Motorway Service Stations

If you like to say where in Cornwall  you are making for I might be able to suggest somewhere suitable - but the route to the north coast around Bude is very different from driving to places like St Mawes But on any summer weekend just six hours from your home in North Yorkshire to anywhere down here is very optimistic.  Good luck with it 

There are plenty of off road laybys along the A30.

peedee

When I used to spend quite a while during the Summer in Newquay I did it in 2 bites. Like EuroT I think 6hrs will be a struggle at best🤷🏻‍♂️. I travelled overnight with a stop south of Brum followed by another overnight drive to Cornwall. I’m not a lover of Summer log jams in Cornwall & overnighters were my only answer. Whatever you decide-enjoy👍🏻😊

When in summer? I ask because school holiday times could see you taking 6 hours just to get from Bristol to Cornwall. It can be madness at times.

The advice to do it with an overnight break is good and certainly what we do if travelling that sort of distance from/to Cornwall. 

Travelling west, the last motorway service area is at jcn 30 of the M5 at Exeter and that is one I avoid if humanly possible. After that, you will find lay-bys on the A30, as PD mentioned, but they may well be full at busy times. Cornwall Services on the A30 just west of Bodmin at Victoria has dedicated caravan/MH parking but there’s not much of it and you could be taking a chance on getting in. There again, you may be using the A38 rather than the A30 if you’re travelling to South Cornwall.🤷🏻‍♂️

Gold luck with your journey but I seriously urge you to reconsider doing the trip in one go. 

We are going to Trewethett Farm in Tintagel, and regretfully cannot do an overnight stop as hubby working the friday hence the reason wanting to set of early saturday morning.  Thanks for the responses to date.

Like Tinny, I would urge you to reconsider trying to do it in one go - even if it means arriving in Tintagel on the Sunday. Especially as you're relative newcomers to our hobby. We travel to Dartmouth most years and I wouldn't dream of doing that in one hop and we usually stay overnight at Broadway or similar.  Tintagel is a lot further on than Dartmouth.

One tip - if you need a comfort break - avoid Woodhall Services on the M1 - it gets diabolically busy and there's no dedicated caravan parking.  Tibshelf is a much better option and although, again, no caravan parking, the HGV area is big and not so frenetic.

Also bear in mind I understand that you are not allowed to use gas appliances whilst in the service area 

It's much easier now you’ve stated your destination and, for Tintagel I imagine you will leave the M5 at jcn 27 and follow the A361 to North Devon and then the A39 to North Cornwall. In that case, I suggest Taunton Deane Services between jcns 25 & 26 of the M5 for a break - it has caravan bays.

However, I again urge you to rethink and plan to arrive on the Sunday. You can cancel the Saturday night at Trethewett and book somewhere else for Saturday night. You still haven’t said when you’re travelling but the closer you get to peak season, the more valid the advice to make a night stop becomes. Frankly, I pity your husband having to work all day and then undertake that journey but, ultimately, it’s your choice. Stay safe.👍🏻

It must be a good 8 hour drive even without any rest stops so I do not think you are likely to arrive before 1pm unless you intend to set out very, very early on Saturday morning. (before 5 a.m.) Gloucester Service are excellent for both parking and facilities and would make a good rest stop. As to others, it is a long while since I used any on the M5 south of Bristol, others maybe able to suggest somewhere else but if you go via the A30 to Launceston (my choice) there are good laybys between Exeter and Launceston.

peedee

It would not be my choice these days but, I have done those kind of distances in a day and more in my younger days both on a motorbike, car and towing, it is doable but do give yourself plenty of time and take at least a couple of breaks on route, ideally more.

peedee