North Yorkshire, UK-based campervan conversion company Brown Bird & Co. is well known for its practical, off-grid campervans. However, if you’re looking for the company’s flagship model, the absolute epitome of adventuring and off-grid living, Helvellyn is it.
Helvellyn is named after the third-highest mountain in England, a mountain in the English Lake District. All Brown Bird & Co. campervan conversions are named after mountains because the owners love traversing mountains when they’re not busy building campervans!
Helvellyn, in particular, was built to showcase the company’s conversion builds and features their signature MWB layout. The company describes this layout as spacious and practical, with a fixed double bed, a hidden portaloo and fridge, oak-fronted drawers, and garage space inside the living area.
A great deal of time and effort has also gone into making Helvellyn not only practical but also beautiful. From the live-edge workshop and handmade copper lights to the gorgeous oak wood featured throughout, it’s a stunning example of a house on wheels.
Helvellyn is also about providing campervan owners with an adventure. According to Brown Bird & Co., the van was designed with off-the-grid living in mind. Everything from the water setup to the electrics and the practical layout comes from Brown Bird & Co.’s experiences with life on the road. They know what works!
And herein lies your opportunity to see what all the fuss is about. Brown Bird & Co. is now in the process of developing its new flagship model. To celebrate, they’re raffling Helvellyn off to go home with one lucky UK resident. You can learn more about the campervan competition here
Helvellyn is a 5.9m converted campervan that’s the epitome of compact, off-grid living. This sleek, black house on wheels is easy to drive like a car and fits into standard-sized parking spots. The creators, Brown Bird & Co., are now raffling Helvellyn to make way for their new flagship model, currently in development.
Helvellyn has everything campers need for off-the-grid adventures, including a custom-built roof rack, a wheel carrier, and a rear ladder. It also boasts a full Victron electrical system with a 210Ah Roamer lithium battery and 400 watts of solar. There’s no need to worry about being confined to powered camping sites in this beast!
If you’ve ever slept in a vehicle before, you’ll know how challenging the temperature variations and moisture can be. Brown Bird & Co. went above and beyond to ensure user comfort in Helvellyn. They chose Celotex 25mm and 50mm foam board, spray foam, insulation they recycled, silver bubble wrap, and aluminum tape. These keep the camper warm in winter and cool in summer and also create a vapor barrier to reduce condensation in the living area.
Bitterly cold winters need never be a problem in Helvellyn, either. An Eberspascher diesel heater is plumbed directly into the fuel tank. This comes with a controller and built-in thermostat to help you achieve your desired temperature easily.
The Interior
The average campervan can be cramped in meal preparation areas, but Helvellyn bucks the trend. Despite only being a medium-sized van, there is a full-size L-shaped kitchen. Travelers can enjoy five soft-close drawers, an 80cm food storage unit, and a 60cm sunk. There is also a 20cm pull-out larder.
Brown Bird & Co. put their heart and soul into creating a practical, beautiful house on wheels. The round stainless-steel sink in the kitchen features a 12-volt water pump with a switch, with water flowing from the handmade copper tap. There is also 60L of freshwater storage in Helvellyn, including 20L in the kitchen and a further 40L in a pull-out drawer in the garage.
The stunning live-edge Pippy Oak worktop and splashback bring the kitchen to life. Set on top of the bench is a Thetford twin gas hob. The 40L compressor fridge is tucked away out of sight.
While there is plenty of natural light throughout the day in Helvellyn, bespoke LED copper downlights add much-needed illumination at night. The two side windows also boast privacy glass for peace of mind. Cook up a storm without worrying who’s watching!
Dining area
The living, dining, and sleeping parts of Helvellyn are deceivingly spacious. It almost doesn’t feel like you’re in a van! There is a gorgeous pull-out oak table that matches the worktops. This slides out from underneath the bed and has enough space for two adults to eat, play games, or use computers. When combined with the seating area, the table is more than sufficient for four adults to sit around.
The bench seats are there to provide comfortable seating, but they are also innovative forms of storage. Storage space, a pet den, and a portaloo are all tucked away underneath.
Going on travel adventures and quality sleep are two things you don’t hear mentioned together. Helvellyn is a game-changer! A luxurious double bed measuring 186cm by 135cm with a memory foam mattress topper is located in the rear of the van. This part of Helvellyn also boasts storage cabinets with solid oak doors, soft-close hinges, and stunning knurled brass door handles. Cabinet magnets keep them closed and secured in place while you travel.