The Hobby Beachy – partly designed to tempt younger customers – was largely the brainchild of Hobby’s MD Holger Schulz, working with a Danish designer.

However, perhaps because of an issue with having to change upholstery to suit British fire regulations, the range, which includes models such as the Beachy 360, has been a bit slow to gain traction in the UK.

Some dealers are now keen to change that, though, and one, SmartCampers in Glasgow, invited me to view the longer Hobby Beachy 450. So how does it pan out and should it be in the discussion for the best caravans in 2025?

Pitch and set-up

When you’re buying a caravan nowadays, it is unusual to see a modern tourer with two doors – yet the Beachy has just that, both with porthole windows. The main door is on the ‘wrong’ side for the UK. But there is also a way out through the stable door at the back, which can only be opened from the inside.

On the outside, the stripped-down design offers minimal graphics and curved corners. However, a feature that I think will appeal to cyclists is that the bare frame means you should be able to put a bike rack here. There is no gas bottle locker to block if you do so.

It is easy to reach the corner steadies at the back, thanks to a protruding bolt that guides you in. Even on rugged ground, you might not have to kneel to engage with the steadies. I do think it’s a shame, then, that the hold for the winder is located inside the caravan.

My test model had a number of optional extras, including alloy wheels and a spare wheel and holder.

Lounge in the Hobby Beachy 450

The huge lounge takes up almost the whole interior. The layout of the caravan means you could easily seat 10 around the two foldaway tables you get in here. They are both lightweight and won’t trap your fingers, and because they fold, you could also take them outside.

The settees aren’t the most comfortable if the number of people means you have to sit fully upright, but because they are so large, I think they are great to stretch out on in the evening.

The lounge in the Beachy 450
The lounge takes up most of the interior, and can seat up to 10 people

The whole area is well lit, with a big Heki and two pendant lights that can be kept close to the ceiling or dangled down.

On a balmy summer night at your chosen campsite, you could even open the top section of the rear door to catch the breeze. The main window has a separate blind and flyscreen, as well as a linen curtain with string stays (which I found a bit fiddly). As an optional extra, you can have an electric heater fitted or think about buying one of the best caravan heaters instead.

Kitchen in the Hobby Beachy 450

In line with its pared-down design, the Beachy has no oven or microwave, and the fridge is a big icebox in a cupboard to the right of the unit. You get reasonable work surface and it’s well lit, even without a window. The sink is a fairly good size, too.

The large icebox
Cupboard to the right holds the large icebox

There’s a mains and a 12V socket next to the fridge, giving you an ideal space for a kettle or a toaster when you’re kitting out your caravan, as well as a USB and even a USB-C socket here.

Washroom in the Hobby Beachy 450

I would hesitate to call the corner room a washroom, because it doesn’t have a shower or basin. There is no plumbed-in toilet, either, although there is room for a Porta Potti, and the storage peg for that corner steady winder.

This is essentially somewhere you could use for changing in privacy, on your way out to, or back from, outdoor activities. It has a well-lit mirror and a clothes rail. And if you require more room, all of the shelves are removable.

Sleeping in the Hobby Beachy 450

You can make up a double using the folded tables, or pull out slats under the settees that officially add two sleeping places, but I think could actually sleep three extra – so long as you don’t mind sleeping in a row.

The double bed
Double bed uses the tables, while slats pull out for extra places

While making up the beds does involve rearranging base cushions, you don’t need to worry about having to put up with big gaps between them, because the backrests on the nearside settee fold out to make mattresses that go on top of the cushions.

Storage in the Hobby Beachy 450

In the lounge, there are 12 overhead shelves along one side, and six shelf compartments in front of the settees. The latter contain pull-out baskets, as do two of the overhead shelves. The handy thing about these is that you can take them out to fill or empty them at home. All of the overhead shelves also have elasticated retainers – just make sure you know how to load a caravan to ensure it is done safely.

The retainers on the overhead shelving
Elasticated retainers will help to secure items stored on the overhead shelving

The kitchen is mostly taken up with the fridge on the right, while the cupboard on the left holds fresh- and waste-water containers, with some space in front. Four more shelves with retainers are up above – two of them with removable baskets.

The washroom has removable shelves; in fact, pretty much all of the furniture in the living area can be removed. So if you wanted to use this van to carry something really big, you could. It’s that flexible.

Hobby also added another new tourer to its Beachy range in the shape of the Beachy 420+ – a sister tourer to the 450. This tourer comes with an additional bunkbed and an optional multi-functional wall.

Alternatives to consider

The Swift Sprite Exclusive Alpine 4 is a four-berth with an excellent rear bedroom and a great spec. Alternatively, how about a dealer special? For instance, the Wandahome Wanderer 19TB, which is based on the Acadia 575. It comes with upgrades that make it a solid improvement on what was already a popular model.

Technical spec of the Hobby Beachy 450

  • Price: £24,995
  • Berths: 4
  • MiRO: 842kg
  • Payload: 158kg
  • MTPLM: 1000kg
  • Interior length: 4.62m
  • Shipping length: 5.99m
  • Overall width: 2.16m

Spec list of the Beachy 450

  • Knott hitch and brakes
  • Extended corner steadies
  • Shock absorbers
  • Blinds and flyscreens for all windows
  • LED awning light
  • 38-litre Dometic CK 40D fridge
  • 25-litre fresh-water tank
  • Two dual USB ports
  • Three mains sockets
  • Pre-wiring for solar panel
  • LED lighting throughout interior
  • Beds: 2.40 x 2.00m

Take a look at what we have to say about caravan tyre care, an important maintenance job that will help you keep your van’s rubber in tiptop condition.

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