We placed an order for a Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4×4, 138Bhp, in June 2011. We got a phone call from the dealer in November, to tell us it was to be built w/c December 5, we then took delivery January 16, 2012. There was a seven month wait, due to the demand for VW diesel engines. It met all the criteria and with a good towing match of 82%.

At the dealer with it’s protection wraps still on.

Now it is home.

I met up with another 23 members of the Swift Talk Forum, for the visit to see how caravans are built. We had a presentation first on the history of Swift, followed by presentations from the various teams; design, technical, production and customer services. We also learnt how Swift test their caravans including the design for streamlining and airflow to reduce drag. We were also told about quality control and how they react to feed back from dealers, the forum and us, the customer.

Then the tour started, where we saw wood and aluminium brought into the production sheds at one end and caravans coming out at the other end. We started at the cutting shed, where all the wood is cut to shape, then on to the laminating lines. The floors are then produced and bonded with insulation; moving on to see how the caravan sides are produced, inner boards with the wooden frame structure in place. The sides are then bonded with insulation and the aluminium outer skin, large machines do this. Into another shed to see all the furniture, cupboards and kitchens made and all the other associated parts, these are bundled up ready to go to the production line. On to the GRP shed to see how the caravan fronts and rear ends are moulded and produced.

The production line is where all the parts come together. The floors are laid out and the Alko chassis is fitted on, followed by the axles with the wheels. Next is the pipe work for gas and water, then the cables, 230v & 12v, all fitted to be connected up later. The chassis then moves along to where all the cupboards and other fittings are fixed to the sides.  The sides are finally lifted, fitted and sealed to the chassis. Water heaters, ovens, toilets are now fixed inside and connected up. The front and backs are now fitted, road lighting, follow by the windows, door and fridge vents. At the end of the line, graphics are put on the caravan. Here is the final quality check and then the caravan is signed off as ‘completed’. After this the caravans go for final cleaning, then to storage awaiting transporters to take them off to the dealers and the eagerly waiting customer.

The forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend was cloudy but dry (it was on the Friday and Saturday) but they forgot to mention the wind and rain Sunday and Monday, it did stop in the late afternoons though and started again in the night.

So a nice short 24 mile bike ride to Ribblehead Viaduct on Saturday, to have a look at the 3 peaks, walked them years ago, got the badges and blisters. Good exercise, peddling uphill into a strong head wind, but good on the way back!

On Monday, got a bit worried due to the rain and was hoping for an early start Tuesday and would we have to be towed off. The rain did stop and the sun came out, the ground seemed OK. Told the steward we would be leaving at 7.30 am, he said he would be on standby just in case I got stuck, no problem though, got off the field Ok in bright sunshine.

Then the scenic route to London; M6, M5, M42, M40, M25.

For the rest of the week, we were at C&CC site at Walton-On-Thames. A good site however a basic one, no toilet blocks just hook ups at 10 amp. The sun came out and temperature rose to 25c.

Just down the road (5 miles) is Hampton Court and Henry’s Palace. The site is a peaceful one, being so close to London and has its own resident flock of parakeets. They were noted, when I opened the Heki roof blind to let the sun in and look at the blue sky one morning, what a mess, they left there mark! A mile down the road at Hersham, you can get trains into London.

Sue wanted to meet with an old school friend who moved down there years ago, so we met up for a meal at a nice pub at Harts Boat Yard on the Portsmouth Road between Esher and Richmond, if you are down that way give it a try, good menu and food.

Got the bike out again for a couple of hours, 24 miles along the Thames to Richmond Park and back.

The next day (Thursday) I decided to follow part of the Sustrans route 4 from Hampton Court. The route follows the Thames to Richmond, then on cycle tracks through the town to pick up the Thames again and on to Teddington Lock. It then cuts through Ham and the common to Richmond Park and on to the London Wetlands Centre and then back along the river to Putney Bridge. The route is on minor roads now missing all the London traffic as it makes it way through Chelsea and comes out on Chelsea Embankment. Then on to some blue road lanes (cycles only) and on to Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. Here a short rest, to get some energy back (bananas and malt loaf) then back to the site. Stopped off at the Eight Bells in Putney for a quick pint of Fullers London Pride (in York the other week, paid £1.70, here £3.50 pint!!!).

So a good 50 mile bike ride, in just under 5 hours including a pub stop and photo stops.

As the legs started to ache, got to thinking; ‘am I peddling at more than 85%?, am I more than the MTPLM?, should I have more than 60psi in the back tyre, with a pannier loaded with bottled beer!!! The ‘Victory Ale’ was very good and went down well.

Had a nice beach walk at Chapel St Leonards with the dogs, and then stopped off in Ingoldmells on the way back at a nice pub for a meal, The Countryman on the A52. The wife decided to drive back so I could sample the beer brewed in their own back yard, The Leila Cottage Brewery. The meal was very good, home cooked, locally sourced with plenty to eat. They also have a small caravan site at the back of the pub for about 10 units.
This area is very flat and the fields are full of vegetables with plenty of ditches and a couple of windmills.

We had our son and his family in a tent, daughter and her family in a trailer tent, of course they were pitched in the next field. The holiday site manager could not get us all together, shame!

Keswick has change a bit from the last time we were there. Around Moot Hall, the road has now gone and it is all a pedestrian way, allowing the coffee shops to put tables and chairs out.

Funny how times have changed, most bars and even some of the posh hotel bars now welcome; walkers with muddy boots, children and dogs. Do highly recommend the ‘Dog and Gun’, six adults, 5 grandchildren and four dogs, all allowed in. Good for us, but not so good for a couple, just wanting a meal and a quite drink!!!
The site is well located on the lake side, a premium site, but the toilet blocks need a serious up-grade, it’s the only thing that lets the site down.

Attractions; the mountains, plenty of walks, Jennings Beer and of course Keswick town and the rest of the Lake District.