Services on the M6 in the North West
If the bike is still moving, these are the safest places to stop:
- Sandbach, between junctions 16 and 17.
- Knutsford, between junctions 18 and 19.
- Charnock Richard, between junctions 27 and 28.
- Lancaster (Forton), between junctions 32 and 33.
- Burton-in-Kendal (northbound) and Killington Lake (southbound), around junctions 35 to 37.
- Tebay, between junctions 38 and 39.
- Southwaite, between junctions 41 and 42.
Tell us which services, which direction and where in the car park the bike is.
Stretches to know
Thelwall Viaduct near Warrington is high and exposed, and crosswinds push big tourers around. Between Wigan and Warrington there are smart motorway sections with no hard shoulder. North of Lancaster, the Lune Gorge and the climb over Shap are beautiful but remote, with snow and strong winds in winter and long gaps between junctions.
Towns along the way: Crewe, Warrington, Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Kendal, Penrith and Carlisle.
If your bike stops on the motorway
- Get to the left. Hard shoulder, emergency area or the next exit if the bike still moves.
- Get behind the barrier. Leave the bike, climb over the barrier and stand well up the bank, away from the traffic.
- Stuck in a live lane? Call 999 straight away. Keep your helmet on and get off the carriageway if you safely can.
- Call us once you’re safe, and send a WhatsApp location pin or the number on the nearest marker post.
Never try to fix the bike on the hard shoulder. On smart motorways with no hard shoulder, use an emergency area (the orange-surfaced lay-bys) and the SOS phone there connects you to National Highways.
FAQ
Rider questions
Can you recover my bike from the M6 hard shoulder?
Yes. Get behind the barrier first, then call. We’ll ask for your direction, the last junction and the marker post number if you can see one.
I’ve broken down on the M6 a long way from home. Can you take the bike all the way back?
Yes. Long recoveries are priced by distance, and you hear the price before we set off.