Stop on the A1
We are off to Cromer tomorrow M62, A1 then across from Kings Lynn...we struggled last year as we didn’t research a decent stop off once on the A1 and ended up stopping down in Lincoln which was a tad too far for our 1st break. Has anybody any tips or stops they have used along this route even if it means turning off. Our Moty is 25 foot long so the Little Chef type ones are a little squidgy to get in and out of especially more so if they are busy...any advice welcome before we set to research after work.
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English Heritage car park at Brodsworth Hall, from junction 37 near Doncaster ?
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There are of course the Ferrybridge services, where you join the A1. Or if you don't require the actual services element, there is Clumber Park, which is only about half a mile off the A1. You do really need to be NT members though, as they have roaming wardens, who will extract a fee.
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Oh there is also Blyth services on the A1. Car park is no good but a reasonable HGV park. I don't like it south bound though. The slip road is not an easy join when towing. Descends fairly steeply from the roundabout and you can't see what's in the near side lane until far too late. Of course being the A1 the slip is not long enough and there is no hard shoulder run on.
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We'll be doing the same trip soon so very interested, thanks everyone
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thanks
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Thanks guys and gals, some fab tips there just making a brew then will plan ahead...I love the forum for this
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Not at all, it's perfectly fair. It was just a "light hearted" statement of fact to inform the OP that he could be charged if he's not an NT member. I have no idea wether the OP is familiar with Clumber. The road through is a right of way and you do not pass through any pay stations when you use it. A charge applies only when you park up on the side, or turn off it through a pay booth. I didn't want the OP surprised by a £10 / £12 bill for stopping for lunch.
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Clumber with a big van on the back might not be as easy as it sounds. I can’t think of a turning circle that won’t involve going over grass, so tow car might make this difficult, fine if in a 4x4. If your trip is mid week, and before schools break up mid July, you might get away with charge if not members, just don’t go too deep into the park. Brodsworth car park is similar, tight with a big van, and it will be busy this time of year.
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thanks for the replies, just checking on the route is it best to take the A17 rather than the A52 from the A1?
Just checking on the Grantham services from WH.
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You could call you in at Brownhills right on the Newark/Lincoln junction of the A1. Cafe, toilets, showroom and accessory shop. Big parking area too. They PX Caravans for MHs so caravans are often in their car park. You might just be tempted CS! We've just popped in for a coffee and toilet break mind on a couple of occasions.
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Clumber with a big van on the back might not be as easy as it sounds. I can’t think of a turning circle that won’t involve going over grass,
The turning will certainly be certainly be on grass TDL, although the ultra sandy soil in this part of Nottinghamshire means this is seldom a problem unless it has been very wet for a period of time. I'm even happy parking our 3.5 tonne MH on it.
Even midweek when we have taken the van for a run a roving warden has come along to check our card whilst we had lunch.
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When we go that way my preference is to leave the A1 at the junction just after the A49/A17 roundabout at Newark. It's signposted Coddington and you avoid the big busy roundabout.
If you're just wanting a place to stop for a comfort break and a cuppa there are lots of decent sized laybys on the A1, there's five or six between the Markham Moor services and Milestone Caravan park.
If you're looking for an overnight stop Milestone is as good as anywhere and it's right by the A1.
IMHO you should discount the Grantham services because although they are rarely very busy there are no dedicated caravan bays and the route via the A52 is through the difficult one way system in Grantham itself. It's bad enough in a car I wouldn't want to try it with a caravan in tow.
Finally it might be worth googling the roundabout in Kings Lynn where you turn North off the A17. It's frightening if you don't get in the correct lane and IMHO the lane markings are poor and confusing, or maybe I'm easily confused🤔
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thanks Micky
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and thanks to you too
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Finally it might be worth googling the roundabout in Kings Lynn where you turn North off the A17. It's frightening if you don't get in the correct lane and IMHO the lane markings are poor and confusing, or maybe I'm easily confused🤔
I must be easily confused as well then.😂 We did the journey a few weeks ago and it is very confusing. We had to do a bit of pushing in, as we ended up in the wrong lane.
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I must admit we don't find towing through Grantham a problem but I had forgotten that it is lower down than the A17 as we tow across country and approach the A17 from the A52.
There is a very large parking area on the A17 before you get to Sutton Bridge just past the "Bejing Palace" chinese stand alone restaurant (on the left as you drive towards Kings Lynn). There's a cafe with lorry parking area where caravans and M/hs pull over for a comfort break. This is on the right hand side of the road opposite another large establishment selling farm produce, I think. Anyway there's bags of room to pull into that car park. Only problem might be getting across the road to continue as it can get quite busy there. There are quite a few lay-bys on the A17 before Sutton Bridge just not many after.
The trick to the roundabout at KL is to use the outside of the two lanes on the slip road which then filter down to 4 lanes with the inside one to be avoided. That's the Kings Lynn turnoff. You will need the second lane as it splits into 4 which will then take you off the roundabout. There's then a small r'bout. Go straight over and uphill. You will then need the second lane at the Hospital r'bout and continue straight across and again uphill to the next r'bout where you will once again need the outside lane to turn right for the Cromer road.
Don't ask about the return. Be very aware of your lane at the big r'bout! Good luck.
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Another option would be the Downtown Store on the Gunnerby Moor junction. Absolutely huge car parks and the spaces at the entrance have never been occupied in my experience. Again several motorhomes and caravans use this as its straight in from the road and they can straddle two marked bays no problem. Toilets and cafe on hand but it's a three minute walk to the store itself, that's why these bays are always empty. There is also a vehicle wash/valet service mid way down the car park so I always feel secure with folk about.
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That's just behind the Services at Grantham Micky and I think CS doesn't want to travel as far as Grantham but come off earlier to get onto the A17.
If he did think about Grantham then he could stay on past where the A1 goes under the A52 and come off at the next junction south. Turn left at the T junction from the slip, turn right at the lights, then after half a mile go under the railway bridge and straight across at the MacD's lights thus by passing most of the one way system that Papgeno mentions above. Once over the lights it's then a straight run along the A52 until it meets the A17.
Beginning to sound like an old Monty Python sketch.
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There is a very large parking area on the A17 before you get to Sutton Bridge just past the "Bejing Palace" chinese stand alone restaurant (on the left as you drive towards Kings Lynn).
Just quoting my own post as I've just realised that the Farm Cafe is actually before the Bejing Palace not after. It's not long after you by pass Holbeach and the Farm Cafe is on the left and another cafe/parking are is opposite. I'm fairly sure there is room around the back of the Farm Cafe for caravans and lorries. Google Earth it anyway.
Apologies for any confusion.
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I'm not sure how quickly you walk but it's not really that far to the store at Downtown as there's car parking right outside but again not really suitable for caravans.
I can recommend the car washing service they did an excellent job on my Xtrail for £9-00.
By the way the village is Great Gonerby although the locals do pronounce it "Gunnerby"🤓
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