hiya all,were off down to cornwall from cheshire on friday and were using our trailer for the 1st time on a long trip.Can anyone help regarding were to park in the motorway services when towing a trailer.The previous years weve had a roofbox and theres been no problem,but as i want to keep reversing to a minimum im wondering were do i park,and what services around junction 16ish on the southbound m5 for our lunch break.
cheers Jay.
michaelwood has two spaces along the middle with no divides so you can drive in and out using two spaces to stop, also could just use the caravan spaces
Just be very careful as regards security. My uncle had his caravan stolen while he stopped at the services! We always take it in turns to go the toilet now when we are travelling with the trailer!
------------- Debbie
June 2010 - Ashfield Caravan Park, York
August 2010 - Thorpe Hall, Rudston
this was a nightmare last year - i cannot for the life of me remember which M5 service it was, but we got 'shouted at' by some caravaners for taking their space, there was one stop with parallel parking only - major stress - and some with no chance of reversing out. So we were forever taking turns for breaks, unhooking the trailer etc. Hmm!
Strictly a personal opinion here - Gordano is horrid. It is a cramped site, awkward to get into from M5, and always very busy. Michael Wood is better IMO. If you don't mind driving on a little way, Sedgemoor is much the same as Michael Wood.
BTW, if you prefer layby cafes for a snack, there is a really excellent one on the A30 westbound about three miles west of Alphington junction (five miles beyond the end of the M5). It is called 'The Owl' I think and you need to look out for a green portakabin in a layby on an uphill length. It has a long layby (no prob for trailers) and the bacon rolls are generously filled and delicious. No loo though (well, chaops can hop over the fence I suppose...)
My experience is as stated by previous posters is to head to the caravan section... If that's full, there is generally always somewhere to pull up on the side of a road within the services for a short break. We also take it in turns visiting the loos, not only to protect the trailer, but to save removing the sat nav and DD's portable DVD etc. We tend to try and get passed Bristol/WSM before stopping, as you feel you've broken the journeys back once passed the jams...
Many thanks to all who replied.looks like we`ll head for sedgemoor.
More importantly though.....the weather forecast has changed.Looking pretty decent now in the southwest from friday onwards.