vallierojas: Readers' tips: best motorway stop-offs

Stretch your legs among sculptures near the M1 or lunch with the llamas in Cumbria ? Been there readers guide you to the best places to break your motorway journey

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WINNING TIP Llama Karma Kafe, Cumbria

An oasis of karm (sorry!) a mile from junction 40 off the M6 near Penrith. It offers tasty home-cooked food and great coffee in the airy bistro. They run excellent 'walking with llamas' treks through the beautiful surrounding countryside. We stopped for a mid-trek picnic near a pretty church with our new-found friends. Don't forget your panpipes from the gift shop on your way out!
01768 866776, llamakarmakafe.co.uk, half-day picnic trek, adults �50, kids �30
Pennygadget

Cumbria

Tebay Services, M6 (between J38 & 39)
This is a new concept for roadside services and has won many awards. The local, family-run company hold barbecues outside on hot days and have an adjoining farm on the southbound side that supplies a farm shop and butchers' counter. There's a delicious cafe, children's play area and duck pond. Views across the Cumbria landscape are amazing and it's great as a break on a long journey.
westmorland.com
jumper123

Penrith leisure centre, M6 (J40)
This is a great break point if you're driving from Bristol to Scotland. After you've passed the wonders of Manchester, get out, throw the children and yourself in the pool, and return refreshed to the road.
Southend Rd, 01768 863450, leisurecentre.com/centres/45/home/Penrith-Leisure-Centre.aspx, adults �3.15, children �1.95
hamletsghost

West Yorkshire

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, M1 (J38 or 39), Wakefield
Feast your eyes on monumental Moores, Hepworths and Paolozzis, at the same time filling your belly with interesting grub, perched above it all on a glass and steel balcony. Stroll through 500 acres of carefully kept parkland, bumping into Gormleys and Goldsworthys before settling in the impressively modernist cafe, located above the posh shop selling Jaume Plensa fridge magnets and James Turrell torches (I might have made the last one up). The cakes are the thing ? scones the size of elephants' feet, fat slabs of bakewell tart or a nicely dusted lemon pie hit the spot, particularly since the coffee is so good.
01924 832631, ysp.co.uk
Mrsfifties

Northumberland

Manor House Inn, A1M (J62), Carterway Heads
The food is lovely ? local, seasonal produce at reasonable prices ? and the views are amazing. It's a perfect stop-off for us, driving from Scotland to Lincolnshire. Last year visiting here possibly saved our lives ? after our annual trip to T in the Park near Kinross, we stopped for lunch on our way home and a "regular" pointed out a bald tyre on our car. We visited a local garage who advised us the tyre would have blown at any time.
+44(0)1207 255 268, themanorhouseinn.com, mains �7.95-�19.95
Maltababy

Wiltshire

Lydiard Park, M4 (J16), Swindon
This is a 260-acre historic park, the ancestral home of the Viscounts Bolingbroke, has a Palladian house and church, extensive grounds, lake, children's play area, cafe and tea rooms, and a free family quiz trail. It's only a few minutes' off the M4.
01793 770401, lydiardpark.org.uk, free entry to park and grounds
hampstead

Lancashire

Brockholes Nature Reserve, M6 (J31), Preston
Brockholes is brilliant! It's a 107-hectare wetland and woodland reserve, on the site of an old quarry. The visitors' centre floats on a 4,000-tonne pontoon in one of the lakes. It houses a really good cafe, a farm shop and information centre. You have to pay for parking (from �1 for an hour), but it is for a good cause, and worth it for the views from the restaurant alone. But if you have time, take a walk (guided or otherwise) by the river Ribble, or do a bit of bird-spotting from the purpose-built hides.
01772 872000, brockholes.org
Zumbido

Morecambe, M6 (J34)
Morecambe is a wonderful place for a stop-off. Park anywhere along Marine Road and take a bracing, and hopefully sunny, walk along the sea front. If you're there late afternoon, the light can be glorious ? take fantastic photos of the sands and the boats with the Cumbrian hills over the bay. Finish with tea and a scone at Eric's Cafe on Marine Road, just behind the famous statue of Eric himself.
Eric's Cafe, 01524 412051
Pixcel

Nottinghamshire

Clumber Park, M1 (J30), Worksop
There are many National Trust properties close to motorways or major routes, and they're great as midday stop-offs on long journeys. Clumber Park offers a very civilised break: lovely landscaped parklands and lake, a restaurant that uses food grown in the walled garden ? even an opportunity to hire bicycles (if you really want to blow away the cobwebs). There is also the chance of a surprise ? we once arrived on a Saturday to find a Georgian re-enactment in full swing.
01909 544917, nationaltrust.org.uk, �4.80 per vehicle
Gdeanouk

Dumfries and Galloway

Cafe Ariete, Moffat, A74M (J15)
This is a slice of Scottish-Italiano in the charming little town of Moffat. My current favourite choice for my second breakfast of the day is a scrambled egg roll with crispy onions and a glass of hot Vimto, garnished with a slice of fruit, but you may prefer the excellent coffees. If walking around the pretty, bustling square isn't enough for you, then there is a pleasant 2km circular route along the river Annan to walk off the second breakfast.
10 High St, 01683 220313, visitmoffat.co.uk
happyyetpoor

Annandale Water services, A74M (J16), Dumfries and Galloway
If you usually avoid motorway service stations, you would probably drive past this one. Don't! It doesn't look much but appearances are deceptive. Pop in, grab a cuppa and head out to the terrace. Soft, rolling hills and a beautiful lake bathe your road-sore eyes. You can sit on the deck and just take it all in, or go for a walk around the lake and have a picnic.
Latrigg

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