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Content:
Southwaite
MSO Home - Services List - Southwaite
Moto services, M6 between J41 and J42
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Road: M6
Junction: Between J41 and J42
Operator: Moto
Location: Cumbria CA4 0NT
Telephone: 01697 473476
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: Taverna, Granada
Previous names: none
Services type: Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge.
Official website: Visit Southwaite/Moto's official website
Always receiving a mixed bag of comments, Southwaite is a fairly old service area on the M6 close to the Scottish Borders. The southbound side is slightly larger and it has a motel as well as an M&S Simply Food shop.
Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
Facilities:
Key: northbound only | southbound only
General: Cash Machine, Pay Phones, Children's Play Area, Local Information, Picnic Tables, Showers
Food/Drink: Eat & Drink Company, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King
Shopping: WH Smith, Marks and Spencer Simply Food
Fuel: BP (pump types unknown)
Motel: Travelodge
Photos:
Click on a photo to view the full size. If you have one to add, contact me. It's never too late to get your name in the limelight.
 | The front of the services, including the tourist information office. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2008 by David Lally. It's used under this Creative Commons |
 | The southbound services - can you tell they're six years younger? Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2008 by Jonathan Billinger. It's used under this Creative Commons |
 | The side of the services, with the tourist information ahead. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2008 by Jonathan Wilkins. It's used under this Creative Commons |
 | The petrol station. Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2005 by Mick Garrat. It's used under this Creative Commons |
 | The 'secret entrance' to the services, on a day that clearly wasn't very security conscious. This is actually the signed route for northbound traffic to access the hotel. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2006 by Alexander P Kapp. It's used under this Creative Commons |
Trivia:
When the services first opened they were for northbound traffic only, but Granada built a southbound side. Until recently it was the most northern motorway service area on the M6 and indeed in England, however when the motorway is extended there are rumours that Moto's Todhills services will be given access to it.
Survey results:
In 2006 the services won a four star loo award.
Also in 2006, the services were rated at 4/5 by Holiday Which?
Parking Prices:
Vehicle: | For up to 2 hours: | For 2 to 24 hours: |
| Cars: | FREE | £8 |
| HGVs & Carvans: | FREE | £16* |
| Coaches: | FREE | £16* |
* For an extra £2, the price will include a £7.50 meal voucher. | ||
Alternatives:
- Todhills Moto rest area on the M6, 13 miles to the north.
- Gretna Green Welcome Break services on the A74(M), 19 miles to the north.
- Burton-in-Kendal Moto services on the M6, 48 miles to the south.
- Lancaster Moto services on the M6, 64 miles to the south.
- Tebay Westmorland services on the M6, 37 miles to the south.
- Scotch Corner Moto services on the A66, 61 miles to the south.
This has to be the worst services we've ever visited. On our way back to Scotland from a weekend with the kids at Alton Tower, we stopped for something to eat. Big mistake should have waited until Gretna! Didn't fancy another Burger King, so decided to try EDC. Big adverts for Kid's Meal Deals and all that nonsense. Waited forever on someone to serve us, when we asked for the kids meals, we were told they only had sausages left! Kids had sausage, chips and beans, which consisted of one not very big sausage, a few chips and a wee spoon of beans. After finally managing to get something on a plate to take to the till, we had to wait yet again for a good few minutes, as the lady serving didn't look like she had a clue how to use a till. After realising we had been waiting and obviously weren't happy, the supervisor got on another till and served us whilst talking to the woman on the other till, this also was a nightmare. Because we didn't have a 'kid's meal' she charged us for all different things that I couldn't even begin to decipher on the receipt. After driving forever all we wanted to do was sit down and have something nice to eat and drink. The three members of staff that I saw couldn't muster up a smile between them all and certainly looked like they couldn't wait until the end of their shift. Poor customer service and experience, very poor indeed.
Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
With thanks to the users 'Roadhog_001' and 'Yorkie' for the information used on this page.