Why this motorway service station is the best in Scotland
"And while the motorway you're travelling on limits your options, our survey of thousands of members, rating nearly 90 service stations, revealed that stopping a few junctions earlier or later could make all the difference to what you'll find when you pull in."
Cairn Lodge was named alongside other service stations in the UK, including Tebay on the M6 (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Why Cairn Lodge on the M74 is the 'best' motorway service station in Scotland
Discussing Cairn Lodge, Scotland's "best" motorway service station, Which? praised it for its "high-quality" food and great accessibility.
The watchdog said: "Scotland's best motorway service station is also a Westmorland Family offering, offering the same high-quality food and drink the franchise is famous for.
"The menu is typically full of crowd pleasers, whether you're starting your road trip with a hot Scottish breakfast, or stopping off for a dinner of freshly cooked lasagne or battered fish and chips."
Cairn Lodge was praised for its 'high-quality' food and great accessibility (Image: Getty Images)
Recommended Reading
It added: "There's also a deli counter if you're in a rush – and it wouldn't be a Westmorland Family establishment without a farm shop selling speciality produce from more than 100 producers, local and from across Scotland.
"With four stars for its shops, facilities and accessibility and convenience, Cairn Lodge will set you up well for the journey ahead.
"It's also one of the few stations that scored three for its prices – the highest we saw in this survey."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman travels 8 hours for wedding only to be told to leave for not reading invite 'small print'
A woman has been left fuming after dedicating 16 hours of travel for a colleague's wedding, only to be told to leave after the ceremony as she wasn't invited to the meal A woman's excitement to attend her first wedding turned sour after she travelled 16 hours to Scotland for a colleague's nuptials, only to be asked to leave post-ceremony. Weddings often offer the joy of exploring new places, but one guest was left gobsmacked when her commitment to a workmate's big day resulted in an unexpected ejection. With sky-high costs and limited space at venues, deciding on the wedding guest list can be ruthless. The anonymous lady was buzzing with anticipation for the Scottish wedding, which would be her first. It comes after a woman claimed 'I regret marrying an older man, one part of our history has given me the ick'. However, her elation turned to humiliation when she was unceremoniously told to exit following the ceremony. "I was absolutely mortified," she confessed to Reddit users. She had relished the beautiful ceremony alongside another colleague, eagerly awaiting the chance to snap photos with the bride and settle in for the wedding breakfast. But upon arrival at the reception, she was met with bewilderment as her name was conspicuously absent from the seating plan. Taking to Reddit, the bewildered guest recounted: "We get to the venue and like everyone else are checking the table plan for our seats, and still checking, but can't find our names. "The Master of Ceremonies comes over and asks to see our invites. He flatly states we were only invited to the church and evening drinks and that we need to leave. It was in tiny small print that our invite wasn't for the meal." Following this mortifying mix-up, the wedding attendee and her mate promptly "slipped away". She continued: "Neither my colleague nor I had realised we weren't included in the whole event and the bride later let it slip she only invited people from the office because our boss had told her it was the polite thing to do. We had thought we were friends with her," the woman added. Still dressed to the nines, the duo opted to hunt down a nearby café in the Scottish Highlands and kill some time for the following five hours, whilst the remaining guests celebrated. The Reddit poster continued: "We found a local greasy spoon and have a bacon roll and tea, then decide to go back to the bed and breakfast to freshen up. The lady was furious and tried to feed us up bless her. She then drove us back to the evening ceremony at 7pm. "By this point everyone at the venue was sloppy drunk as they'd been drinking for five hours, and we find out we were the only 'evening guests'." The pair attempted to have a good time but departed the wedding at 10pm after feeling like the sole sober attendees and growing fed up with having to fend off "very handsy" men. The disgruntled guests remarked: "We got a lift from a kind local and went to a local bar where we were entertained by more locals who had heard of our fate from the BandB owner. "We had the breakfast of gods the next morning and were told if we ever go back to be assured that is not how the local people treat their guests. We had ended up having a fun night because of the locals. They really did save the day in more ways than one." The guest said she now gleaned a lesson from her ordeal, adding: "I now scrutinise wedding invites and if I'm only invited to the evening part that's cool but at least I'm informed." However, she did get her own back. She elaborated: "We had put £50 each in the card envelope and chipped in for a beautiful bedding set on her registry at Debenhams so our gifts were worth £100 each. We took the money out of the card and just gave her the bedding." The wedding blunder sparked hundreds of comments from Reddit users. One person opined: "It is just rude to invite a person to the morning and the evening part but not the eating part. Either you invite them to all or only evening. This grinds my gears!". Another chimed in: "My cousin did that. We still talk about how inconsiderate it was years later, so much that when my fiancé and I decided on an afternoon ceremony, that was one of the reasons." A third commented: "I honestly have never heard of anyone doing that in this country! It's either all day or evening only. I wouldn't have returned for the evening. "Well that is really rude," another highlighted.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Scotland weather: Safety advice issued for dangerous Storm Floris
