Winchester Services M3

[lankeela]

I have two nights books at Winchester Services southbound, one on the way down the M3 and the other on the way back up. How easy is it to get to the southbound services from the north bound M3? Any ideas gratefully received. The site doesn't seem very helpful.

[andy-hughes]

From my experience, any services that has sites on both sides of a motorway usually has a footbridge over the top linking the two.

That means a walk up of about twenty steps, a three minute walk along, and the same down the other side - no problem if you have an overnight bag to carry. If not, there may be a lift, but as I always use the stairs, not too sure about that.

[bednobs]

i dont think there is a footbridge there

[Mamyalynne]

Access/Layout:

Two sites located between junctions, with no public connection between them.

[andy-hughes]

I stand corrected.

[bednobs]

in fact im almost certain there isnt. you'll have to go to the next junction and turn round

[lankeela]

No apparently not joined - and I will have dogs with me so won't want to leave them while I go over the other side and don't like crossing motorway bridges anyway. I did it last time when the restaurant was only open on the other side and got halfway across and had a sort of panic attack and didn't know whether to continue or go back, but as I was hungry I decided to make a run for it and once I got right over I was dreading having to go back - I picked up a free newspaper, held it up to shield the road from view and walked very quickly across singing to myself. Won't be doing that again.

[Buenchico]

Even if there was a link between them, it would be quite a long walk:
https://ibb.co/Wx0dvky

[Hopkirk]

Definitely no bridge, and you have to go a long way almost to Basingstoke before you can turn round and go south again.

[New Judge]

Afraid you're in for about a forty mile round trip. It is about 20 miles from the Winchester services to J7 on the M3 where you can turn round. You cannot leave the M3 at J8 northbound - it provides access to the A303 from the southbound carriageway only.

[andy-hughes]

Maybe it's time to re-assess which services you use for your overnight - ?

[Hopkirk]

There is no hotel at the northbound services, as I think you already know.

Presumably you are booked into the Days Inn at Winchester.

There is also a Days Inn at the next services at Fleet, so perhaps you could change your booking to there.

Unfortunately it too only has a hotel at the southbound services, but it does have the dreaded footbridge to cross over to it.

[lankeela]

Yes thinking I may have to rebook but I of course got it cheaper by booking the two nights and didn't realise it was so far to go past and turn round. Thanks everyone for your input.

[lankeela]

Advice taken - rebooked the Sunday night for Sutton Scotney A34 which is sort of on the way home without much of a detour.

[Hopkirk]

That's a good choice.

You will again have the situation where the hotel is on the southbound side, but it is a much shorter trip up the northbound to turn round.
It might be a bit complicated to get onto the southbound side, so either study the route carefully, or use a satnav.

[lankeela]

Oddly I find satnavs are a pain when trying to locate motorway services - on more than one occasion I have been taken to the right area but on a road alongside or under the motorway with no access to the services!

[lankeela]

I think I have booked a room at the northbound services - in which case it should be easy to access from the A34?

[Buenchico]

Yup. Simple access from the A34 northbound:
https://ibb.co/dK3xBrQ

[Hopkirk]

I stand corrected. There are 2 of them, one either side.