Where to take a break on A303 with 17m-old?

[MiriamW]

We're off on our first long car journey with my rather active 17m-old ds. We want to take a break somewhere halfway between London and Cornwall to let off steam - any suggestions? I'm almost tempted to take M4/M5 in order to get the benefit of the service areas (yes I'm desperate!), but that would make the journey longer, as we're in the very South of London.

There's not a lot on the A303 up to Stonehenge and that's as far I as I travel along it from S London. There are small service stations with Little Chef "restaurants".

We used to travel this route to Cornwall for our family holidays when I was little and we used to stop on Dartmoor and have a picnic. Sometimes there were ponies there to look at.

We used to leave at 4am or something ridiculous!

Have fun! I have many many fond memories of Cornish holidays and in my memories, it never ever rained

There is a Little Chef and Burger King about 2 miles onto the A303 when you join it from the M3. There are them all the way along really, another one soon before Stonehenge I think?

But there are plenty of services and petrol, also once you hit Wiltshire you also get alot more lay-bys. Hope this is helpful, we go down there regularly from Hampshire with our ds's and we have never had a problem so far.

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Really really a nice pub at Wanborough next door to swindon - its got a great play ground and I think a it might have a bouncy castle and rabbits/chickens/pony, a couple of miles off junct 15 on the M4. I think it's called teh King's Head.

If you want a stopover (would recomend as it is a LOOOOOONG way to get to Cornwall) - Roves Farm outside Swindon is another briiliant farm with B&B.

This year we stooped at Stourhead (NT) which is just gardens with restaurant , toilets but great to run round.

Have a lovely holiday - Devon and Cornwall are one the best places in the world!!!

There are some Little Chef's on the A303, I stopped at the Countess Services recently and they were excellent with me and 6 month dd, although there isn't a lot of running around room for your 17mo. The A303 also goes near Longleat safari park

If you want to stop and let off steam, just past Stonehenge there are signs for Farmer Giles Farmstead, £4.95 for adults and under two's free. Its about 5 miles off the 303. We go about once a week and its a good way of letting my ds have a run around and see some Tractors and horseys at the same time!.