An American tourist and content creator has delivered a succinct, one-word verdict after visiting what is often described as the United Kingdom's favourite motorway services. YouTuber Cara, who runs the popular Magic Geekdom channel, recently stopped at the renowned Tebay Services in Cumbria during her travels across Britain.
The Unique Appeal of Tebay Services
Established in 1972 by John and Barbara Dunning when the M6 motorway was constructed through their farmland, Tebay Services maintains a distinctive agricultural character that sets it apart from conventional service stations. The original farm still surrounds the facilities, with livestock often visible grazing nearby as weary drivers take a break from their journeys.
The service station has evolved to include its own comprehensive farm shop featuring a butcher who supplies meat directly from the Dunning family farm. Additionally, an on-site kitchen prepares homemade sandwiches, fresh salads, and seasonal soups using locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible.
A YouTuber's Pilgrimage
Cara revealed that her viewers specifically recommended she visit Westmorland Farmshop and Kitchen at Tebay during her recent trip to Cumbria. This recommendation came after the service station was crowned the second-best in the entire United Kingdom last year, finishing just behind Gloucester services in the national rankings.
Choosing to stop at the northbound side of the complex due to its perceived "older" charm and "nicer views," Cara immediately expressed her admiration upon arrival. "What a lovely place," she remarked, adding, "I think you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere like this in the US."
The Farm Shop Experience
Upon entering the services, Cara was greeted by displays of fresh, locally-sourced strawberries and cherries. She then explored the farm shop in detail, describing the sandwiches on offer as "really good looking" and noting the abundance of quality produce available.
The YouTuber drew comparisons between Tebay's offerings and those found at Booths, the upmarket supermarket chain known for its premium products. For her meal, Cara selected a chicken shawarma wrap accompanied by a raspberry lemonade beverage.
Sampling the drink, she commented, "That's good, it's tart, I like it. I don't drink lemonade very often over here so maybe it's this tart, it's not as sweet as in the US." Regarding her meal, she concluded, "For £10 that was pretty filling. It was a pretty tasty meal and probably the best meal I've had at a service station."
Final Assessment and Future Concerns
Reflecting on her overall experience, Cara offered her definitive assessment: "It is a pretty cool service station, I think cool is the right word. The only farm shop I've ever been to was in the Cotswolds and it was pretty fancy and this was kind of on par with that."
Despite its popularity and critical acclaim, Westmorland Farmshop and Kitchen now faces an uncertain future due to planned motorway infrastructure works. According to reports from LancsLive, National Highways intends to replace eight bridges along a five-mile section of the M6 motorway.
Potential Disruption Ahead
Both carriageways will require closure for approximately two years while these essential works take place. Sarah Dunning, representing the business, acknowledges that while the farmshop benefits from its own access road, significant motorway works inevitably impact visitor numbers and accessibility.
She explained to The Telegraph, "Nobody is disputing that the bridges need replacing but this is going to hurt businesses, residents and farmers who use the junction as part of their everyday life. We know from previous experience that roadworks on this scale are going to affect footfall."
Dunning elaborated on the practical challenges, noting, "People will have to go seven miles north to the next junction and drive all the way south again to get to Tebay, which they are not going to want to do. Over the course of four years or more, people are going to change their travel habits - and for businesses, that could be not just damaging but final."
National Highways has indicated it would consider implementing temporary slip-roads during the construction period to mitigate disruption. A spokesperson stated, "Junction 38 will still remain open to traffic, apart from during a limited number of occasional overnight or weeknight closures. Our aim is to cause as little disruption as possible."
The potential impact of these infrastructure works raises questions about how one of Britain's most beloved service stations will navigate this challenging period while maintaining its unique character and customer experience.
