I am driving up to Scotland early on Tuesday morning and when I usually go up this early (I leave Manchester at about 6:15am) I stop off at the Abington services for breakfast.
Can anyone recommend somewhere else just off the M74 that is simply better and less plastic/expensive?
Also, will be coming down the M74 at about 6pm that evening - any suggestions for a light early supper?
Thanks
PS Unlikely to be logging back on until late Monday night, so apologies in advance if I do not respond to queries.
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How about stopping a bit earlier at the services near Shap - it's the independently owned one, can never remember the name of it.
I was going to recommend the full English, but then thought better of it...!
Safe journey.
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How about stopping a bit earlier at the services near Shap - it's the independently owned one can never remember the name of it.
You are thinking of Tebay northbound, one of the more civilised service areas, and it will be quiet at that time, not much on or near the M74 open at 8 -9am exept service areas.
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Tebay is better than the average (damned with faint praise!) but, having stopped there only once, I can't understand what the fuss is about. It's no more than ok I'd say.
JH
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I don't know for sure if there is a cafe or the like, but Douglas is a lovely wee town just off the M74 at junction 12. About 5 miles past Abingdon Services
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Haven't been there for many years but Lesmahagow truck stop should provide a good hearty breakfast for you.
tinyurl.com/apjwxm
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Have you tried this site?
5minutesaway.co.uk/
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It's perhaps a bit too soon for you on the way up, but on our trips south on the M74 / M6 we always hop off at J43 where there is a large Tesco on the road towards Carlisle. Much cheaper breakfast and you can refuel for a less as well.
It's always crowded so a few people must prefer it.
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lots of little places in Moffat only 5 mins of the M74
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lots of little places in Moffat only 5 mins of the M74
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Are they open before 9am? (leaving Manchester at 6:15)
Edited by Old Navy on 16/02/2009 at 14:18
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Drove from Edinburgh down the A701 to Moffat the other day to join the M74. Not been that way for a while. Noticeable that at least three country pubs/hotels have gone from that road in relatively recent times. The Romanno Inn from Romanno Bridge, the one at Broughton whose name escapes me and the Crook Inn. Also noticed that on the site of the old Leadburn Inn something was being built. Not sure if it is to be a replacement hotel or what.
Shame I suppose.
Edit - forgot about the Howgate which of course has been gone for years. Used to like their Sunday lunches once upon a time.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 16/02/2009 at 14:20
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I understand that the Crook Inn will be returning as a community run pub (or something like that) all being well. The owner wanted to create flats in it & was turned down by the local council & Scottish Govt on appeal. Community buyout was the last I heard.
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At J44 of the M6 there's a McDonalds - I think the breakfast buns are about the best thing they do.
That little stretch of the A7 also has a modern pub/restaurant, next to a motel. Again, not haute cuisine, but at least they serve food throughout the day and evening.
Time to kill? This is the home of Carlisle's motor trade with a cluster of about 10/15 main dealers dotted around the industrial estate.
Then there's the retail park with a PC World, Argos, etc.
No end of excitement, and it's all within a mile or so of the motorway.
PS: Agree with the earlier post about Tebay services - I wondered what all the fuss was about.
I thought the restaurant area was grubby and in need of a clean, if not a refit.
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I thought you could just stop anywhere and ask for a pint of Heavy with a kipper.
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Espada's a bloke though - why would he be offered the "wee lassie's menu"?
Edited by Nsar on 16/02/2009 at 17:15
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Europa truck stop just off the M74 at Lesmahagow. Can't argue with masses of hungry truckers. Independently owned.
Leadburn Inn . . . . . .there was a bit of history there. 2 maybe 3 years ago around Christmas time it was destroyed by a car pretending to be a missile. It sat at the top of the T in a T junction. Car hurtled up the ¦ bit of the T not realising it was a junction straight into the foyer of the Leadburn. Car burst into flames, occupants barbecued, hotel destroyed . . .. . . .
Edited by scott1s on 16/02/2009 at 22:47
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Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm not sure if Tesco at Carlise is quite what I had in mind.....although the pint of heavy and a peppered kipper sounds interesting. Fortunately I am sharing the driving!
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This is worth looking at. Many of them in the smoke, but some North of Watford, with a few in the land of the sweaty.
Or Google ebcb
tinyurl.com/ckw642
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"Have you tried this site?
5minutesaway.co.uk/ "
Kaspersky wouldn't let me into this site. It insists it's infected.
JH
Edited by JH on 17/02/2009 at 12:07
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Well, how did it go?
Did you you stop? If so - where?
What did you eat?
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Great trip thanks
Did 518 miles at an average fuel consumption of 28mpg for the whole journey. Not bad for a 3litre, petrol, automatic, permanent 4x4 jacked up by 2 inches over the standard car (Outback vs Legacy)
Manchester to Paisley via breakfast in Abington
Paisley to Stirling
Stirling to Alloa and back to Stirling
Stirling back to Manchester.
Stopped at Abington for breakfast but went into the coffee place which was reasonable if expensive. 180miles in 2.5hours with about 4 miles maximum not on motorway. Abington is such a convenient location to stop that it seems pointless to go anywhere else unless you have good reason.
Had lunch at a cafe in Alloa and whilst a colleague was in a meeting in Stirling another colleague and I went up the Wallis monument and had a walk around Stirling which seems to be a pleasant little city.
The drive home was 225 miles which the satnav said would take 4hours and 10 mins. It took 3hours and 10 mins, plus a ten min loo stop.
All in all a good day out and good business as well!
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Was the cafe in Alloa D'nisi per chance. It IS nice in there and brilliant coffee. . . . .
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