Southbound Only (see Tebay West for northbound services)

Trivia:
The only service area to have won a Civic Trust Award

Built using natural materials and methods- limestone and reclaimed roof timbers. Views of mountains and moorland are offered.

Opened in 1993 with forecourt, shop and 300-seater restaurant and a lager spacious food servery area.

A new kitchen and a sandwich making department was built in the mid 1990's and Westmorland's food production was centralised at this site

Coffee Shop opened in 2002

Farm Shops opened in 2003 at both sites

The Coffee Shop at Tebay West has been enlarged and refurbished and renamed as "The Coffee Tree"

The company esp the Farm Shops were featured on BBC1s Country File programme a few weeks back

HRH The Prince of Wales paid an official visit to both Farm Shops and the Central Food Production Unit at Tebay East last month

Review:
Tebay is not owned by any of the big 3 chains, and that shows when you visit. And its all good. I Visited on a busy Easter Monday, and they had staff in the car park marshalling people to spaces- something I've not seen at an MSA before. It has a terraced car park, and if you wish, you can drive up to the Picnic area and enjoy your own food with beautiful Cumbrian scenery. Or you can enter the main building and enjoy a meal there. The cafe of course must resemble a cafeteria to an extent, but with natural stone and materials and a fireplace, it feels more like a country pub. Unfortunately when I visited, there was a queue outside the door for the ladies toilets (something I hadn't seen in years) although the Dynarod van round the side indicated that this was probably a temporary inconvienience.
The Farm shop is worth the stop in itself. Selling mainly local produce, it is perfect for something a little special, or as a gift.

Thanks:
Information contributed by :
Carl Ryding

See also:
Tebay West
Westmorland Entry on the Operators page

www.westmorland.com

Picture:

Tebay East (Southbound) - Farm shop is the building to the left. Easter 2004

tebay
Tebay 1998 (photo by Michael Evans)

Received votes so far and a sample of comments:

People who prefer this MSA	72
People happy to visit	13
People who avoid this MSA	16
Selection of comments received	I havent visited any other sites - think this site is brilliant - a very clever idea for those who need help using motorways - 2005-07-15 The best breakfast on the motorway! fantastic views from restaurant and well stocked farm shop. Really different - 2005-09-13 Good coffee, friendly staff, you can catch up with bbc news in the coffee shop and watch the traffic fly by. - 2005-09-13 The forecourt is now Total and no longer Texaco - 2005-09-28 It is located in a beutiful setting ideal for a quick bite before heading down south - 2006-04-30 Great farm shop, great location and views. Lets you forget youre on a Motorway journey. " 2006-09-29 Like its partner, Tebay west, this is probably the best MSA in the UK. The produce in the farm shop is superb and the cafeteria and service is second to none. - 2007-09-16 an absoloutly amazing msa, best in the world - 2005-12-05 An altogether excellent site - would recommend it - 2006-01-12 its a good stop for trucks also 4 1/2 hrs drive (56mph) in a truck from forth road bridge - 2006-01-27 I like this service area, but no bridge! - 2006-02-24 This MSA has recently had a really big refurbishment, I didnt recognise the place. It looks lovely, You should update your photos to show this - 2006-03-14 Best services in the country bar none - 2006-04-12 My favorite since I was a child in the 60 s so sophistocated the dawning of modernism - 2006-11-20 Wonderful Place - 2007-01-05 Along with Tebay west, this has possibly the best setting of an MSA in England. Being able to watch ducks and people windsurfing is very relaxing. - 2007-04-18 On the approach to The Lake District, this MSA probably has the finest setting of any in England. - 2007-04-18 Visited for 1st time, and I must say this is the cream of MSAs, staff veryt nice and the wonderfull views made it a relaxing stop. The Farm shop is magnificent " 2007-04-27 Tebay is great.Very clean.Watching the ducks is very therapeutic and takes your mind off having paid Â£5.00 for a piece of fruit. - 2006-02-24 What else can anyone say about Tebay, that hasnât already been said? Quite simply, itâs the BEST services in the UK! Sometimes, somebody sits down and gets something right! Sometimes a place has a certain â that canât be explained. I donât know - 2007-09-19 This is the ONLY stop on the M6 that serves decent food. Farm shop also good - I use it when returning home in the same way as I use my local farm shop. - 2006-01-29 This is an absolutely lovely MSA setting in what I can only describe as stunning countryside. I also love the caravan site, but I feel that the prices are getting much too high particularly when compared with Caravan Club sites. - 2007-12-27 I always visit Southwaite on the way down to Wales from Scotland but always visit on the way home and stock up on goodies from the Farm Shop, which is wonderful. - 2005-07-14 ok so you might pay a little bit more for your food - but the quality and surrounds are really not comparable to any of the other chain MSAs. Always found the service excelllent and the food very good. - 2007-05-08 stayed here for 2 nights, lovely rooms very clean. Most of the staff are very friendly. - 2007-06-26 Fond memories of this unique place - 2007-11-25 Lovely scenery, well worth a visit when the weather is warmer as the outdoor picnic area is very relaxing - 2008-04-04 Its not like any other MSA!! - 2009-06-11 Westmorland have an outstanding caravan park and the services are the best in the UK - 2007-06-16 Excellent - 2009-09-25

This is a very old site, and we used to have a voting/comment system here, but for now it is turned off, sorry. Please also note the comments above are very old too and won't necessarily reflect the current state of the site and reflect the opinion of a visitor to the website, not the view of the website operator.

My favorite since I was a child in the 60 s so sophistocated the dawning of modernism - 2006-11-20

Small and gloomy. If possible, I press on to Trowell or Woodall instead. - 2006-12-18

Wonderful Place - 2007-01-05

Apparently there is a derelict restaurant (maybe the one in the pictures) still with tables overlooking the motorway which is visible from the bridge though Ive never noticed it. - 2007-01-15

Along with Tebay west, this has possibly the best setting of an MSA in England. Being able to watch ducks and people windsurfing is very relaxing. - 2007-04-18

ok so you might pay *a little* bit more for your food - but the quality and surrounds are really not comparable to any of the other chain MSAs. Always found the service excelllent and the food very good. - 2007-05-08

stayed here for 2 nights, lovely rooms very clean. Most of the staff are very friendly. - 2007-06-26

Did you know, J.38 truckstop, just off the M6 at Tebay celebrated a Â£500k refurbishment in May 2007? The cafe has a new look and parking has been improved with the addition of security barriers, and folloing shortly will be more lighting and CCTV. - 2007-07-06

A dump westbound, and locked up eastbound overnight. - 2007-07-15

But toilets desperately need a refurb - 2007-08-22

The first aid gentleman was absolutely first class when I needed urgent attention on 24th August for a broken nose after a fall. He showed great understanding. edna gascoyne - 2007-08-26

expensive.... - 2007-09-01

I find thos particuar service station particularly grim - 2007-09-15

This is a stop to be avoided at all costs! Expensive and couldnt-care-less attitude from staff - 2007-09-16

To the commentor who complained about no information on the snow storms, i work at this MSA and believe me when i say we also get NO information, same with traffic information. - 2007-09-17

Fond memories of this unique place - 2007-11-25

Lovely scenery, well worth a visit when the weather is warmer as the outdoor picnic area is very relaxing - 2008-04-04

I now avoid this MSA like the plague. It always seems busy with coaches and consequently queuing for up to 30 minutes for something to eat is not unusual in my experience. - 2008-04-27

Its not like any other MSA!! - 2009-06-11

No matter howgoodthe facilities are meant to be,like all MSAS,the prices are a total rip-off!!!! - 2009-06-10

Excellent - 2009-09-25

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