Do you mean the Roadchef one, next one after Gretna services?
Motorway service areas
- Thread starter Pale Rider
- Start date
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mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
I like pulling into service areas and having some refreshments. It's all good.
Spinney
Bimbleur extraordinaire
- Location
- Back up north
Annandale Water is the one I'm thinking of - just looked on Google maps. Have stopped there a few times on the way back from the Highlands. Could well be the next one north after Gretna (not counting the little chefs etc).
I remember it from picnicing by the lake, not for any quality (or otherwise) in the food/drink on offer.
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
Bristol to Barry? Excuse me while I fan myself with my copy of Metropolitan Elite.
That's the one.
Brandane
The Costa Clyde rain magnet.
Hmmmm; let me think of M74 services.....
Gretna; not bad, at least there's a Waitrose. Then it's....
Annandale Water (fancy name for Johnstonebridge, as it used to be); a toilet of a place. After that....
Abington; most expensive fuel in Scotland unless you're going north of Ullapool. Basic facilities, not much going for it. Then...
Cairn Lodge (another services given a posh sounding name to try and con us! Used to be Happendon); one to avoid. Lastly....
Hamilton. If you thought Cairn Lodge was bad, this one will be sending you homewards tae think again!
Nope; can't think of any nice services in Scotland, anywhere! The worst in Britain must be the one at Stracathro on the A90 between Dundee and Aberdeen. Obviously a wee bit OT as it's not a motorway, but this place is something else. Like a very bad 60's transport café. Primitive, smelly toilets. A non tarmacced parking area; the place is a time warp with the exception of prices which are futuristic. Food in the "restaurant" is all but inedible going by my one and only "never again" experience.
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Brandane
The Costa Clyde rain magnet.
Oh well; as per above post - our views of Annandale Water differ somewhat! I don't recall a lake, but I will have a look if I ever have the misfortune to stop there again.
Edit.... You're right enough @Spinney , Google Maps shows a
!!) at the back of the place. That's saved me from having to stop there again!
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Spinney
Bimbleur extraordinaire
- Location
- Back up north
'Twas a hot sunny day, so sitting by the lake was just the job at the time! Agree that most of them are only to be used if needing the loo or gasping for a drink!Oh well; as per above post - our views of Annandale Water differ somewhat! I don't recall a lake, but I will have a look if I ever have the misfortune to stop there again.
Edit: and the name of the place (.... Water) gives a bit of a clue!!
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Brandane
The Costa Clyde rain magnet.
Yebbut, it doesn't always work that way. I once stopped at Curry's expecting some Indian cuisine and ended up with someone trying to sell me a TV..
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
[QUOTE 4610429, member: 259"]There are only a few companies running them, and they would dearly love to open more, but there are strict planning limitations on them.[/QUOTE]
Look at the M25, it took them almost 30 years to open the Cobham services. Before that opened the whole of the west side had no service area, you could go round half the motorway from the M23 to the M1 without passing a single service station.
Look at the M25, it took them almost 30 years to open the Cobham services. Before that opened the whole of the west side had no service area, you could go round half the motorway from the M23 to the M1 without passing a single service station.
L Q
Über Member
- Location
- Woodhall Spa
I just pass the Tesco and 200 yards further use the Toby carvery for a full roast lunch, job doneAh yes we always stop at Carlisle Tesco's when passing on the M6 ... can grab food, coffee, loo's, supermarket bits and fuel, literally just off the motorway!
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
The older service stations tend to be the least welcoming, but the newer ones suffer from the penny pinching location off the motorway usually needing you to negotiate several 4-lane roundabouts with signs to the entrance provided by lastminutedotcom
Donnington is about the best one I've visited lately - modern(ish) and although it does involve several local roads and roundabouts to get in and out of, the loos were clean and there is an M&S Simply Food so you can get a decent butty without spending a weeks wages.
Birchanger Green on the M11 (near Stansted) was grim though - poorly signed access and some of the grimmest toilets I've ever encountered. Birch (M62 eastbound) was little better and pretty much everything was closed at 11pm at night.
Ever since the M1 extension opened (2000?) there has been talk of a new services at Junction 45 although drivers still have to sit cross-legged between Woolley Edge and Wetherby services as things stand. This is the latest "exciting proposal" http://leedsskeltonlakeservices.co.uk/ (there is even blurb about connecting into local cycleways, so get ready for a group ride out there whenever it finally gets built...)
Although anyone in the know will probably drive on to the next junction (46) where there is a big Sainsburys (with filling station) as well as McD's, KFC, Pizza Hut and a Harvester (so on a par with M-way services standard, but without the price premium)
Donnington is about the best one I've visited lately - modern(ish) and although it does involve several local roads and roundabouts to get in and out of, the loos were clean and there is an M&S Simply Food so you can get a decent butty without spending a weeks wages.
Birchanger Green on the M11 (near Stansted) was grim though - poorly signed access and some of the grimmest toilets I've ever encountered. Birch (M62 eastbound) was little better and pretty much everything was closed at 11pm at night.
Ever since the M1 extension opened (2000?) there has been talk of a new services at Junction 45 although drivers still have to sit cross-legged between Woolley Edge and Wetherby services as things stand. This is the latest "exciting proposal" http://leedsskeltonlakeservices.co.uk/ (there is even blurb about connecting into local cycleways, so get ready for a group ride out there whenever it finally gets built...)
Although anyone in the know will probably drive on to the next junction (46) where there is a big Sainsburys (with filling station) as well as McD's, KFC, Pizza Hut and a Harvester (so on a par with M-way services standard, but without the price premium)
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OT
I have a female relative who lacks some of the finer social graces
We were travelling to the lakes and passing Sandbac, so politely asked if the services were required
The answer was:
"No I have a "Shewee" I can have a pi** in the back of the car"
DaveReading
Don't suffer fools gladly (must try harder!)
- Location
- Reading, obvs
Not really. In Scots, "water" means a river (Gala Water, Water of Leith, etc), rather than a lake/loch.
Spinney
Bimbleur extraordinaire
- Location
- Back up north
You learn something new every day!
