Services on A1 travelling north from the Midlands
Travelling to Barnard Castle on A1 Does anyone know of a good service area or pull in, has to be capable of car and caravan. Ideally would be top end of A1 before turning off onto A66. I notice on maps there is a large layby just off A1, is this suitable.
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Travelling to Barnard Castle on A1 Does anyone know of a good service area or pull in, has to be capable of car and caravan. Ideally would be top end of A1 before turning off onto A66. I notice on maps there is a large layby just off A1, is this suitable.
Scotch Corner services can be a nightmare, on t'way oop north, to my son's wedding we tried to stop there. My wife managed to walk to the services, vist the loo, then buy coffee and sandwiches from Costa before I had got parked. We didn't actually bother
"stopping" just eat the nosh whilst queueing to get out again! Weatherby can be busy, but at least it is fresh and clean once you are in. As mentioned, once you reach SC you are as good as there, so there is probably little point stopping.0 -
Leaming Bar just south of Scotch Corner is quite a good one but as already mentioned if you need to stop to 'kill time' the layby just after you turn onto the A66 is probably the best bet.
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Leaming Bar just south of Scotch Corner is quite a good one but as already mentioned if you need to stop to 'kill time' the layby just after you turn onto the A66 is probably the best bet.
It used to be very good but when we used it at the beginning of May it was very run down. The caravan parking area was full of mega pot holes that you could have lost a caravan down. I think they are building a new services at the revised junction. So this
probably explains the lack of repairs. I certainly won't be using it again.0 -
Avoid Scotch Corner services, it's bad for caravans.
Wetherby services has several dedicated caravan slots and is good generally, though tends to get busy.
The layby just after you get on the A66 heading West is very much a truck stop, but is OK if you just want to stop.
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Depending what you're after for a stop,you could get off the A1 at Catterrick and visit Catterick Caravans and/or Ropers, both have cafes and you could stock up on accessories, or even get a new van!
There's also a farm shop on the A66, called
Mainsgill, that has a large car park, and welcomes caravans, it's on the first stretch of single carriageway, probably a mile or so after the dual carriageway ends.0 -
Hi Pippa, Mainsgill is definitely on route coming from the A1, and I think the second one you refer to is on the left as you turn right off the A66, but I'm not sure if that car park will take caravans. At least they are assuming you follow the recommended
route, which is much less stressful than taking the van through Barney itself!
Paul.
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Lay-by after Scotch Corner is ok, but can get very busy. I was about to recommend Mainsgill Farm Ship and tearoom as well. Depending on time of arrival and day travelling, with care car park should be ok with caravan. Worth it for delicious food, great shop
and to see all lovely animals. Look out for the camels!0 -
There's also a farm shop on the A66, called
Mainsgill, that has a large car park, and welcomes caravans, it's on the first stretch of single carriageway, probably
a mile or so after the dual carriageway ends.Very useful information, thanks. Just had a look on streetview, access from the 66 is good and the carpark looks huge. Certainly one to put on our list when traveling that way.
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Hi Pippa, Mainsgill is definitely on route coming from the A1, and I think the second one you refer to is on the left as you turn right off the A66, but I'm not sure if that car park will take caravans. At least they are assuming you follow the recommended
route, which is much less stressful than taking the van through Barney itself!Paul.
Write your comments here...Thanks I wasn't sure how far down Mainsgill was - I seem to have stopped at the one on the North side but further west more often - only once with the caravan an that one has also increased in size recently too. The route to the
Barney site is definitely better - the town itself would not be nice with a caravan attached!0 -
Mainsgill is lovely, much more than just a rest stop. Great meals in the restaurant, superb gift and food shopping, and all the lovely animals to say hello to and in a superb setting. There is a nice CL a bit further on as well, called Browson Bank.
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Leaming Bar just south of Scotch Corner is quite a good one but as already mentioned if you need to stop to 'kill time' the layby just after you turn onto the A66 is probably the best bet.
