Does any one have problems finding a park at Services.
And parking next to the lorries do
You feel our of place.
And what Services to avoid to small etc.
i usually do my research before setting off, looking on google earth for services with caravan places, if you can't make out the markings on google earth, switch to google street and follow the road in from the motorway and look on the direction signs for caravan parking.
parking in with the lorries is not so bad except it smells of p**s.
and they are usually further away from the facillities
We were at Charnock Richard northbound services yesterday, fortunately without a caravan.
All the caravan parking spaces were full, but with cars and small vans - not a single caravan, motorhome or campervan, despite road markings and signs stating very clearly Caravans only.
If we'd been towing our van I would have been extremely annoyed.
I always use Google Earth and use the motorway services that directly divert onto a slip road and return again via a slip road back onto the motorway rather than use an exit to a roundabout then have to do a detour round several roundabouts to get the actual services. By using the Google Earth method I can also see if there are any dedicated caravan parking facilities which up to now I've never had a problem finding a parking space with the caravan in tow. The most annoying part I find is that when road signs are obstructed by either bushes or tree branches and struggling to see the direction signs.
Guess they don't feel there is a enough caravan & motorhome
Users to justify allocation of spaces.
As they have facilities to make there own cups of tea .
Therefore don't really get any income of them.
After saying that they are expensive probably not only one
Using them as toilet breaks.
We tend to use the M6 and M5 a lot going up and down the west of England. South of us, we usually stop at Stafford Services. On the southbound side there are about 10 drive through bays for caravans which are excellent. We have used it at least 5 times this year and have only failed to get a space once. On the way home on the Northbound side there is a massive separate car park just for caravans that would hold about 15 or 20 caravans. It is never full and although we like it, I don’t think it is popular because it is really far from the buildings. To get to the main services you have to walk across the caravan car park where you are parked, then through a stand of trees into the HGV park, then across the massive HGV area and through another stand of trees to where the coaches park and then across the car park to the building so it is quite a trek. It is good for a picnic though if you don’t want to go into the buildings.
Our next stop after that going south is usually Gloucester Services which has good caravan spaces and great food and a farm shop which is expensive but with a great deli counter to buy a picnic. The northbound side is equally good.
If we are going north up the M6 we always stop at Tebay Services which is owned by the same people who own Gloucester Services. It has great food and an excellent farm shop with deli counter etc however parking for caravans is a nightmare at busy times. The problem is that on entering the car park, the first spaces you see are the caravan spaces and people don’t realise that there are hundreds of car spaces around the other side of the building so every time we stop there, the caravan spaces are usually filled with cars. A few years ago they had a guy in a yellow vest directing the cars and stopping them parking in the caravan bays during peak summer travel days but this year there was no one and it was absolute mayhem on a Saturday towards the end of July. The southbound side is much better as the spaces for cars are much more obvious so the cars don’t tend to park in the caravan spaces.
Tebay Southbound has a seperate area for caravans.
Coming off the motorway keep left on entering the services, 1st left up small hill turn left and your in it. Pretty spacious, good grassy areas for dog walking and it just loops back round to the road. Down the hill through the truck parking and back onto the M6.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Annandale services on the M74, north & southbound, are good; near Lockerbie. Separate from the HGVs, well signed, drive-through, beside a grass area & small Loch that’s great for a short walk, and at the end of the building with the loos & coffee etc.
It’s our “swapping drivers” stop & the AA even managed to put us on a flat bed there when the MH alternator failed.
Difficulty parking? Timing can be make or break on that, no matter if in HGV area, or caravan spaces, or any where else you can fit in! Popular times like lunch time can be the worst. Simply no suitable spaces for a double length outfit like car and caravan! Caravans are not especially well catered for at most services, bit of an afterthought if thought about at all! Very occasionally I've had to just drive through to next services when no suitable spaces available.
As already said, I also often find dedicated caravan spaces filled with everything BUT caravans/MHs!
On the point of 'caravan parking' signage, it can be very misleading, often first sign giving you a particular area to initially head for and then NOTHING when you have a choice of areas to park!
I'd strongly advise against trying to park in general car parking areas, especially if a larger caravan, the roadways can be quite snug to manoeuvre caravan around corners, especially if a one way system where you can't swing wide onto wrong side of road. They also often have high kerbs/posts on entrance, exit and sometimes within parking areas, the swing of a caravan aft of the axle can easily clip these and they are impossible to see in your mirrors when turning/manoeuvring!
