Heart of Scotland (Harthill) services
M8 between J4A and J5
Signposted from the road.
ML7 5TT
map and directions
Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge.
The M8 does an important job linking Glasgow and Edinburgh, but despite that, the road's only service area takes on a very small scale.
Facilities
Outdoor Space: Wild meadows around site, largest under bridge and towards vehicle exit Charging Points: bp pulse 150kW CCS & 100kW CHAdeMO Forecourt: BP, M&S Food, Wild Bean Café, Free Cash Machine
Parking Prices
First 2 hours free for all vehicles.
Further information is not available, please update this if you know.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
BP Connect
Harthill
Shotts
Lanarkshire
ML7 5TT
Trivia and Design
See also: History:Heart of Scotland
Even though this service area has a large footprint, its only buildings are two forecourt shops. This leaves a lot of unused space, which looks overgrown and unattended to.
What the place may lack in facilities, it does at least make up for in the size of its name. Its full name, as it appears on the road signs, is the longest name of any service area in the UK. It was renamed from "Harthill" in 2006, partly to shake off its old reputation, and probably also to make the land attractive to developers.
The notorious old footbridge was replaced by a new, glass one in 2008, after a major bridge lift. The upgrade wanted to make use of the extra space at this service area, by turning it into a park and ride site. Buses use the M8 while customers arrive using the rear access from Harthill village, using the new bridge to cross the road.
BP Pulse electric vehicle charging points were installed here on both sides in 2021, with four new charging points on the eastbound side and six new charging points on the westbound side.
Both sides underwent refurbishment work in winter 2021, receiving new M&S Food branding and improved toilet facilities.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Forthview (A90, 22 miles) Dreghorn (A720, 23 miles) Kinross (36 miles) Bankhead (A92, 42 miles) | Services on the M8 | Bellshill (A725, 12 miles) Hamilton (M74 northbound, 15 miles) Cairn Lodge (M74, 32 miles) |
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