We all have our own nominations for the worst stretch of motorway in the UK, the one where you are most likely to be held up. For me there is a clear winner, and no, it’s not on the M25. It’s the section of the M6 between Junction 8, where it joins the M5, and Junction 16, north of Stoke-on-Trent.
Everyone who knows this stretch of road usually talks about the section past Hilton Park Services as being particularly bad, and it is. I am not surprised that when they came to build the M6 Toll, it bypassed this area.
But in my experience, things are every bit as bad by Stoke-on-Trent, between Junctions 15 and 16, where the motorway parts with the A500 and then meets it again.
I have lost count of the number of times I’ve been stuck in a jam here, including one occasion that lasted over an hour, with no explanation of why, at two o’clock in the morning!
But for anyone who is heading past this area in a motorhome and worried about potential delays, I have found a wonderful solution for you. And this discovery is all thanks to the final trip I made in our long-term loan Bailey, an Adamo 75-4I, before I reluctantly handed it back.
We had to get a small repair done on the vehicle, which resulted in me needing to take it to Peter Roberts in Halifax, West Yorkshire, for the work, a dealer who was a Gold Award winner at the 2025 Owner Satisfaction Awards.
This was completed very satisfactorily, and the staff at Peter Roberts were more than helpful in providing me with a fresh gas bottle, too.
All that was left for me to do was to return the ’van to Bristol. I was, however, planning a little stopover on the way, at Erwin Hymer Travelworld in Stafford, to look at three new motorhomes for Practical Motorhome. The journey from there to Bristol would be another three hours, and I certainly didn’t want to turn up at Bailey after hours.
A pleasant little diversion
The question arose about where to stay, which is where this pleasant little diversion came in.
Just a few miles to the west of Stafford (and as I later discovered, within earshot of the M6) lies Ladybirch Motorhome Park, a five-pitch motorhome-only site that owners Kev and Wendy have been running the grounds of their beautiful period cottage since 2021.
Although it is close to the M6, there are some rather narrow lanes to navigate to reach the site, and the entrance in particular is tight. However, it does offer you a rare sighting of an old-fashioned telephone box (remember them?).
I was especially concerned about this given our ’van’s recent damage, but thanks to the Ford Transit’s ample turning circle and the precision of its automatic gearbox, I was able to avoid any problems on the way in and out.
All the pitches on the site, which is open seven days a week, have hook-up, and there is a water connection hose that is long enough to connect with a ’van on any pitch.
There are a couple of shower and toilet rooms (thankfully without a code), a washing-up area, and a washing machine and tumble dryer.
Having just carefully carried out the task of cleaning a motorhome ready for handover, I wasn’t particularly keen on the idea of cooking in it, so I was thrilled to discover that Wendy can rustle up dinner for you, and deliver it to your ’van, so long as you ring in advance.
The menu changes every day – I was perfectly happy with my fish, chips and mushy peas.
Something that ‘van owners can look for when choosing the best motorhome sites to stay at is activities to do at the campsite itself. Suitably sated after my meal, I discovered that the site houses a games room, complete with a pool table, a TV/DVD player and an ample selection of DVDs, comfortable armchairs, a good supply of books and magazines, and, should you be so bold, a karaoke machine. Outside, there is a pleasant seating area, with a hammock.
It was a little bit too cold for that on the night I visited, but as the moon came up through the trees on the site, I found it hard to believe that all this was available for just £37 a night.
The noise from the motorway was minimal, and once I was inside the Bailey, non-existent. Motorhomes with an island bed can provide comfortable sleeping experiences, as is the case with this Adamo – I was asleep in no time.
Sailing back to Bailey
Such a restful stopover made the remainder of the journey, the following morning, a delight.
I sailed past Hilton Park without the auto gearbox dipping down a gear once, and got right through past the junction with the M42 with only occasional use of the footbrake.
The only downside was that the charger for my shiny new Google phone uses USB-C ports, and the Adamo didn’t have any; I think it must have been designed just before they came in. It does have plenty of standard USB ports, however.
Actually, it was perfectly pleasant to drive unconnected to the world for a couple of hours!
Something else that can make a big difference to your stay at a site will be a level ‘van – if you’re after tips on this, take a look at my guide to how to level a motorhome to help you.
Bailey Adamo 75-4I spec
- Price: £75,499
- Berths: 4
- Belts: 4
- Base vehicle: Ford Transit
- Engine: 2.0-litre, 160bhp
- Length: 7.49m
- Width: 2.38m
- Height: 2.85m
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Payload: 358kg
- Expenses: £237 (£37 for a night at Ladybirch, including dinner; £200 on fuel)
If you’re on the hunt for a new ‘van, something you will want to consider is what size will be right for you – we talk you through the pros and cons of the different sizes of motorhome.
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