Im away sunday for 3 days in the west country, mainly Navy and RAF bases. I usually go North so if anyone can suggest good truck stops I would be grateful. Not sure where I will be overnighting but I got calls at Almondsbury, Plymouth, Bickleigh, Torpoint, Helston, Newquay, Exmouth, Ilchester.
While Im at it I used to have a ‘Lorry Drivers Handbook’ years ago, I think Ford sponsored it. Had a load of useful info including truck stops, is anything like it still available?
Phil
used to be able to stop at truro football club. shower in the changing rooms and a meal and pint in the clubhouse.
last time i was there it was £7 quid but that was a while ago. you also get to watch the football if theres a game on and your intrested.
theres also a truckstop on the way into plymouth sign posted off the a38 at plympton i think…
hope it helps
jon
Thanks Jon, much ppreciated.
Phil
the one near plymouth is Lee Mill Truckstop, heard good things but never stopped there!
Between Launceston and Bodmin there is Antheas ( next to a BP garage, but can be a bit tricky to find the way in - but worth it! )
Five Lanes is a little bit further down the road - closed last year
Okehampton - Sourton Cross - parking + a portacabin with a good pub just the other side of the A30 (Bottleneck)
Bridgwater M5 J24 - Grahams
M5 J25 + 8 miles up the road towards Glastonbury - Albion Inn
Nunney Catch on the A361 near frome
another one I haven’t visited is Smokey Joes at Redruth
you can find more info on www.transportcafe.co.uk
Thanks Dennis, copied your post for when I need it. Transportcafe.co.uk is good but I find it difficult to use as it lists by roads and not by town and its hard to plan ahead that way. I will ask if I can download the info so I can search off line with my laptop when I know where I will be stopping etc.
If I get the time I will organise what stops i have compiled and post it back here for others.
Phil
oops forgot…
when you’re doing Ilchester theres Cartgate on the 303 - at the roundabout where the A3088 goes to Yeovil
the one near plymouth is Lee Mill Truckstop, heard good things but never stopped there!
curry half rice half chips was a good meal. showers were a bit cold though. get there early cause it does fill up
jon
jonboy:
. get there early cause it does fill upjon
that applies to all of them in the SW 
the portacabin cafe at okehampton is not there anymore.you can still park there ,but no hot food to eat at the end of a long day.
This trip may take longer than i thought 
Newquay — Coach/Lorry Park on Tregunnel Hill, opposite Fire Station and easy walk to town centre.
There is also a Travel Inn at Fraddon (A30, just South of Newquay turn off, with a U-turn a mile or so further on). This isn’t a truck park — but quite a few trucks do “visit”. Only a Garage and Brewers Inn, so a bit dull.
Info on these about 3yrs old - so hope its not misleading!
Cartgate on the 303
If you like quality over quantity, then take a picnic ! They start boiling Veg the week before!
Blimey, I got enough for a book here, and I could come back a litle larger
BTW, is the CB place still there at Exeter MSA (last visit 12 years ago), I need a couple of bits (or can you recommend a place) (this is for my next book West Country CB Shops) 
Phil
dusty miller:
the portacabin cafe at okehampton is not there anymore.you can still park there ,but no hot food to eat at the end of a long day.
When did that close? ( haven’t stopped there since aug/sept last year)
I suppose there’s sandwiches from the shell garage 
Freebird:
Blimey, I got enough for a book here, and I could come back a litle larger
BTW, is the CB place still there at Exeter MSA (last visit 12 years ago), I need a couple of bits (or can you recommend a place) (this is for my next book West Country CB Shops)
Phil
it was there a couple of months ago…
If you get lost theres also a couple of portacabin cafes On the A361 between Tiverton and Barnstaple and another couple between Barnstaple and Bideford they’ve all got Council Toilet blocks on site
If they’re letting you thru the gate to deliver (MOD sites) you could always ask if you can park up overnight (so that the load is secure etc) then ask about using the facilities in the transit accomodation and the Naafi
Just a thought
Jules
Boots O’Lead:
If they’re letting you thru the gate to deliver (MOD sites) you could always ask if you can park up overnight (so that the load is secure etc) then ask about using the facilities in the transit accomodation and the NaafiJust a thought
Jules
Thanks Jules, the Army or ok to park on site, but Navy and RAF not so. We do a lot of MoD but I usually cover the North so Im not sure of these. Always get escorted around the bases and they might want to post a squaddie in the cab overnight if I stayed 
Dennis
If you get lost theres also a couple of portacabin cafes On the A361 between Tiverton and Barnstaple and another couple between Barnstaple and Bideford they’ve all got Council Toilet blocks on site
Im fed up with this job so getting lost and checking out the stops would be a brilliant way to end the job. BUT…I cant afford to 
Err and I have more hair on my head that the whole base put together, always feel err overhaired 
Phil
cb shack at exeter msa is still there,iwas there thursday waited 2 hours for tyre fitter to turn up.
Denis F:
M5 J25 + 8 miles up the road towards Glastonbury - Albion Inn
That would be J23 not J25, it can be a bit tight on parking if the people there before you aren’t careful, the guy who owns it, Pete, gets VERY sarcastic to those he sees parking inconsiderately
Tramper:
Denis F:
M5 J25 + 8 miles up the road towards Glastonbury - Albion InnThat would be J23 not J25, it can be a bit tight on parking if the people there before you aren’t careful, the guy who owns it, Pete, gets VERY sarcastic to those he sees parking inconsiderately
counting the wrong way
I know which junction really
Smoky Joes near Redruth is worth a look, I think its £5 to park with various options on food. (only 10 mins from me so never parked there )
Directions
Exit a30 at Chiverton Cross roundabout, 3rd exit to Blackwater, go right through the village and it is on your right. If you reach the roundabout at the renault garage you have gone to far. (You could take the exit after Chiverton which is Scorrier but that involves a Nasty Right turn)
Helston (Culdrose) is about 30 - 45 mins away depending on traffic
Can’t comment on the showers (see above) but they do have one.
Food all fresh cooked. Even us “locals” pop in for a meal sometimes (Sundays you have to wait for a table at times)
Hope this helps