Lay-by A31, A35, A30.Portsmouth to Penzance
In a couple of days we are taking our caravan from Portsmouth to Penzance. Any advice regarding caravan friendly stops and lay-bys on the route would be gratefully received.
we are planning on using M27, A31, A35 and A30. Obviously there are services at Exeter but we want to stop for breaks around Dorchester and a couple on the A30 through Devon and Cornwall.
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I can’t help with the early part of the journey but, personally, I’d avoid Exeter services unless I was absolutely desperate. At busy times it can be hell to get in and out via the roundabout dotted with traffic lights.
The A30 after Exeter has lay-bys, some single width and some much deeper. There are a couple of service stations and rest areas which you should be able to see on a map.
I see you have a caravan so this might not be practical but there is an Asda store at Bodmin quite close to the A30 Bodmin turn off which could be a useful stop with a MH. There is a fairly new service area at Victoria, just west of Bodmin which, although it doesn’t have a huge car park, has caravan spaces.
https://www.cornwall-services.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3-XA4Yqy5AIVVfhRCh3r8QjhEAAYASAAEgJJKPD_BwE
After Cornwall Services, the opportunities to take a break become less as you head westward but there are lay-bys along the way. Just keep your eyes open and you’ll be fine.
Have a good trip.
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Roadford Lake, 12m SW of Okehampton is a good pull-off.
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There is a large layby east of Dorchester with toilets etc but it's on the A35 east bound side. Some people use Morrisons facilities just off the main Dorchester roundabout (depends on outfit size.) Other than that there are plenty of laybys through the area and also south of Honiton where they are well back from the carriageway (between Honiton and Exeter Airport.)
South of Exeter you might be able to use Sourton Cross Services for a stop.
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Check the roads on Google Earth, G&J. It’s not somewhere I'd tow a caravan from choice.
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May be of use - Going west on the A35 just past Bridport (going uphill) there is the Bridport Rest Area. It shares its entrance with sign to Eype (on coast narrow roads) and a Camp site. Take care not to miss the immediate left to the rest area when coming off A35. Perhaps check it on Google maps before you travel as it’s not visible from the A35 that I recall.
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On the A30 in Cornwall, 5 miles west of Launceston look for the Esso petrol station at the junction with the B3257 at Plusha.. Take the slip road towards it and there is good parking between that petrol station and the Subway cafe just beyond it.
But don't use it on the way home again - the need to cross the A30 dual carriageway to reach it is dangerous.
Ask Google Earth to show you an aerial shot of Plusha services and you will see how much space there is.
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Two good stops we use on a regular basis after Exeter. First one is around 20 minutes on from Exeter, on A30 at Okehampton. Easy on, easy off A30! It has a fuel stop including LPG, a decent shop, plenty of parking space including caravans, (not marked separate), picnic tables, a nice looking eatery and a decent dog walk field. If you look for the NT sign for Finch Foundry, Sticklepath, this is where you need to come off. 100-200 metres and you are there. On a good run, it’s around hour and half to Penzance from here.
Further down, if all you want is a pull up and leg stretch, we look for a park up just after Temple, having bypassed Bodmin itself. Again, it’s just off the A30 heading South, you turn off and into park up area, which has good room to swing round a van or MH. You can walk onto Bodmin Moor here. There used to be a decent Greasy spoon for a coffee, but depends on time of day.
Sorry, cannot help with rest of your route.😁
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Good choice easy access and plenty of parking cafe does a mean bacon sarni.Chris
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