Anne, keen to carry on touring

Anne Kingston, 65, sadly lost her husband David to cancer last year. They both loved caravanning and she wants to continue touring. But she has found it too painful to travel with the van they had, so she traded it in. She never liked driving their gas-guzzling car, either, so she also bought a lighter tow car. She might occasionally tour with her grown-up daughter, Frances, who will need space of her own.

1 2022 Kimberley

Icon 2

Kimberley’s dealer special Icon is based on the Swift Sprite – the Icon 2 mirrors the Alpine 2 – which explains the relatively light weight of this van. It’s still some 6.05m long, so the settees can serve as single beds for Anne and her daughter. When she is on her own, Anne might prefer to roll out the slats for a roomy double. As a dealer special, this has all sorts of extra goodies, and one is sure to please Anne: this van has Al-ko’s ATC system, for extra stability when towing.

Price £19,995

Berths 2

MTPLM 1250kg

Shipping length 6.05m

Kimberley Caravans

kimberleycaravans.co.uk/ caravan-search/swifticon-2-7572

2 2021 Sprite Major 4 SB

Caravans with fewer than four berths and separate sleeping places are thin on the ground. So if Frances wants a bit more privacy, the layout in this light four-berth might be suitable. One person can sleep in the transverse bed at the rear, while the other can make up an even bigger double from the settees. Whoever sleeps in the back will have to allow the one up front to access the washroom as necessary. But when Anne is touring on her own, this layout becomes a bit more palatial.

Price £19,495

Berths 4

MTPLM 1442kg

Shipping length 7.54m

Webbs Caravans

webbsmotorcaravans.co.uk/ caravans/used-caravans/swiftsprite-major-4-sb-2

3 2017 Xplore 554 SE

This has a layout very similar to the Sprite – but it’s cheaper and lighter. It is also a bit more basic: you only get one window across the front, for example, and there’s no microwave, just a combined oven and grill. Still, there are some welcome touches, like a towel radiator in the rear washroom. The wall mirror between the washroom and the bedroom also helps to open up the interior and make it feel much roomier. Whether Anne is travelling on her own or with her daughter, she is

certain to be comfortable.

Price £15,795

Berths 4

MTPLM 1335kg

Shipping length 7.39m

Ennis Caravans

ennis-caravans.co.uk/used/ caravans/xplore-554-se-10345