Our Heritage - Over 50 years of Changing Lifestyles!
Ideal Caravans - a family company founded in 1973 by Olive and Walter Ballantine.
The name 'ideal' was inspired by a brand of condensed milk used by Walter to complement his tea. Olive and Walter started the business at Littleburn Lane in Langley Moor with a handful of caravans and plenty of enthusiasm.
The Langley Moor display area near Durham is now the hub of the business as well as the Registered Office and main Holiday Home display area. And serves as the natural gateway to Holiday Parks in North Yorkshire, Weardale and Cumbria.
With the introduction of 12' wide Holiday Homes in the 1990's and the added benefit of double glazing and central heating; the Holiday Home and Holiday Park industry revolutionised tourism in the UK. With Holiday Parks stepping-up to improve their facilities and amenities and offering longer seasons to embrace the new Holiday Home designs and Customer's expectations.
By 1996, Olive and Walter's family - Linda, David and Raymond had all joined ideal caravans - injecting their knowledge and experience into the business and helping the business model to move forward.
In 2001, ideal caravans branched out to include a Holiday Home and Tourer display area at Clifton, Morpeth in Northumberland serving customers north of Newcastle upon Tyne and creating a much-needed link with the many coast and country Holiday Parks dotted throughout Northumberland and the Borders.
Celebrating 30 years in business in 2003 and then closely followed in 2004 by the acquisition of Clennell Hall Riverside Holiday Park, a quiet country Holiday Park located in Alwinton, upper Coquetdale at the foot of the Cheviot Hills and next door to the stunning Northumberland National Park.
Sadly, Walter died in January 2005.
Another Holiday Home display area opened in 2007 at Adderstone, Belford in Northumberland. Ideally located next to the main A1 road, with its many links and providing the perfect viewing solution for Customers and Holiday Parks throughout Northumberland and the Borders.
2013 heralded 40 years and still going strong - although tinged with sadness with the passing of Olive.
Fast-forward to 2023 following the many challenges of Covid-19 - and celebrating 50 years of helping Customers lifestyle dreams become a reality.
Ideal caravans continue to embrace the original business principal of promoting and supporting tourism in the North of England and the Scottish Borders; offering the very best selection of Great British manufactured Holiday Homes and Lodges including ABI, Swift and Willerby and recommending award-winning coast and country Holiday Parks to locate.
Although no longer with us, Walter and Olive Ballantine's spirit of innovation and tenacity in the business continues with their family Linda, David and Raymond now holding the reins.
