The Extra Mile is a new guide book that steers motorists away from grim motorway services and into tasty local alternatives. It offers a hand-picked and dependable list of brilliant and independent outlets with good-quality local food (often direct from makers and growers), space for children and pets to let off steam, fascinating attractions and knock-out views. Farm shops, cosy cafes, quirky attractions and gastronomic pubs that restore a bit of magic to a journey, without adding too many miles.
Find out more at theextramile.guide
Win a copy of The Extra Mile
We have five copies of The Extra Mile to give away. Simply leave us a message at the bottom of the page and we will pick winners next week.
Why it’s worth going the extra mile…
In the 58 years since the first motorway service area opened at Watford Gap on the M1, Britain has lagged behind other countries when it comes to rest stops for long-distance motorists.
In the early 1960s, motorways offered the dream of fast and comfortable long-distance personal transport, and a post-Festival of Britain hubris ensured the designs of the earliest service stations were ambitious. The vending machines, ‘robot’ kitchens, foot-operated taps and styling inspired by Americana and aviation enchanted motorists, but the originality of these early sites soon gave way to a homogenised approach to service area design.
As the number of service stations in Britain multiplied over the years, they gained a reputation for over-priced fuel and anodyne surroundings serving food that was both expensive and of questionable quality. The introduction of well-known burger concessions brought nothing if not consistency to the motorway service station dining experience. And all-the-while no provision was made for the non-commercial rest areas provided for drivers in America and on the continent. Such stops offer a free-to-use landscaped area away from traffic with tables, benches, loos and, occasionally, showers.
Ethical insurance
The ETA has been voted to provide the most ethical insurance.
The Good Shopping Guide each year reveals the good, the bad, and the ugly of the world’s companies and brands, with a view to supporting the growth of social responsibility and ethical business as well as a more sustainable, just society.
Beating household-name insurance companies such as John Lewis and the Co-op, we earned an ethical company index score of 89 – earning us joint-first place with Naturesave.
Your Journey Our world
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Twenty seven years on, we continue to offer home insurance, cycle insurance, travel insurance and breakdown cover while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
Les Gunbie
Yes please to local, independent, tasty food stops!
Janet
Kentish Farm café not KFC!
Graham
Excellent idea
Mark Preston
I love your thoughtful and sensible but slightly rebellious stance on all things cycling. Please keep it up.
The book would serve us well on our run up to Campbeltown at Christmas.
Best wishes for the weekend.
Mark
mark
me, me, me,
Stephen
Looks like a drive in the right direction if you ask me
John
This book has already been done. Called ‘ just off the motorway ‘. Produced in the late 70’s. Great book. This looks just like a copy. Shame.
John Holiday
Avoid them like the plague!
About the only half decent one is Tebay on Monday.
Nic Jones
Would be great to have a guide to more interesting ‘services’!
Christopher Kubale
Yes , completely agree with the idea but don’t reject all motorway services, Gloucester on the M5 is so good as to be a destination in it’s own right.
Gareth Wells
I’d give anything to avoid motorway service station catering…! What a great idea for a book!
Tim Edmonds
I’d like one. no more KFC please.
John
Great book to avoid motorway services when I am cycling down the M1. (oops)
Jill Kempshall
Sounts like the best of places to rest, to have a quick snack or just ro relax; or to eat a slow meal and enjoy how you feel. It seems like this book’s full of cosy quiet nooks, or places with views to let off your fuse. The motorway drones and passenger groans will all seem so far with this book in the car.
Charlotte
My husband and I began exploring the UK significantly more last year, when we put in place a self-imposed ban on holidaying abroad to help lower our carbon footprint. This guide would a perfect aide to our adventures!
Dave MK
Great idea. I had something similar call ‘Off the Motorway’ or something similar, which used to be very useful, but is very old now, so a replacement would be brilliant!
David Smith
We love quirky out of the way places!
Brian D
As a lover of cake this sounds like just what I need
Peter Clark
May I please win a prize?
Peggy Sparrow
Just the thing for a motorist son for Christmas . Yes please save a pensioner some more money.
Jill Dowding-Walker
Yes please!
nic groombridge
Always used off the motorway book and website (And NT and English Heritage guide too) to find such places. Glad to hear of new alternative.
Lawrence Davies
What a great idea for getting good food when you stop.
Richard Hale
Sounds the sort of book I would use. Motorway service stations and truly depressing places. Keep up the good work – i enjoy your weekly emails.
Martin D Summers
Finally. It must have been nearly ten years ago I heard of a book which I think was called “Just off the Motorway”. I have been asking for it every Christmas and Birthday since but with no luck. Now my wishes may come true, thank you
Mike S
Yum Yum, Yes Please !
Sally Kertzman
Sounds great. Yes please!
David Street
The Tebay people opened similar service stations on the M5 south of Gloucester a couple of years ago – locals even go shopping there!. Not withstanding the new book sounds helpful and welcome
Paul
Sounds fantastic. Any guide that helps get away from those places is definitely worth a look. I suppose we are often in a hurry but maybe the book points to places that are almost as convenient.
Lindy Williams
There was a book some time ago called ‘Just off the Motorway’. It may be out of date by now, but it was very good. Not sure that it wouldn’t have been better just to update that one.
Jim Woodlingfield
What a great idea, fantastic for the kids on our long drives to see the grandparents on the Isle of Wight.
Andy G
An up to date version of “just off the motorway” that my father used 40 years ago – excellent!
Malcolm
It’s got to be an improvement in all aspects, and surely can’t be any more expensive!
kris carey
I have just realised that thus is the book i have always wanted, or at least since my first ever visit to a UK service station.
