24-05-2025
Scottish service station on M74 crowned the best in country
Scotland's best motorway service station is Cairn Lodge on the M74 near Douglas, praised for its cleanliness, layout, and local farm shop
As millions of motorists prepare for a busy bank holiday getaway, a new ranking has revealed where drivers are best off stopping for a bite or a breather, and the results might surprise you.
Consumer group Which? has released its first motorway service station league table in four years, naming the best and worst stops across the UK. Based on feedback from more than 4,000 members covering nearly 9,000 individual visits, stations were rated on everything from food prices to cleanliness and accessibility.
Scotland's top performer was Cairn Lodge on the M74 near Douglas in South Lanarkshire, which came fourth overall in the UK with an impressive score of 72 percent, Scottish Daily Express reports.
Owned by the Westmorland Family, the same independent company behind the widely loved Tebay and Gloucester services, Cairn Lodge drew praise for its spotless facilities, convenient layout and a farm shop packed with local produce.
Though it lost some marks on price and outside space, the station scored four out of five in five key areas: shops, food and drink, facilities, cleanliness, and convenience and accessibility. Visitors described it as 'spotless' and 'exceptional,' echoing the kind of loyalty that has made Tebay a motorway icon.
Cairn Lodge's high placement helped secure the M74 and A74(M) corridor as the best stretch for service stations in Scotland. Just 35 miles south, Annandale Water on the A74(M) in Dumfries and Galloway ranked second in Scotland and eighth in the UK with a 56 percent score. Operated by Roadchef, this stop is popular for its scenic location by a loch.
In third place north of the border was Gretna services, also on the A74(M), with a respectable 53 percent score. Operated by Welcome Break, it tied for 13th place overall in the UK.
At the other end of the table, Kinross services on the M90 in Perth and Kinross ranked bottom in Scotland, scoring just 36 per cent. Moto-operated Stirling and Hamilton stops also fared poorly, with 40 and 38 percent respectively.
Across the UK, Gloucester Services on the M5, another Westmorland-run stop, claimed the top spot with an impressive 85 percent. Tebay on the M6 in Cumbria came second, while Rugby's Moto Services on the M6 in Warwickshire rounded out the top three.
Bridgwater Services on the M5, run by Moto, landed at the bottom of the UK-wide rankings with a dismal 23 percent.
Which? Travel Editor Rory Boland said: 'The best service stations are a convenient pit stop with decent food and facilities, however our survey shows those are few and far between and that many services are not up to scratch.
'Poor facilities and extortionate prices for food and drink were widespread complaints, but most shocking of all was how drivers told us just how many services were unclean. To avoid disappointment, people should plan their route to avoid the worst service stations and look for alternative places to stop.'
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Moto chief executive Ken McMeikan responded by pointing to improvements made since the survey.
'During the past two years, we have invested over £50 million in refurbishing our service stations and building a new motorway service area on the A1M at Sawtry,' he said. 'This substantial investment demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the experience for all our customers.
'We value customer feedback and are resolutely committed to addressing any concerns. The most recent independent Transport Focus study, conducted in the summer of 2023, surveyed a significantly larger group than the Which? panel. Moto achieved an average customer satisfaction score of 94 per cent across our Motorway Service Areas.'
He added: 'Our commitment to continuous improvement is evident in our extensive refurbishment programme, particularly targeting older Motorway Service Areas. We've also invested heavily to refurbish 75 percent of our toilet blocks in the last five years.'
