Can anyone help by recommending a place to overnight near the M6 in Cumbria, or at worst north Lancashire?<BR><BR>5 adults and 2 kids need somewhere to stay en route to the ferry. Would prefer something a bit more full of soul than a Travelodge.

Sheila: Are you taking the ferry from heysham? I don't have a specific recommendation but Morecambe Bay has masses of places.

Hi<BR><BR>I presume you are going up to the Stranraer ferry ?<BR><BR>From Lancaster to Carlisle the M6 is a bit desolate, but beautiful.After Preston, good hotels are rare.<BR><BR>Close to the M6 are Lancaster, Carnforth, Penrith, and Carlisle.<BR><BR>The better hotels are in the tourist areas of Morecambe bay and the Lake District. All are a little way off the M6.<BR><BR>There are few good hotels.<BR><BR>You might consider -<BR><BR>Strathmore, Morecambe<BR>Rothay Manor, Ambleside<BR>Holbeck Ghyll, Windermere<BR>The Grange, Keswick<BR>Temple Sowerby House, Temple Sowerby<BR>Sharrow Bay, Ullswater<BR><BR>Bon chance<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

Thank you. Sorry i was les than clear. We are going from Aberdeen to the South Coast to catch the ferry to France the following night. We will have worked a full day and Cumbria's about as far as we can get before we fall over.<BR><BR>We don't want to drive an hour off teh motorway into the Lakes. A good poub with rooms of a country (as opposd to country house) hotel would be what we had in mind.

Hi<BR><BR>Ah, that is different !<BR><BR>I'd aim for this one in Yealand Conyers -<BR><BR>http://www.thebower.currantbun.com/<BR><BR>or the Strathmore in Morecambe.<BR><BR>Peter<BR><BR>

And Sheila - you always post such clear messages! Must have been the late hour <BR><BR>So you are just looking for a stop off half way down the country. Yealand Conyers would be good if you don't want to try to get farther south.

the Westmorland Hotel right on the M6 is in a pleasant setting, but maybe too north for you. I think it is at the services either between junction 42 and 41 (more likely) or between 39 and 38.<BR>For the perfect Pub and not too off route is the Queen Head at Troutbeck, highly recommended by many people who I know who have stayed there and recently rave reviewed in one of our serious newspapers. Similarly, Gibbon Bridge Hotel north of Longridge and near Chipping is a great hotel but not exactly pub standard.Grange oer Sands is an interesting place but a bit off route and someone mentioned a great hotel there, very economical, but in a great setting - I could find out the name.<BR>Steve

Hi<BR><BR>Email me privately for details.<BR>I grew up in this area, then travelled it for business.<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

Thank you all; you've given me some great ideas.<BR><BR>Peter, I'll email you if they don't come off. thanks for the offer