Swift, Avondale, campsites near Bath and more star on The Caravan Channel

We’re back with a new show on The Caravan Channel, brought to you by the Practical Caravan team and our colleagues at Information TV. Watch on Sky 192 or Freesat 402, or online on Information TV’s website.

We start this show with a dealer special. Practical Caravan’s Mike Le Caplain reviews the Swift Freestyle SE S6TD, one of a range of Sprite based special editions built by Swift for Lowdhams, which comes with over £1300 of extra kit. Aimed at budget conscious families, the lounge converts into a double that’s over 6’8” long, while at the back are fixed bunk beds, each of which has its own window and reading light, plus a dinette which also converts into bunks, meaning six can sleep in this van. The kitchen is good, too, with ample storage and worktop space, a separate oven and grill, a three-burner gas hob and a microwave, while in the washroom you’ll find a separate, fully lined shower. Tune in to find out why we think this Swift Freestyle SE S6TD is a great value van.

From a caravan with a not unreasonably hefty MTPLM of 1502kg, to a car with a legal towing limit of 900kg. In this episode of our TV show, Practical Caravan’s Tow Car Editor David Motton is testing the Renault Captur, hitching it to an Eriba Touring GT – this car can only tow the lightest of caravans. This diesel powered Renault’s performance may be steady, but its stability when towing is very good and it offers the potential of low running costs. Watch to learn more about what tow car ability the Captur offers.

Next, John Wickersham’s sharing advice to help you keep your caravan looking in top condition. He explains how and why cleaning products for cars and caravans are so different, he shows us a tool for cleaning your awning rail, talks about caring for your window rubber and more. He’s dispensing valuable information that you’ll not want to miss – tune in to our show on The Caravan Channel online, or on Freesat 402 or Sky 192.

Then, it’s time to hitch up and head off on tour with Practical Caravan’s Bryony Symes, who’s at Bath Marina and Caravan Park, a small, well cared for site that’s well placed if you wish to visit Bath, or enjoy walks along the river or across the countryside. The pitches are all hardstanding with 16A electric hook-ups and TV connection points. There’s a handy bus stop so you can leave your car on site if you wish, plus bicycle hire is available on site, too.

Or if you’d like to be in a more rural location but still within easy reach of Bath and also Bristol, the adults only, award winning Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park might be the site for you. A thoughtfully landscaped park with large pitches, individual washrooms, a lending library, a dog walking area and more await you at this park – see it for yourself in our show on The Caravan Channel. Watch on Sky 192, Freesat 402 or live online, at the times listed below.

Finally, John Wickersham is back, this time taking a look at a 1997 Avondale Avocet, in search of innovation – be sure to tune in to find out what he uncovers. In fact, you get a lot for a very modest outlay with this secondhand, two-berth tourer, such as an end washroom with a good sized shower and a smart kitchen with a useful amount of food preparation space.

Our TV shows are broadcast 10 times across a two-week period on The Caravan Channel, which you’ll find on Sky 192 and Freesat 402. If you don’t have these channels, these programmes are also shown on the Information TV website, again at the times stated below. You can catch this episode between Monday 30 March and Sunday 12 April 2015, at these times, on these days: