With Easter approaching I thought I’d mention alternatives for caravanners. The services are at jct 4 and run by Welcome break. Caravan parking is very limited. If it is full go back to the island and come in again but go onto the car park and keep to the left, you can then get onto the top car park where there is more space. (This is not allocated to caravans but has enough room to manoeuvre. ). If you avoid the services go to jct 6 and follow the hospital signs, there is a Tesco petrol station within 200 yds. On here take the left most line of pumps, pumps on your right, and you can pull straight out. (Don’t go onto the retail park with caravan-it’s a nightmare in solo car much of the time.) Toilets and food are available at Salop leisure. To find this carry on A5 over the first island and at the second island, sp Ironbridge, take first exit, salop leisure is on the right in 20 yds. (There is parking for caravans waiting for service etc so you should be okay using the cafe.) On the A5 after Shrewsbury there is a picnic area with cafe and loos. (I don’t recommend these loos!,!) This is based on local knowledge
M54 services
- Thread starter waffler
- Start date
Used Telford Services a few times and the car park is quite limited on busy days. Caravan parking is 5 bays but it is next to the coach bays... so there can be coaches in the caravan bays.
In general I find Welcome Break services to be very poor for the caravanner. Their caravan parking has been pretty bad at some I've stopped at recently. Sedgemoor M5 North is shared with an overflow car park (I got got blocked in), Abington M74 is a patch of grass with reinforcement matting which is only accessible by towing through the car park... that cannot be right. And Corley M6 North lumps you in with the trucks, in a massive free-for-all arena.
In general I find Welcome Break services to be very poor for the caravanner. Their caravan parking has been pretty bad at some I've stopped at recently. Sedgemoor M5 North is shared with an overflow car park (I got got blocked in), Abington M74 is a patch of grass with reinforcement matting which is only accessible by towing through the car park... that cannot be right. And Corley M6 North lumps you in with the trucks, in a massive free-for-all arena.
Tebay on the M6 has to be one of the nicest services and the range of food on offer is quite staggering but there was a caravan park attached to it until the back end of 2017 which was superb for an overnighter on the way north. As I understand it, they are going to build offices on the site.
I think in general the M5 services are pretty poor, but the one I truly hate is Strensham.
I agree with Waffler, Telford is pretty limited. As far as Abington goes, I have never actually seen anywhere for caravans, the sign on the way in seems to indicate that we use the HGV park.
I think in general the M5 services are pretty poor, but the one I truly hate is Strensham.
I agree with Waffler, Telford is pretty limited. As far as Abington goes, I have never actually seen anywhere for caravans, the sign on the way in seems to indicate that we use the HGV park.
I am afraid Tebay Northbound can be a problem as you now have to park in with the lorries and the parking is limited and they do nothing about cars using the spaces as well. Southbound there is usually no problem as you can use the picnic area.
It is easily the best services though.
It is easily the best services though.
Like Thingy we have enjoyed many of our first "Scottish " breakfast at Tebay Northbound. Leaving home at 4.00pm we usually arrive at Tebay about 9.00am. We have always parked amongst the lorries and had no problems. Overnighters if needed are now done at Hoddams Castle near Lockerbie. http://www.hoddomcastle.co.uk/location
Could have used that info six weeks ago :woohoo:
We are now pushing straight through to Strathclyde before running up to Bunree. Now, where did I put my passport and Skin-so-soft.
Just had a quick look at Hoddom, looks OK. Now if can just push madam to be ready two days earlier, I might give that a try.
Thingy said:
Strensham North (Roadchef) has a huge rank of angled drive through parking bays for caravans.
Strensham South parking has recently been remodeled. But last time I was there the small-ish caravan area, which is not immediately clear how you enter, was full so so had to park in the HGV area.
Thats worth knowing, I havent been for sometime, purely because of my dislike for the place. I used to have to stopover there regularly in my truck days and considered it back then one of the dirtiest in the UK.
I would say that perception is out of date now. However, the south-side caravan area is too small and poorly laid out.
CustardAvenger said:
At Strensham south we often parked amongst the HGVs without any problem. Michael Wood has also been upgraded and no problems parking in the van motorhome spots or HGVs. What we look for at the services where if the caravan area is past the HGV area we use the latter. Because if the caravan area is full with no opportunity to have a go around your back on the exit.
Stafford North has good caravan parking with a go around if it’s full
The problem with too many caravan/MH areas is inconsiderate parking by car and WVM.
I have to say I normally avoid service stations with the caravan. By the time you have paid to park on a urine smelling bit of tarmac, been kept awake all night by the continual traffic, charged a fortune for a breakfast consisting of lukewarm gloop, you may as well overnight on a club site and get decent showers and a nights kip.
I must be getting old and grumpy.
I must be getting old and grumpy.
CustardAvenger said:
Me too. Always find a proper overnight stop at mainstream site or CS/CL. Same in France no aires pour moi.
From Wiltshire Strathclyde Country Park is easy with breakfast at Tebay,. Enjoy it Thingy. A great tripThingy said:
We have used Gloucester services both North and South and the caravan area is well signed and easy to get in and out of,operated by the same people as Tebay. Also found Exeter easy to get in and out.
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