Established in 1936

A Company Is Born

Perthshire Caravan Company was established in 1936 by Peter & Chris McCormack, the parents of the present owners, Ian & Peter McCormack.

Taking time out from his fruit shop business in Dundee, he searched for ground from where he could operate caravan sales and hire. Eventually he arranged with the farmer at No. 2 Holding Middlebank, to purchase that area of ground which is still occupied by the company today.

The initial selling stock was chosen from Jubilee Caravans and Gibson Eccles and Pratt Trailers because at that time, the Company name was Perthshire Caravan & Trailer Company.

Everything was arranged in time for the approaching summer of 1937.  Advertisements of the time read, 'English factory built Jubilee Caravan for sale or hire'. Apply Perthshire Caravan & Trailer Company, Middlebank. Errol. It was on the 4th June 1937 that the first caravan was sold.

After disruption caused by the war years, the business re-opened in 1946 as a hiring company.  In 1950 the Company became agents for Scott Roadcraft caravans (which were built in Blackford Perthshire) and Glamis Caravans, which enabled re-entry into the sale of caravans.

Other franchises followed and by 1958 the Company represented many well-known manufacturers -  Eccles, Sprite, Berkeley, Pemberton, Cresta, Willerby, Bessacarr, Cheltenham, Paladin, Thomson, Fairholme, Penguin and Safari caravans.  

Further Expansion

In 1968, showroom accommodation was built and ground was acquired to operate Loch Earn Leisure Park, on the south shore of the loch at St Fillans. 

The caravan showroom was enlarged in 1974 and a sister company Perthshire Caravan Company (Motors) Ltd., was formed to handle the sale of new cars, a Ford franchise having been obtained.

A new car showroom was opened in 1977 and stands on the exact site of the original building erected in 1936.  It was logical to enter the motorhome market and this was done in 1976.

Difficulty in obtaining deliveries of new models prompted the Company to manufacture their own conversion, Autocruiser on Bedford, Ford. V.W. and Mercedes chassis.

Today, the Motor Company holds the franchises for Autocruise,  Autosleepers, Autotrail, Burstner, Compass, Elddis, Homecar, Lunar, McLouis, Pilote, Roller Team, Romahome, Swift & Tribute.

Perthshire Caravan Company holds the franchises for Atlas, Avondale, Willerby and Swift Group products including Abbey & Sprite.

The Caravan Parks Expansion

The caravan park division of the business was expanded with the acquisition of Inchmartine Caravan Park in 1981. Red Lion Holiday Park at Arbroath in Angus, was purchased in 1988.

Investment in the caravan parks continues with a major redevelopment at the very popular Loch Earn Leisure Park and a recent leisure complex at Red Lion Holiday Park in Arbroath.