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A man who splashed out on the UK’s "most hated" vehicle has hailed one detail as a "revelation". Speaking recently about her purchase, journalist Clare Macnaughton placed the campervan, having owned one herself named "Bertha", at the top of the leisure vehicle rankings. Lower down the list, however, lies the "punchline of British motoring".

Clare notes that the humble caravan, beloved by holidaying Brits in search of budget-friendly staycations and once "destroyed for sport" by former Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson, can be found close to the bottom.

Clarkson is well-known for his hatred of caravans, having once dubbed them a "menace" and claiming they "clog up the British countryside all summer long". It hasn't dissuaded Clare, though.

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Having sold Bertha, she and her family are now the proud owners of an Adria Action 361 LT—an "enduringly popular" model, according to the Caravan and Motorhome Club, one that's "immediately identifiable".

She took the plunge once she’d realised a downside: a campervan isn't just a lifestyle upgrade, it’s an additional motor to tax, insure and maintain, and repairs can be a real drain.

Despite admitting to a few "teething" issues, namely problems with the fridge switch and a socket fuse, Clare seems pretty pleased with one aspect. In fact, she described it as a "revelation".

She wrote in The Telegraph: "And then, the revelation: the bed. This caravan may be tiny, but the bed is colossal. Pete is 6ft 1in, with a back ruined by a lifetime of lugging tiles up ladders, and the campervan's bed was always a couple of inches too short for him.

"This one swallowed Pete, me and Maya with room to spare. Whoever designed this caravan clearly understood the priorities of middle age: you can compromise on almost anything, just don't compromise on the bed."

Indeed, the Caravan and Motorhome Club is similarly keen on this particular model. On its website, it awarded the caravan a respectable 92 per cent, dubbing it "singularly attractive" and "easy to tow".

"Singularly attractive, nicely made, easy to tow, good value and a brilliant lounge. Wholeheartedly recommended." It also spotted the ample sleeping arrangements, dubbing it a "behemoth of a double bed".

It comes after a psychologist told the Express how camping can benefit our mental health. Psychologist Dr Sophie Mort noted that "camping gives everyone a task."

She said: "When we’re away from screens, work pressures and daily routines, we’re more likely to have meaningful conversations, share experiences and form deeper connections with those around us.

"So many of us are burned out, stressed out and even talked out right now. Camping gives everyone a task, putting up the tent, unrolling the sleeping bags or getting the stove going for tea, so people can be together without the pressure of more talking and dissecting.

"It’s often in those low-stakes, side-by-side moments that conversation starts to flow naturally."