Alan Donnelly
A great way to make the journey part of the experience rather than a chore to be endured…
Pete
Sounds like a great book. I’m all for independent Services providers. Get rid of the current pack.
Janet Francis
I’d much rather fill the bottomless hole that is my son’s stomach with something wholesome from somewhere independent.
Annette
A great way to encourage local character and make boring motorway journeys more memorable. I’d love a copy of this book please!!
Jamie Johnson
doing us all a great service…
Gordon Pells
A book that we have been waiting years for, and it will be used constantly.
Andrew Harmsworth
This could prove POPULAR! We always try to plan something like this, but never quite get around to it. This would definitely make it happen…
Susan
Good to see an updated version of “Just off the motorway”- any easily found alternative to the unrestful hurly-burly of most motorway service areas welcome!
DougMilly
A splendid idea (I never discovered its predecessor!). We rarely use the UK Motorway service stations, except for the loos, which are usually quite good. Our attempts to find a good eatery just off the Motorway have been rather hit and miss, so the guide could be very helpful.
Nate
I’ve been looking for this book for a long time!
I remember hearing the author’s being interviewed on the radio many years ago.
Anne
Unfortunately, ‘just off the motorway’ didn’t offer much for the bits of motorway we used at the time. I would love to see if this new version can come up with more alternatives. Would love to win one!
PS. Love receiving the emails, even though I don’t cycle, I find them very interesting.
Steve
Excellent idea!
James Russell
We had an earlier version of this book (or something similar) and found many an interesting stop. That was before motorway services started to serve up anything but what my vegetarian wife was looking for. Hope again?
Iain
It will be good to have something that can notify you of places away from motorway.
Brian Monaghan
Eu Te Amo 💚
Graham Corfield
Wow super, count me in!! I would go an extra 10 miles, so an extra mile is nothing!! Fingers crossed.
Sam Widdows
What a great idea for a book, sounds right up my ‘street’ 😜 Keep up the good work guys, love your email updates too, Sam in Frome
Nick
It would be fantastic to support some alternative hostelries without engaging in the miles long goose chases that I normally end up getting lost on
Berny
Book a great idea, winning one would make it even greater!
Paul Hudson
An excellent idea, I have often wondered if there was an alternative, driving into a stop on the motorway
whobiggs
please
Dave
Excellent idea we go off the motorway looking for alternatives to service stations but it’s a bit hit and miss
Jacob Heringman
What a great idea for a book! Yes please….
Viv Beel
What a brilliant idea, and hopefully you can support local businesses and not multi national companies.
Also you get to see life away from the motorway.
Mark B
This would be fantastic for the glove box
Pam Hanley
What a fabulous idea, it would transform my regular 3 hour motorway trips to visit elderly parents who live inconveniently far from the railway!
James McDonald
This will take some of the guesswork out of a practice I love to use on any long distance trip. Always a pleasure to find a new place to rest up for a while that doesn’t have the obligatory big brand franchises.
D.Styles
Any distance to avoid overpriced junk food.
Sheena M
Great idea – would love a copy.
Mike Croker
Sounds like just the (meal) ticket 🙂
Dick Willis
Oh yes, please.
Hilary Robinson
I wonder if it will mention the location of disabled toilets? Modern motorway services seem to have all the toilets right at the back of the area, so the distance is prohibitive if you have reduced mobility. I suppose it’s to make you walk past all the shops, cafes, games etc.
Nadine Smykatz-Kloss
I would love to have this knowledge to hand travelling up and down the country for work. I usually use Westomorland Services, as they sell local produce.
Hollie
This would make a fantastic Christmas present for my parents who spend their holidays exploring the UK in their campervan! It’s always good when you enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
dave gravelle
What a cracking idea, no more rubber chicken!!
Pete Webb
Great Idea – disabled toilets are always a problem for my wife at Motorway services and we already pull of when we know of an alternative.
Charles Harper
Please god anything to get me away from depressing and expensive (& roobish) motorway services!
Mike
Yes please!
Jane davis
Yes please I would love a copy, would much rather support the independent traders.
Jill Harvey
We try alternatives when we can – will be good to know of more.
Andrea Maguire
So pleased this is finally out, got so excited to hear about it and get involved with your research of places to stop.
Chris Cox
Yes please
Peter Chisnall
Excellent, anything to avoid the rip off, extortionate motorway services!
James Fox
My Dad hates driving on the motorway anyway but he still manages to find the worst bacon sandwiches cafes, coldest coffee brewers or the dirtiest knife and fork hot-spot , please send me one before i enter an early grave.
Joanne Beale
This is a great idea for a book – having just had a baby and with in laws 300 miles away I suspect we’ll be stopping more often on long journeys. And congratulations on the ‘most ethical insurance’ award.
Maz F
Cool idea.
Gavin
I will keep in the glove box (does anyone have gloves in them) next to CamRA’s Good Beer Guide.
Helen
Oh yes please! Somewhere to keep the kids away from Burger Kings and Costa Coffees and those freaking rid on car things…
Matt B
What a great giveaway, love the book, and would like a copy, perfect for family holidays! No more arguments between parents about where to stop! 👍
Christopher
i hate motorway services.
C Buckley
This book will definitely brighten up boringly long journeys!!!!
Max Hunt
I was just moaning about over-priced and rubbish motorway services food the other day.
Theresa Ingram
Sounds an essential aid. I have been using The Good Pub Guide to spot potential stops. It is hard to venture off the motorway, however, when on a long journey so I hope descriptions are enticing.
Ali Meherali
What a wonderful publication! Heard about it on the Jeremy Vine Show yesterday, on Radio 2. This could prove to be a blessing for the more discerning motorists and those who want to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.