Motorway Services Online

Retrieved from "https://motorwayservices.uk"

Abington services

Location:

M74 and A74(M) at J13
(also accessible to traffic on the A702 and the B7078)

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

ML12 6RG

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Single site located at a junction.

Rating: See the reviews


This is the motorway service area in Scotland. For the service area on the A11, see Fourwentways.

Positioned at an important junction high up in the hills of Lanarkshire is the small Abington services.

Facilities

Catering: Burger King, Chopstix Noodle Bar, Starbucks, The Good Breakfast, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks on the Go, The Good Bakery Shops: WHSmith Amenities: Days Inn, Game Zone, Showers Outdoor Space: Grass lawn around car park Charging Points: Applegreen Electric 150kW CCS & 100kW CHAdeMO; GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 120kW Forecourt: Welcome Break, The Good Bakery, Rollover, Starbucks on the Go, LPG (Calor)

Parking Prices

First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay £29 (or £31 to include a £12 meal voucher).

Prices can be paid in the shop, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by ParkingEye.

This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
Welcome Break
Abington Motorway Services Area
M74
Abington
Biggar
South Lanarkshire
ML12 6RG


Trivia and History

Abington plaque 2023.jpg
The plaque inside the amenity building, commemorating the official opening of Abington services.

Camera icon

Services opened 1993

The service area is positioned at the junction where the A74(M) motorway becomes the M74. It can therefore claim to be serving two motorways, even though most people will regard those two as only one route.

The building is about 240 metres above sea level (800 feet), making it by far the highest service area in the UK. It's also the only service area in the UK with a sign at the exit reminding visitors to drive on the left. Speaking of strange sigs, until 2021, different versions of the Welcome Break logo were placed on both the motorway exit signs, which was a mistake that kept being replicated.

At the time Abington services opened, Welcome Break was owned by Forte, who also owned two Little Chefs in Abington village, at Valleyfield. Those Little Chefs were inevitably going to close with the new motorway opening, but they were effectively moved into the new building.

The new service area officially opened on 17 June 1993 and was opened by the head of South Lanarkshire Council, Eileen Logan. This was just one day after another Welcome Break further down the road, Gretna, officially opened.

Design

The entrance opens out into a small foyer. Opposite to the entrance is the Starbucks café which has a door. To the left is the food court while to the right is Burger King, WHSmith and the toilet facilities.

It is a vastly scaled down version of other services built at the time, such as Warwick, although Abington hasn't been extended as much. It is easy to imagine it with facilities such as Red Hen and The Granary.

As with most Welcome Break service areas, David Fisher was commissioned to paint some artwork. At Abington the mural was called 'Upper Clydesdale Through The Ages', but it has since been removed.

Recent Changes

The Starbucks was refurbished along with many others in early 2017, introducing a light wood theme throughout the store.

Eight Applegreen Electric charging points were added to the car park in early 2023, adding a third charging option for electric vehicle owners here.

Welcome Break held planning permission to build a KFC Drive Thru on the current caravan and motorhome parking area, but this has now expired.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Cairn Lodge (7 miles)Services on the M74 and A74(M)Annandale Water (26 miles)
noneWelcome Break servicesGretna (49 miles)

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