pillows fitted with ease. The Moonstone has a plush loose-fit carpet, that’s hard-wearing and practical in colour.

At meal times, the dual fuel hob and oven proved easy to use. There’s a microwave fitted, albeit placed a little high, and for that reason it didn’t get a look-in during our stay. Worktop provision was ample for preparing meals and, while I cooked, my wife could happily get on with the washing up – there was enough space to go round.

We found the shelf at the end of the kitchen unit to be so useful for storing books and belongings. The Truma heater sits below and the easy-to-operate controls sit above the worktop. There are mains sockets here too.

The Thetford fridge, with digital display, was more than ample for our few days away, and it would prove just as efficient for a week’s break. When the sun went down, we noticed that the lighting in the kitchen is its only let-down; there’s a strip lamp that leaves areas of the kitchen in a dark shade. A pair of down-lighters on either side of the sink and a ceiling light opposite the kitchen area would solve this problem. Storage provision is ample in the kitchen, and slide-out metal baskets are a great practical feature.

Georgina quickly claimed the side dinette as her own – a place where she could draw, colour and play on her handheld games console (another twin socket is fitted here).  The LED spots threw plenty of light around for night-time reading and the lockers above housed all of her toys and clothes.

She took responsibility for turning the seats into her bed using the slatted base. It wasn’t long before the light was out and she was off to sleep. I know she would’ve appreciated a less flimsy dividing curtain, though.

The Moonstone’s rear end washroom is great in use as a changing room or a bathroom. It’s not very large, but it’s well thought out. The side wall cupboard is excellent for toiletries and the walk-in shower doubled as a hanging space for our wet coats when not in use.

We were only travelling light, but the wardrobe was short on hanging space. It is, though, well built with three drawers and shelves. Had we been going away for a week, Mrs J would’ve had some tough decisions to make about what to take and what to leave behind; I’d put money on the fact that it would be mostly my clothes that didn’t make the trip.

Having spent some time living with the Eccles, I think only those with the most traditional tastes will feel slightly at sea with the modern feel. For me, it mirrors the forward-thinking design that the first Moonstone showcased in its day, 47 years ago. So if you’re not sure at first glance, take some time to sit in the Eccles and let it win you over.