20 of the best (and dog-friendly) alternatives to motorway services

A1, Junction Catterick; 10 minutes from the main road

Lawn games to borrow in the porch, flourishing gardens, a barrow selling fresh veg and cut flowers at the gate … Kiplin Hall is a special place to stop. It dates back to 1620, was built for George Calvert (who went on to found the US state of Maryland), and is well worth a tour if you can stay a while. For a quick bite, head to the tearoom for soups, sandwiches and cakes (currently takeaway only). Dogs are welcomed in the grounds on a lead and there are plenty of footpaths through woodland and open parkland – sometimes with grazing sheep – as well as a circular one-mile lakeside walk.

Drift, North Berwick, East Lothian

A1, Junction West Barns; 13 minutes

Farmers Jo and Stuart opened the doors to their wood-clad container cafe in 2018 with the simple notion of offering decent coffee, inspired cakes, tasty breakfasts and wholesome lunches, and have been expanding ever since. Wander down the steep hill to walk along the beach for some sea air, then come back to grab an outdoor picnic table, where there are hooks for dog leads.

A30, Junction Launceston; 4 minutes

Whether feasting in the cafe, browsing for gifts in the excellent shop or chatting to the butcher about the best cut for dinner, there’s something for practically everyone at this modern farm shop, including the dog. Take a short walk in the grounds or explore the footpaths around the parish of Lezant surrounding the farm; start from the car park across the fields to Penscombe Cross. Head back for a bite to eat in the large outdoor seating area.

M5, Junction 10; 11 minutes

With wide open spaces, lakes to walk around and an enormous adventure playground, it’s well worth zipping off at Cheltenham to drop into Pittville Park. Central Cross Cafe, an award-winning neighbourhood haunt from the In the Park group, is housed in an old Victorian pavilion with free parking and circular walks that start outside the doors. Pop in for Fairtrade coffee, freshly baked cakes, breakfast rolls, pastries, salads and sandwiches, plus handmade dog treats and doggy ice cream.

A5, Junction Tyn-y-cefn; 0 minutes

The sprawling Rhug Estate covers a remarkable 20 square miles in the rugged Dee Valley. Stop off on your way to Snowdonia and enjoy the estate’s walks (pick up a map from the shop). Although they must stay on the lead, dogs are welcome, with dog-friendly tables in the cafe and drinking stations dotted round the estate. If you’re in a rush, On The Hoof serves superior fast food and the drive-through coffee is excellent.

M74, Junction 20; 9 minutes

A sleeping beauty restored to life after a nearly 100-year hiatus, Annandale Distillery reopened its doors and casks in 2014. The dog-friendly Maltings cafe is open to all and serves cheese scones fresh out of the oven alongside soup and huge filled sandwiches (try the cheese and haggis). It’s a great place to stop after a riverside walk from Annan towards Brydekirk (the circular route is six miles, or three if you cut across the bridge along the way), and your canine companion will love meeting the distillery dogs, Flow and Finya.

A11, Junction A1075; 2 minutes

The Lime Kiln Kitchen is a pit stop with restaurant and garden centre. If weather permits, head out to the deck overlooking the reed beds and Kilverstone Estate – you’ll feel like you’re in a nature reserve. Inside, the decor is eclectic and there’s plenty of seating plus a woodburner for colder days; dogs are treated to their own area and there’s even a dog menu with pupsicle ice-cream and Green & Wild salmon skin rolls. The human menu is just as impressive, covering everything from vegan breakfasts to cream teas.

Arley Hall, Northwich, Cheshire

M6, Junction 20; 9 minutes

This Jacobean-style gem is surrounded by magnificently tended gardens and reached via Cheshire’s leafy lanes. Horticulturists will love moseying around the vast grounds, the celebrated borders and the hothouse, while you can tire out the kids and dogs on the woodland walk. The Gardener’s Kitchen cafe has water bowls and treats for dogs, and humans can tuck in to salads, sandwiches and cakes.

A66, Junction Bowes; 12 minutes

Dogs are warmly welcomed at the Rose & Crown on the village green, which dates back to 1733. It does great food, ranging from hot and cold sandwiches to generous platters and a sophisticated à la carte menu (served in the bar or oak-panelled dining room). The Take a Hike leaflet features a number of walks starting from the door, including the loop to Egglestone Abbey Bridge (around two miles/60 minutes) or following the old railway line to Cotherstone and back along the river (six miles/two to three hours). When you return to the pub, there are hoses and towels to wipe down muddy paws, and locally made Wellybix dog treats inside.

