Drivers Favourite: Chippenham Pit Stop; Wiltshire – M4; Junction 17

Named Truckstop News’ 2017 Truckstop of the Year, Chippenham Pit Stop has a multitude of offerings for the weary traveller and his cargo. According to Transport Café,it is

‘the type of establishment all truck stops should aspire to be.’

Their truck park offers pothole-free parking for up to 85 trucks with 24 hour CCTV surveillance of your vehicles. Overnight parking starts from £21.50 and includes a £6 food voucher.

This family run business has been offering drivers everything they need in one convenient location for over fifteen years and caters lorry drivers staying over night.

Their extensive, easy access facilities include showers and toilets with underfloor heating along with an all hours filling station for fuel cardholders when you are running low.

The onsite shop offers a multitude of wares from CB radios to bedding, and has a cash point and mobile phone top up facilities. The truckstop even has a bar serving local real ale on tap, large flat screen TVs and even an outdoor gym for the most active truckers.

The restaurant offers an extensive menu for when you are in for a hot meal and is open seven days a week with varying opening hours.

Ideal for drivers heading to and from South Wales, Chippenham offers ideal facilities and is well worth checking out.

Best All Rounder: Formula Services, Ellesmere Port – M53; Junction 10

The Formula Services are a model example of how a truckstop should operate. Equipped with excellent facilities, the location is tailored solely for truck drivers and is always immaculate, making it the perfect environment to relax in after a long journey.

The site has everything a truck driver needs for a decent, quality overnight stop. It has 24-hour fuel, a convenience shop, a truck wash, café, rest lounge with TVs and games, clean toilets and showers, a gym, 24-hour self service refreshments and personal media pods.

They also offer separate wash facilities for men and women. So, for those who are tired of sharing a shower block with the opposite sex, look no further!

Parking at Formula is state of the art with space for up to 110 vehicles. A staggering 36 cameras are in constant operation, along with a 24 hour manned patrol, barrier entry & exit only and discrete location. Overall, it is one of the safest stops we have come across. Overnight parking costs from £16 a night.

The Formula Services also offer additional facilities for vehicles with fridges.

Larger trucks also needn’t worry. By giving the location a bit of prior notice, a space will be allocated to ensure your vehicle remains safe whilst unaccompanied.

Just round the corner from Birkenhead and Liverpool ports, Formula offer the perfect location to stop before jumping on a ferry. It’s one of our clients’ favourite hang outs!

Most Secure: Heywood Diner – M66; Junction 3

The Heywood Diner gets a thumbs up from us for those carrying any kind of sensitive cargo – hazardous, valuable etc. The truck stop is located on Heywood Distribution Park and to say security is paramount is an understatement.

Only accessible through a manned, gated security barrier who do not let unauthorised vehicles through, this location offers rest for up to 300 HGVs at a time. It’s parking facilities boast round the clock CCTV, 24 hour security wardens and an unassuming barbed wire fence. It’s safe to say you can relax in the knowledge that your vehicle is in the safest of hands

In addition to the stop being like Fort Knox, other amenities also include:

• Showers
• TV
• Cashpoint
• Complimentary WIFI

Parking starts from £17, which we consider a bargain for peace of mind.

Heywood Diner can seat up to fifty truckers at one time and whilst it is a little basic, it is clean, welcoming and offers a reasonably priced menu of tasty food to welcome you in from the road.

Located near Rochdale, this Northern bolthole is one to check out if you’re in the area, especially if you’re a stickler for security.

Best Food & Location: Tebay Services; Penrith – M6; Junction 38

When it comes to truck services, 99.9% of the time you’re drawn to an intimidating truck park in or near an industrial estate accompanied with some questionable showers and a dreary greasy spoon – not here, though.

Owned by the Westmorland family, Tebay Services offers the feel of a luxury day out, as opposed to just an obligatory pit stop. Who says you can’t be a trucker and a foodie? Not us and certainly not Tebay.

This service station offers a smorgasbord of homemade offerings for the hungry traveller. From the daily roast to an all day breakfast, all the way to pie and chips – the meat of which has been hand reared on the family farm.

The extensive farm shop and bar, paired with views of the Cumbrians countryside create a welcoming, community feel for all those who visit.

You can also rest easy knowing that your vehicle is parked securely in the lorry park. Equipped with 24 hour CCTV and a patrolling HGV warden – Tebay was awarded the “Park Mark Safer Parking Award”.

Facilities include showers, fuel and a cash machine from as little as £18 for 24 hours.

An ideal stop if you are sailing from the port of Heysham to Dublin.

Our Favourite: Ashford International Truckstop (AIT)

We love Ashford International Truckstop. Being one of the biggest and most well-known truckstops in the UK, it was named Truckstop of the Year in 2016. It’s also ideally located for Folkestone terminal and the port of Dover.

You can feel completely at ease leaving your load unaccompanied as the security is extremely tight boasting 50 motion sensor infra-red CCTV cameras throughout the site, 12′ barbed wired fences and 24/7 security patrols.

The location aims to create ‘a home away from home environment’ and the security and comfort make it the number one truck stop in England. The only downside is its popularity. Offering room for 389 vehicles, spaces at AIT fill up fast. The best way to ensure your space is to download their app Mytruckparking.com from Google Play and the App Store.

The secure premises offer an extensive range of facilities and services. Parking charges range from two hours free, £1.00 per hour during the daytime to £30.50 for an overnight stop. This includes a £6.00 meal/beverage voucher. Opening an accounts offers better pricing and discounted parking.

Your vehicle is located in a flood lit truck park surrounded by motion-sensitive CCTV/ fencing and a constant patrolling security guard.

You are surrounded by a barbed wire topped twelve foot fence, deep undergrowth and a privately owned and security patrolled land away from the general public.

Unlike many locations, AIT offer on-site accommodation that can be included in your parking. If you’re tired of a van life you can bed down on a proper mattress for a very small extra cost.

There is a wide range of facilities available at AIT including

• 24/7 Shop
• 24/7 Restaurant
• 24/7 Bar
• Fitness Gym and Weights room
• Shower and Toilets facilities
• Laundrette Facilities
• Lounge and TV area
• Wifi Comfort room
• Gaming area
• Cinema TV
• Cash Machine offering Sterling and Euros
• Free WiFi