Owning a motorhome is a passport to freedom – you can take to the road at a moment’s notice and be waking up to a different view every single weekend if you choose. Driving your home on wheels is no mean feat though, and finding the right place to stop off for a cuppa can make or break the journey.
Whether you’re heading up North or down South, there’s some top service stations worth pulling over for and they’ve got a lot more going for them than a warm, wet beverage.
Tebay services, M6, Cumbria.
The first time I visited this services, I must have spent about two hours in the shop but this isn’t the place you’ll find a Grab Bag of Salt & Vinegar Discos and can of Tango. Instead, think artisan cheeses, pastel-coloured meringues and top-quality locally-reared sausage rolls.
If you really like it and decide to stay for the night, it will cost you £18 and you’ll get access to free, clean showers and a voucher to go towards your dinner but you’ll have to be self-sufficient as there’s no waste water point or electric hook-up.
Rhug Estate Organic Farm, A5, Denbighshire.
Part of the popular Brit Stops scheme, motorcaravanners are particularly welcome at this high-end farm shop restaurant famed for its high-quality organic meat (Londoners with a lust for its Welsh Lamb can find it at Borough Market). If you’re planning on enjoying the comfort of your own, on-board shower before bed, make use of the free water points too. You’ll need to register with the shop when you arrive and in return you’ll get a 10% off voucher redeemable against breakfast. And it’s a big one!
Why we love Lancaster Service Station
Opened in 1965, this was once the pinnacle of British service stations and is crowned by The Pennine Tower which, while looking a bit tired now was properly luxe back in the day. The tower itself (with views over Morecambe Bay) is sadly closed but it’s still worth a snap for nostalgia alone – The Beatles apparently loved it. Inside the main services, you can get your hands on a packet of Percy Pigs and a Greggs Sausage Roll. But no John, Paul, George or Ringo.
Cornwall Services, A5 near Bodmin.
This is a swanky, modern services that opened a couple of years ago and is a bit like a holiday park. In a world where slot machines are the only entertainment you’d expect to find at a services, parking up to find an on-site soft play centre is a bit of a surprise. Looking for a Cornish pasty? Try one from W C Rowe. Heading to the coast to catch a wave? Get the gear to make you look the part from Saltrock or Mango Surf.
The Green Welly Stop, A82, Perthshire.
If you’re fed up of the usual services, you’ll be delighted to find this little gem – a haven for whisky lovers who want to take a Scottish souvenir home with them. With a comprehensive selection from some of Scotland’s finest distillers, you’ll have no trouble finding something you like. If you’re on your way to the bonny lands and need some last-minute trekking equipment, stop off here and get ready to fill your (walking boots).