A yellow warning for wind has been issued for northern parts of the country from 6am on Monday to 6am on Tuesday. The latest named storm of 2025 will bring 'unusually windy weather' for this time of year and heavy rainfall is also forecast, the Met Office said. Many inland parts of the warning area will see westerly gusts of 40-50mph and exposed coasts and high ground could see them reach 70mph. There is a chance that winds could reach 85mph on Scottish coastlines and hills. READ MORE: Plans submitted for new £20 million five-star hotel in St Andrews The strongest winds will most likely affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night but 'there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris', the Met Office said. It added: 'Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. 'Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.' The warning zone covers Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England. How to stay safe amid Storm Floris Now, safety advice has been issued by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Adrian Simpson, Head of Policy at RoSPA, said: 'We understand how tempting it can be to stick with summer plans — whether it's a coastal walk, a camping trip, or a garden gathering — but Storm Floris presents real risks. "With strong winds and heavy rain forecast, we're urging everyone to take the yellow warning seriously. Simple steps like securing outdoor items, avoiding unnecessary travel, and checking on vulnerable neighbours can make a big difference in staying safe.' Here are some important safety tips to help you stay safe: Secure loose objects: Ensure that any loose items outside your home, such as garden furniture, are secured or brought indoors to prevent them from being blown away. Avoid travel: If possible, avoid traveling during the peak of the storm. If you must travel, check the weather forecast and road conditions before setting off. Stay indoors: Stay inside during the storm, especially during the yellow warning period from 06:00 Monday to 06:00 Tuesday. Prepare for power cuts: Have an emergency kit ready with essentials such as torches, batteries, and non-perishable food in case of power outages. Stay away from windows: Keep away from windows and glass doors to avoid injury from flying debris. Charge your devices: Ensure your mobile phone and other essential devices are fully charged. Check on vulnerable neighbours: If it is safe to do so, ensure that they are secure and have everything they need. For more detailed advice on staying safe during strong winds, you can visit the Met Office's stay safe in storms page and the RoSPA website.
North Wales Live
2 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Mum says she 'found UK's best beach' in North Wales after moving from England
A mother who abandoned the"predictability" of English city living to reconnect with her Welsh countryside heritage has revealed the one scenic location in the nation that continues to take her breath away. Enfys Maloney, 40, had been residing in a modest terraced property in Bedford since 2018 before purchasing an expansive farm and traditional smallholding within Eryri National Park (formerly Snowdonia) in Wales. It's here where she now enjoys a vastly different existence alongside her husband, Rick, and their two young daughters. Discussing the relocation, the travel enthusiast revealed to Wales Online: "One of the reasons we came back to Snowdonia is because there's nowhere more beautiful in the world really. We have the beautiful coast, the beautiful beaches and the mountains are just breathtaking." Yet, when highlighting one particular North Wales destination she would suggest to visitors, she continued: "It is absolutely beautiful to have that rugged rural life but there is another beauty spot here that is often missed and it is a bit of a rare find and a bit of a hidden gem – and that is Portmeirion. "North Wales is home to some of the best beaches, sights and hidden gems in the UK. I left England, moved back to rural Wales, and found beaches better than anywhere else I found in the UK." The Italian-inspired Portmeirion Village was actually the brainchild of her architect great grandfather, Clough Williams-Ellis, and it was recently ranked the 13th most vibrant destination globally, surpassing renowned spots across Portugal and Spain. A survey conducted by consumer group Which? also ranked it as the third best coastal destination in the UK. The location boasts vibrant and unique architecture, self-catering cottages, a spa, cafés, restaurants, gift shops and a castle. Enfys explained its appeal: "It is just along the coast nestled between the sea and the mountains and it has a castle, it has the woodlands, it has beautiful beaches, a stunning hotel, you can stay in the accommodation in the hotel, or in the castle, or the village itself, or a self-catering with a hot tub overlooking these beautiful views. "If I was coming to North Wales I wouldn't want to miss this destination." Her top tip for visitors is to book a lunch at Castell Deurdraeth, which grants free access to the village. She noted that this is the most cost-effective option as the price of lunch and an entry ticket are roughly equivalent. She further added: "It is completely child friendly, and then (after lunch) go and explore the woods and there are some incredible trees, like incredible trees, that you can go and look at. There is also a Chinese lake with a beautiful red bridge over it. "The destination really caters for families and couples who want to go on holiday." However, Enfys did mention one caveat - it's a dog-free area. But she reassured that there is motor home parking available for campers wishing to visit. In addition to being perfect for tourists seeking a European atmosphere without the need to board a plane, Enfys utilises Portmeirion Village for business retreats through her company, Sales Training With Enfys. Portia Jones, a travel writer for Wales Online, recently spent a night at the Portmeirion Hotel. She penned: "Strolling around, it feels like each building has its own personality; some are playful, with bright facades and ornate details, while others are stately, exuding an old-world charm. "This is honestly like nowhere you've ever seen before, it's weird and wonderful and is bound to captivate even the most cynical of souls."
