M74 and A74(M) at J13
(also accessible to traffic on the A702 and the B7078)
Signposted from the road.
ML12 6RG
map and directions
Single site located at a junction.
This is the motorway service area in Scotland. For the service area on the A11, see Fourwentways.
Positioned at an important junction high up in the hills of Lanarkshire is the small Abington services.
Facilities
Catering: Burger King, Chopstix Noodle Bar, The Good Breakfast, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, Krispy Kreme, The Phat Pasty Co., Rollover, Starbucks on the Go Shops: WHSmith Amenities: Days Inn, Game Zone, Showers Outdoor Space: Grass lawn around car park Charging Points: Applegreen Electric 150kW CCS & 100kW CHAdeMO; GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 120kW Forecourt: Welcome Break, Rollover, The Phat Pasty Co., Starbucks on the Go, LPG (Calor)
Parking Prices
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay £30 (or £32 to include a £12 meal voucher).
Prices can be paid in the shop, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by ParkingEye.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Welcome Break
Abington Motorway Services Area
M74
Abington
Biggar
South Lanarkshire
ML12 6RG
- 🌍 Official Welcome Break/Abington website
- Facebook Page
- Foursquare Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 01864 502637
- 📌 what3words: ///devotion.heartache.basis
- more map options
Trivia and History
The service area is positioned at the junction where the A74(M) motorway becomes the M74. It can therefore claim to be serving two motorways, even though most people will regard those two as only one route.
The building is about 240 metres above sea level (800 feet), making it by far the highest service area in the UK. It's also the only service area in the UK with a sign at the exit reminding visitors to drive on the left. Speaking of strange sigs, until 2021, different versions of the Welcome Break logo were placed on both the motorway exit signs, which was a mistake that kept being replicated.
Development
Trusthouse Forte, 1990
The service area was developed by Welcome Break's owner at the time, Trusthouse Forte, who also owned two Little Chefs at Valleyfield in Abington village. Those Little Chefs were inevitably about to close with the new motorway opening. Forte were keen to speak of the new development's potential to promote tourism in the area.
The plan was sent head-to-head with a smaller proposal to expand Happendon, with many expecting that only one new motorway service area would be approved. In the event, both were built, and the Little Chef staff were offered jobs at the new site. 30 new jobs were created.
The new service area officially opened on 17 June 1993 and was opened by the head of South Lanarkshire Council, Eileen Logan. This was just one day after another Welcome Break further down the road, Gretna, officially opened.
Design
The complex covers 20 acres.
The entrance opens out into a small foyer. Opposite to the entrance is the Starbucks café which has a door. To the left is the food court while to the right is Burger King, WHSmith and the toilet facilities.
It is a vastly scaled down version of other services built at the time, such as Warwick, although Abington hasn't been extended as much. It is easy to imagine it with facilities such as Red Hen and The Granary. The hotel opened as a 56-bed Travelodge.
As with most Welcome Break service areas, David Fisher was commissioned to paint some artwork. At Abington the mural was called 'Upper Clydesdale Through The Ages', but it has since been removed.
Recent Changes
The Starbucks was refurbished along with many others in early 2017, introducing a light wood theme throughout the store. The unit was later refurbished again in Spring 2024, brightening up the unit which receives minimal natural lighting due to its position in the centre of the building.
Eight Applegreen Electric charging points were added to the car park in early 2023, adding a third charging option for electric vehicle owners here. The Tesla Superchargers on site are also currently being upgraded, with additional power capacity and further chargers being added to the site.
Welcome Break held planning permission to build a KFC Drive Thru on the current caravan and motorhome parking area, but this has since been scrapped due to Abington's capacity issues during busy periods.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Cairn Lodge (7 miles) | Services on the M74 and A74(M) | Annandale Water (26 miles) |
| none | Welcome Break services | Gretna (49 miles) |
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