Detour lives the #vanlife in luxury with the most magnificent Vee-Dub van you can buy.

For over 70 years since VW first started selling the Transporter it has been the mobile home for the masses. Specialists such as Westfalia and Dormobile added beds, kitchens, and dining tables and enabled generations of campers to enjoy the great outdoors with a little more comfort and convenience than canvas alone could offer.

In 1988 VW started building the California – an in-house camper that took things up a notch in terms of features that you could buy straight from the factory. Today’s ultimate expression of that ethos is the Grand California.

It’s based on the Crafter van and, as the name suggests, it’s Grand in stature, and in cost. The starting price is north of £80,000 and adding options could easily see your Grand California tipping over £100,000 so it’s not really a van-of-the-people any more.

Now that price, of course, is as much as an apartment, but in fairness you really could live for an extended period in the Grand Cali – and have a different view out of the windows every day.

Two versions are available: the 600, which comes with sleeping for four or a longer-wheelbase 680 which sleeps two but provides a bigger living space.

Detour has the 600 for few days in Wales, and it feels plenty big enough. It’s the roof height that makes the biggest difference. Being able to stand up straight inside really is a luxury that’s even more impressive than the laminate wood flooring, flush fitting cabinetry and wet room.

There’s a kitchen with a two-burner stove, sink and a fridge with a pull-out drawer that’s accessible from inside and out. Extend the awning and you can create a huge covered outdoor space in which to set up a table and chairs which are very neatly housed in the rear doors.

If it’s too chilly for that then the front seats swivel round and a table can be set up in front of the rear seats. Then you can switch the heating on using an electronic control panel and smugly picture people shivering in their tents.

When it comes to bedtime, the good news is that there’s no need to perform any internal origami as the whole of the rear of the Grand Cali is taken up with a full-size double bed. Above the cab is another bed that requires just a single pull to release it and  here’s plenty of room for a couple of kids up there. Beneath the main bed is a huge storage area with cupboards and an open space that could take a couple of bikes or boxes of provisions and clothes. There are plenty of cupboards although they’re not very big, while there’s only a small rail to hang clothes on.

At lights out, you’ll find blackout blinds and bug screens on the windows and skylights, but you’ll need to hang a cloth curtain from the sun visors and magnetic curtains on the front door windows.

Throughout the Grand Cali are USB charge points and three-pin sockets for when the van is plugged in at a campsite. If you’re off-grid then the onboard battery seems to last a couple of days running the fridge, lights and phone chargers. Solar cells on the roof are an option to extend that. There’s room for over 100 litres of fresh water and 85 litres of grey water, plus the chemical loo, so you could easily go wild camping for a few days.

At Snowdonia’s lovely Llyn Gwynant campsite we’re able to plug-in and relax, taking in the view of the lake and surrounding mountains, while the drive to get there has demonstrated the pros and cons of this ultra-camper.

On the motorways it’s refined, with the two-litre turbo diesel engine subdued, allowing a comfortable cruise and an average of 25 mpg, but crossing the Llanberis Pass the eight-speed automatic gearbox drops down to third and the revs rise with an agricultural clatter. The Grand California’s size and weight are also most noticeable negotiating tight turns and narrow lanes. Occasionally we brush overhanging trees, a reminder of the vehicle’s height, which could restrict access to some parking or camp sites.

 None of that matters though, when you’re pitched up with a spectacular vista and literally all the comforts of home along with you. 

Words & Photography Nik Berg Twitter/X | Instagram