Bailey Retreat Willow

A caravan is designed for seasonal pitching so you can leave it on your favourite campsite all summer long

Bailey’s two Retreat models are specifically designed to be sited on a seasonal basis. Both have fixed beds and Alde heating – and they’re almost nine metres long and 2.48m wide.

The Willow has strong appeal to couples (and the ability to sleep two more in the lounge); the Sycamore has a family bedroom converting from a central dining area.

The Willow was the first off the production line – and the first to arrive at a caravan park. And Caravan Buyer’s test team was the first to take up residence, at Stowford Farm Meadows, at Combe Martin on the North Devon coast.

The Retreats give you all the benefits of high-spec touring caravans – big fridges, freezers, comfort and the lovely silent, evenly-distributed warmth of Alde heating – in a size that’s more comparable with a static caravan than a tourer. The keynote here is that if you buy a static caravan, you’re stuck on one site. If you buy a Retreat and decide to opt for a different site the following season, you can arrange to have a contractor with a suitable vehicle (over 3500kg) to move it.

Retreats aren’t designed to be towed by their owners, so they don’t have hitch-head stabilisers or ATC. The weight and the cost of those items have been invested elsewhere, to make the Retreats true homes-from-home. For example, the Willow has a true breakfast-kitchen, with a breakfast bar and high stools. And the toilet is ceramic, clearly much heavier than plastic alternatives. It’s amidships, directly forward of the bedroom, with the shower opposite.

All the benefits of high-spec touring caravans – big fridges, freezers, comfort and the lovely silent, evenly-distributed warmth of Alde heating – in a size that’s more comparable with a static caravan than a tourer