Beware some services that 'imply' dedicated caravan parking, but punt you into general car parking area, presume you are meant to use two end to end car parking bays! I've had difficulty negotiating around corners in those when things like large vans are parked overhanging bays and partially obstructing roadways, I avoid them on principle these days, there's always a better services near enough by to avoid them, or use the HGV area if you must stop there.
Parking in HGV area is OK(ish), BUT, noisy (air brakes hissing, clanking of trailers etc.), smelly (fuel and exhaust), and the ground is sometimes quite messy with diesel spills, generally very busy with constant movement of trucks, don't expect it to be peaceful and restful, and usually much further from facilities than car parking area is. BIG consideration is that HGV areas are often isolated from car areas and you cannot access the normal petrol station, ONLY the HGV refuelling area! If you need fuel, often a case of refuel at one services following car routes (if you can afford to at their fuel prices!!!!) and park up for a rest/facilities at another services. Usually find the truckers are OK with caravans, but maybe a bit less so if parking at a premium because they are forced to stop by law and you are not, also if you can't drive/reverse well and faff too much they may get impatient and give you honk on the horn for holding them up, again, they are on tight work schedules, you're on your hols!
With a caravan, if you overstay the free usually 2 hour, occasionally 3 hour, parking period you will be charged at the higher HGV parking rates!
Hope your reversing skills are good! REALLY good to have a reversing camera on back of van or banksman to guide you as few caravan parking spaces seem to be drive in-drive out, many seem to require reversing into or out of the bay, and with other traffic/pedestrians moving around you. Pick your bay in HGV area to drive straight out if you can!
Google Streetview and Satellite view are your best friends - PLAN YOUR STOPS IN ADVANCE! You won't find a services that you can't use in some fashion, your car-caravan will fit anywhere that takes HGVs (beware of 'no HGV' sites, more common on A roads - often very tight bays/lanes!), but you certainly can make life easier for yourself by picking in advance one of the more caravan friendly sites! Google gives you a virtual tour of the site to let you judge how caravan friendly (OR NOT!) it is.
One of the problems with services is that there is no consistent layout common to all, they all differ from one another, so you are obliged to rate each individually on their own merits, you soon learn which to avoid and which to favour if you repeatedly use the same roads.
You suggested making your own brew and not paying extortionate service prices when taking a break - strictly speaking, use of gas appliances is absolutely BANNED (Illegal) at services! Doesn't mean you can't, but shouldn't! - don't know what the penalty is for getting caught though.
Above may all sound a bit grim, but you soon learn where to go, where to avoid, and how to use the site to best advantage, it all becomes routine like any other aspect of caravaning.
If we are just stopping for a rest/brew-up we tend to prefer lay-bys to services. Obviously there are no lay-bys on motorways though, so your only choice is services. My advice would be try to avoid lunchtimes and between 5pm and 7pm if at all possible, as these often tend to be extremely busy. NEVER refuel at services unless you have absolutely no choice, as their prices are horrendous. If we are forced to refuel at services I normally just put enough in to get me off the motorway to a normal garage.
By following my own advice I have never really had any problem at any services I have visited.
I've always managed to find somewhere to stop with my car and caravan.
I do get a bit annoyed when the caravan areas, (clearly marked with pictures of a car towing a caravan) are full of motorhomes.
I always buy a drink or food when I stop at a service station as I think it is fair to pay for my parking.
------------- We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.
Quote: Originally posted by John4703 on 25/9/2023
I've always managed to find somewhere to stop with my car and caravan.
I do get a bit annoyed when the caravan areas, (clearly marked with pictures of a car towing a caravan) are full of motorhomes.
I always buy a drink or food when I stop at a service station as I think it is fair to pay for my parking.
I would never have a problem with motorhomes using caravan parking, as after all they are only a caravan with an engine. Where else are they supposed to park? Camper-vans can usually park in car parking spaces but not large motorhomes. I would be annoyed though if solo cars were parked there when there is usually more than enough spaces designated for cars.
Quote: Originally posted by John4703 on 25/9/2023
I do get a bit annoyed when the caravan areas, (clearly marked with pictures of a car towing a caravan) are full of motorhomes.
I would never have a problem with motorhomes using caravan parking, as after all they are only a caravan with an engine.
The official government booklet about road signs has the “car & caravan” sign and states this is for “Car and caravan, or motor caravan”. Motorhomes & camper vans / PVCs are both officially Motor Caravans.
Page 46 at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/519129/know-your-traffic-signs.pdf
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Parking in service station
via mobile 24/9/2023 at 6:15pm
- don't know what the penalty is for getting caught though.