It used to be very good but when we used it at the beginning of May it was very run down. The caravan parking area was full of mega pot holes that you could have lost a caravan down. I think they are building a new services at the revised junction. So this
probably explains the lack of repairs. I certainly won't be using it again.Totally agree - last time we stopped it was grotty!
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Mainsgill is lovely, much more than just a rest stop. Great meals in the restaurant, superb gift and food shopping, and all the lovely animals to say hello to and in a superb setting. There is a nice CL a bit further on as well, called Browson Bank.
Totally agree - Mainsgill is a great place to stop and does great food and has a super farm shop. However it can get very busy and never done it with the van.
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Layby at Scotch Corner A66 is ok but can get full of lorries.
I use Morrisons supermarket at Boroughbridge. Large easy to negotiate car park which I've never seen more than half full. Leave A1 signed Boroughbridge, at r/bout turn left 1st exit at next roundabout (1/4 mile) turn r 3rd exit Morrisons is in 1/2 mile on
the right. Very reasonable cafeteria too.0 -
I wouldn't worry about getting to the site early, as the roadworks on the A1 will make sure you are on time! Take note of the road signs on the A1 as the slip road to the Scotch Corner roundabout has been moved further south.
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Layby at Scotch Corner A66 is ok but can get full of lorries.
I use Morrisons supermarket at Boroughbridge. Large easy to negotiate car park which I've never seen more than half full. Leave A1 signed Boroughbridge, at r/bout turn left 1st exit at next roundabout (1/4 mile) turn r 3rd exit Morrisons is in 1/2 mile on
the right. Very reasonable cafeteria too.Harry, the last time I tried to use Morrisons it had a height barrier. The streetview pictures still show it present. Do you know if it is just left open, or has has it been removed?
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Layby at Scotch Corner A66 is ok but can get full of lorries.
I use Morrisons supermarket at Boroughbridge. Large easy to negotiate car park which I've never seen more than half full. Leave A1 signed Boroughbridge, at r/bout turn left 1st exit at next roundabout (1/4 mile) turn r 3rd exit Morrisons is in 1/2 mile on
the right. Very reasonable cafeteria too.Harry, the last time I tried to use Morrisons it had a height barrier. The streetview pictures still show it present. Do you know if it is just left open, or has has it been removed?
It is alwyas open when I've been. It's 3 metres high, a lot higher than the average caravan.
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I wouldn't worry about getting to the site early, as the roadworks on the A1 will make sure you are on time! Take note of the road signs on the A1 as the slip road to the Scotch Corner roundabout has been moved further south.
Write your comments here...i second that, roadworks completely messed the sat-nav directions, i ended up going into a village and having to turn around to find the A66 again, Scotch Corner is horrendous, avoid if possible.
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The roadworks are only a problem if there's an overnight (8pm to 6am) closure as they then route you through some very narrow and winding roads. If this isn't happening then it's no problem and very little delay as long as you keep your eyes open :-)
Full info here:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a1-leeming-to-barton-improvement/
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Harry, the last time I tried to use Morrisons it had a height barrier. The streetview pictures still show it present. Do you know if it is just left open, or has has it been removed?
It is alwyas open when I've been. It's 3 metres high, a lot higher than the average caravan.
Thanks for the info, could not see the height from the road, so did not turn in.
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Harry, the last time I tried to use Morrisons it had a height barrier. The streetview pictures still show it present. Do you know if it is just left open, or has has it been removed?
It is alwyas open when I've been. It's 3 metres high, a lot higher than the average caravan.
Thanks for the info, could not see the height from the road, so did not turn in.
I've never seen the barrier closed. However it is there, so it could be. If it is, it's not a problem, just drive through the petrol station and back out
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Thanks to all who contibuted to my post, it proved to be invaluable. Just for the record, I got on the road at 6:30 and had a clear run. I pulled in at Weatherby Services and as I would have been at Barnard by 10:30 if I had gone straight through. We weighed
anchor and had a very relaxing coffee. On the final leg of our journey it did seem a little messy at the road works as suggested. The layby just off Scotch Corner was pretty busy as we past by, to arrive at Barnard 2-3 mins early....brilliant journey. Thank
you all.0
