Stirling services
M9 at J9
M80 at J9
(also accessible to traffic on the A91 and the A872)
Signposted from the road.
FK7 8EU
map and directions
Single site located at a junction.
In the northern reaches of Scotland's motorway network, Stirling services sits between two motorways, but neither of them are especially busy and as a result the place remains more relaxed than the service areas further south. Even the roundabout at its entrance, which is huge in size, is much less daunting than the equivalent junction in England.
Facilities
Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme Shops: M&S Simply Food, WHSmith Amenities: Travelodge, Full Hou$e, Showers Outdoor Space: Grass banks around site; picnic tables Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2 Forecourt: BP, Shop, Costa Express
Parking Prices
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £26. HGVs can pay £29 to include a £10 food voucher.
Prices are paid using PayByPhone. The location code is 2464.
The fees are strictly enforced by CP Plus.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Moto Hospitality Ltd
Stirling Motorway Services Area
Pirnhall
Stirling
FK7 8EU
- Amenity building and forecourt operated by Moto
- Hotel operated by Travelodge
- Foursquare Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 01786 813614
- 📌 what3words: ///paddocks.workers.fall
- more map options
Trivia and History
The two signs on the M9 immediately before the exit are both based on Diagram 838.1, which became redundant in 1982 and was supposed to be completely removed by 2005. The tell-tale clue is the old petrol pump symbol, which hasn't been used since the '90s, as well as the lack of any operator branding. There are a few of these elsewhere in the UK, but the others have all been patched to look more modern.
All of the land around the service area was acquired by the Scottish Office during the construction of the two motorways. In the middle was a property called Snabhead, which was cut off by the motorways and served by a long, new driveway from the Bannockburn Roundabout.
The Scottish Office had wanted to turn the Snabhead land into a service area, but the three that had been built in Scotland already were all struggling. The Scottish Office opted to hold back until work on the M9 and M80 had progressed. Informal discussions with prospective developers were held and Granada eventually took the project on.
Opening
Stirling services opened on 17 March 1986, using part of the old Snabhead driveway as its entry point, making a single carriageway spine road. The thick woodland makes it look surprisingly remote, but also small. Following approval from the government, the Granada Lodge here was the first to open on a motorway, opening in May 1986 and charging £20 for a single room.
The small building had its entrance on the right (the far end compared to where it is now). This had a large restaurant area on the left, a shop straight ahead and toilets on the right. The area at the front was supposed to be a landscaped courtyard, and at the back was a viewing balcony with a telescope. A tourist information centre was soon opened outside the hotel.
The service area quickly exceeded expectations. Granada noted in 1988 that trading levels were above target by 120%. The Granada Lodge was particularly successful, with occupancy rates being recorded as 25% more than the national average. It became a Travelodge in 1996.
Scotland captain Colin Hendry opened the motorway network's first mini-cinema at Stirling services in 1998.
Developments
BAA McArthur Glen planned to build a large factory outlet shopping centre on the remaining land to the north of the service area in 1994. Their plans were refused twice by the local authority, on the basis that the development was inappropriate. A large car park would have been provided and a new roundabout would have been positioned behind the petrol station. Moto advertised the land for sale in 2012 as an opportunity to build a business park; signs promoting the land as "Pirnhall Stirling" were still visible in 2016.
A Burger King was added to the restaurant area in 1997. This made sense at the time, as its counter faced what was the main entrance to the dining area. This was ahead of the restaurant servery being converted to a Fresh Express and Caffè Ritazza combination (which would then become EDC and Costa).
A major refurbishment took place in 2012, introducing a new entrance at the far end of the building. This created a new pathway which took all customers around the back of the Burger King kitchen, and then through the middle of the dining area: a common tactic in new service area design - but here it looked much more haphazard and awkward, with the change being very obvious. The main restaurant eventually closed, making space for an M&S Simply Food store. As some seating remained for coffee customers, the new store effectively created a new obstacle for everybody to pass.
The tourist information centre lasted remarkably longer than others, lasting until at least 2017, but it was eventually closed and became Greggs.
Moto refurbished the Costa Coffee store in December 2022 - the first major investment in the main building for almost 10 years. They also refurbished the toilet and shower facilities in November 2023, and they intend to add a Changing Places facility too.
Moto's next project could be to build a solar farm on the land next to the service area, providing power for the facilities and the charging points.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Kinross (A977, 26 miles) | Services on the M9 | Dreghorn (A720, 33 miles) |
| Old Inns (9 miles) | Services on the M80 | end of road |
| Kinross (A977, 26 miles) | Moto services | none |
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