M5, Junction 30; 5 minutes

There’s shopping, eating and walking here, so it’s worth planning a stop-off. Wind your way through the nature trail on the farm walk, or pick up a picnic (and a few canine treats) from the farm shop and wander along the Exe Estuary trail. Dogs are welcome to join you in the various eating spots, but there is also designated dog parking where they can stay in the shade.

M42, Junction 2; 11 minutes

Middleton Hall is set in 42 acres of countryside and dates back to medieval times. Dogs on leads are welcome within the gardens and grounds, or venture a little further to Middleton Pool, the oldest man-made lake in Warwickshire. Head to the Tudor courtyard, where you will find Bake 180 Coffee Shop and Barkley’s Dog Grooming for a pamper.

Nest, Ripley, Surrey

M25, Junction 10; 4 minutes

There are great walks around the pretty village of Ripley, including canalside hikes following the Wey Navigation and Ripley Green, said to be the largest village green in England. Just in front of the green sits Nest, a shop and cafe with a “dog corner” selling books, cards and gifts for dog lovers. Lunch options include sandwiches, frittata and salads, plus Green & Black’s hot chocolate and home-baked pistachio and lemon drizzle cake.

M6, Junction 18; 7 minutes

Stroll around the lake loop at Shakerley Mere (around 1 mile), just next door to this handsome pub, and eat inside or on a lawned garden and patio terrace (dogs welcome in both). The food is imaginative, and dogs can drink their very own “dog beer” (made from meat-based stock).

M4, Junction 15; 2 minutes

Three Trees is a family-run farm housed on what was once the Chiseldon army camp, on the edge of the Marlborough Downs. You can walk the Timberland Trail from Chiseldon along the old railway lines. Back at the farm shop, you and your dog can eat outside on the decking; cakes are varied and home-baked – the cheese scones have a devoted following. Don’t forget to visit the shop where you can pick up unbeatable farm-made sausages as well as treats for Fido.

A1, Junction 34; 7 minutes

However arduous your journey, the sight of the lake at Torworth Grange will calm you down. Farm shop, cafe, campsite and fishing spot, this family business occupies an idyllic corner of Nottinghamshire. You can tell immediately the place is run by dog lovers: staff will bring water bowls and there are doggy stations for walk-by refreshment. Stretch everyone’s legs with walks around the fishing lakes, or relax with lunch on the terrace.

M6, Junction 40; 10 minutes

Once the Lonsdale family pile, this former manor house at the edge of the Lake District is now an informally elegant hotel. Tucked away in the beautiful gardens, the Kitchen Garden Cafe is a perfect journey’s rest, greeting visitors with a counter full of home-baked cakes and sausage rolls, as well as an outdoor pizza oven. A map of local walks, poo bags and treats are supplied for doggy guests – you can take them on a trek up Askham Fell or for a stroll along the River Lowther, or let them run around with Porter, the resident terrier.

M20, Junction 8; 8 minutes

If you’re looking for a quick stop on the way to or from Dover or the Kent coast, the Potting Shed is perfect. It has plenty of room for the whole family and extras for your four-legged friend –water bowls, a keg for dogs and treats and biscuits at the bar. The human menu is impressive too: tapas-style starters include shell-on king prawns and halloumi fries; for mains there are power bowls with quinoa, tofu, pickled cabbage and cashews, alongside steaks and sourdough pizza. The team know their walks too: they’ll point you towards a three-mile circle from the pub, a longer amble through Otham orchards or a meander in the woods of Langley.

The Pheasant, Shefford Woodlands, Berkshire

M4, Junction 14; 1 minute

This old sheep drover’s inn is now a smart pub and excellent eatery, well placed for an M4 stop. The bar is often bustling with locals and jockeys (Newbury is a few miles away), and the excellent food is heavy on local produce – you can even pre-order a hamper. For walks, it’s on the edge of the North Wessex Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), or head to Welford Park four miles away.

A9, Junction Stanley; 16 minutes

Once a coaching inn on the journey between Inverness and Edinburgh, the Meikleour Arms has been revamped into a gorgeous boutique hotel and restaurant. Dog owners will appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, space under the tables, bowls of water, healthy treats and fabulous pre- or post-lunch walks. There are beautiful strolls throughout the vast estate – through North Wood or along Meikleour river – so dogs can run wild and get muddy (a hose and towel are available if needed).

M3, Junction 5; 10 minutes

Tucked away in a peaceful corner of the award-winning Hortus Loci plant centre is the welcoming Hobo.Co in the Shed. Seasonal salads, homemade soups, toasted paninis, exquisite cakes and hot meals emerge from the serving hatch, along with coffee and homemade soft drinks – lemonade in summer, spiced berry juice in winter. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout the garden centre.

Taken from Sawday’s The Extra Mile (£14.99). To find more stops or to buy a copy, visit theextramile.guide