Holidaymakers flocking to lodges County market booms with fewer going abroad
A Perthshire businessman has reported a surge in interest from people seeking to snap up holiday properties.
While Brexit uncertainty is having an impact on other industries, William Stewart junior, who is involved with the Grand Eagles and Loch Manor lodges in south-west Perthshire says interest is at an all-time high.
Last year’s drop in the value of Sterling is believed to be partly behind the booster for those seeking holiday options closer to home.
Grand Eagles, situated between Auchterader and Aberuthven is expanding its operations over the 100 acres site. Nearby is Loch Manor estate at Dunning.
Mr Stewart has shares in the two parks, owning Loch Manor outright and with a 50% share with his father in Grand Eagles, Auchterarder.
He said: “I have invested nearly £5 million in Loch Manor and there has been a marked increase in tourists coming to the village.
“At Grand Eagles we have also invested heavily in this beautiful lodge park. With less people going abroad the market in Perthshire is booming as it enjoys the ideal location and has so much to see and do. Grand Eagles is just a few miles from Gleneagles and this really is a big draw.”
Eddie McCabe heads up sales and marketing at the two Perthshire parks. He said: “We have young professionals currently investing, and we have a broad spectrum of business people buying into this. The flipside is that you can also holiday here in one of the most attractive and sought after parts of Scotland, with Gleneagles just up the road. William Stewart Jnr pictured at the Dunning lodge park
“We are seizing our opportunities to grow this business to the next level,” he said. “It has been well documented that the combined effects of Brexit, coupled with house prices rising last year and Sterling falling, has caused demand for new investment opportunities.”