I tried this thread last month but the computer started playing up (or I fell aslseep) and only half the message was posted, so here goes again ..................
I am obviously not the only person who travels late evening early morning to miss roads like the M25. The advice I am looking for is knowledge of quiet 'deep' lay-bys and other areas we can sleep in when we get too tired too continue. I know about the service areas and they are expensive and noisy so we can forget them.
The route I am looking at is from Galleywood Essex to North Devon and the route will be either the M4 and/or roads close by OR the A303/A30.
All suggestions (industrial estates, supermarket car parks, etc.) greatly appreciated.
Supermarket car parks seem ok for overnight stops, I have never been moved on. You don't say where you might want to stop, but if you look on the websites of the major supermkts using the store locator you will see there are plenty on your route minutes from the main rd.
Tbh, I would avoid the large laybys on main rds, for several reasons, mainly because they are usually vile, you have to tread very carefully in the dark. you risk getting your caravan clouted by a truck & possibly getting mugged by the same undesirables who go around slashing open the sides of trucks.
Appreciate what you mean re laybys. I don't really know where I will stop until I get there if you know what I mean. Once we start to get tired we will pull off however its handy to have an idea of possible locations because it helps decision making.
If I was to hazard a guess it would be Stonehenge'ish or a similar distance on the M4. At the end of the day it all depends on the M25 doesn't it? Get around that quick and I could get all the way to Devon but ....................
If you concerned, I think I would plan a nights stay somewhere. One problem with supermarket car parks is that some of them do have height restrictions and some of them are frequented by 'boy-racers' especially if there is a McDonalds close at hand!
You'll be fine on the M4/M5 route down to Devon, the service areas are big enough for you to find a quiet spot for a couple of hours sleep..
I'm familiar with most of the junctions west of J11 of the M4 & the M5, most have large layby parking within a short drive of the motorway if you want to go to them instead of the services. However, the route you're going to be taking is a busy one which ever class of road you elect to use. For me it would be the M4/M5, the provision of toilets, fuel a cafe & shops available at the services would sort the job.
As I wrote at the start, the whole idea of this thread was to find somewhere to pull in for the night on an ad hoc basis. CL's and pubs are out for the obvious reason that we don't know where we will be when we want to get our heads down and I don't think a proprietor would want us turning up at 3 or 4am anyway ! Service areas are a no no because they are noisy and expensive for what they are.
All we are looking at are lay-bys that lay back off the main drag, lay-bys/areas on a quiet road or quiet car parks, etc. Local knowledge or personal experience normally provides such info.
On this particular occassion we will be travelling to North Devon either via the M3/A303 or the M4/M5.
Any ideas please. Ta
PS I know about the rest area on the A361 near Knowstone but we aren't sure we will get that far.
Having never travelled that road I cannot give you any personal advice but if I was contemplating a journey like that, I would be looking at the likes of Google Earth for possible overnight parking areas.
Supermarket car parks are your best bet. You know where they are from the store locator on the supermkt. websites & they are anywhere along your route. Large off road laybys are popular with truckers who will be moving off from 3-4am. If you have never parked in a big layby on a main route you wont know how dirty & disgusting most of them are.
M4 Junction for chippenham into chippenham. At first roundabout into town take 2nd exit right following Melksham/trowbridge direction. Left at next roundabout is a morrisons supermarket. 1/2 mile further on off a major roundabout is a trading estate for roadside parking.
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Topic: Overnight Stops
