Roadside Rests

The Rees Jeffreys Road Fund has provided over 70 Roadside Rests across the UK since the 1950’s.

Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Roadside Rest: Duncton Hill

The Fund’s Trust Deed has as one of the objects to “promote schemes for the provision of roadside parks and open spaces designed to enhance the beauty and attractiveness of the highways”.

As a result, from its early days the Fund supported schemes to create “Roadside Rests” in an era before Motorway Service Stations. Over a period from 1950 to the early part of this century, over 70 such schemes were completed. Although the Trustees no longer see it as their role to encourage new schemes, it does wish to maintain the tradition and history of these facilities.

Download Roadside Rests List

The information on the locations can be rather vague, and we are keen to improve the details we hold.

The Roadside Rests often link access for cycling, walking and other forms of active travel, for example No. 32 providing access to the Blaenavon world heritage site; No. 36 provides access to Sugar Loaf Mountain; and No. 38 provide a base for walking, cycling and a range of outdoor activities on the North York Moors.

You can find out more about the Fund’s search for Roadside Rests by listening to this podcast of Rees Jeffreys Road Fund chairman David Tarrant talking to Paul Hutton of Highways News.

Can you help identify Rees Jeffreys Roadside Rests?

The Fund’s records of the location and condition of Rees Jeffreys Roadside Rests is rather limited. The Trustees are keen to develop a better, more accurate picture. For this we need the public’s help.

Can you help us in mapping the 70 plus Roadside Rests created by the Fund since the early 1950s? Maybe you live near a Roadside Rest or you may come across one when you are travelling around the UK. You might come across a Roadside Rest whilst you are out walking or you may simply enjoy helping us with this challenge and see how many on our list you can visit.

Please complete the below form with as much information as you have; if you happen to have taken any photographs of the Roadside Rest, please send them to us via e-mail.

Name
Email
Detailed information of the Roadside Rest you’ve located.
Please include the following, where possible:
– whether there is still a Roadside Rest at the location
– an accurate description of the location
– the Post Code, GPS or ///what3words coordinates if available
– it’s current condition (is it tidy/well maintained, or in a poor condition/overgrown)
Is there parking available at the Roadside Rest?



Is a Rees Jeffreys plaque visible?



When did you come across the Roadside Rest?
Which A or B road is the Roadside Rest accessible from?
Are you happy for us to publish your entry on our website?


The form has been submitted successfully!
There has been some error while submitting the form. Please verify all form fields again.

You can find examples of the information we are looking for below. Rees Jeffreys Road Fund is extremely grateful to the members of the public who have sent in photos, information and stories about Roadside Rests across the UK, much of which is included below.

Visit Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Roadside Rests

Lune Gorge, south of Tebay, Cumbria (No. 4) created in 1973. A685/M6. (Photo credit Carol Kubicki)
Abbotsbury Hill, Dorset (No.10) created in 1960. On the B3157 at ///Apart.laugh.soccer. (Photo credit Trustee David Tarrant.)
Rhaidr-y-Cwm, near Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. (No 19) created in 1960, on the B4391. (Photo credit Carol Kubicki – you can read her blog Back on the road again here.)
Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire (No.20) created in 1958. Off the A32 Hayden Lane. (Courtesy of N Silcox.)
White Hill between Overton and Kingsclere, Hampshire (No. 21) created in 1967. Off the B3051 (Photo credit Trustee David Tarrant.)
Ashey Seamark, Brading Down Road, Isle of Wight. Created in 1979 (No. 23). Grid Ref SZ 575 874. (Courtesy of Ken Fry.)
Whitcombe Road, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. Created in 1967 (No 24.) PO30 1YS. Grid Ref SZ 489 876. (Courtesy of Ken Fry)
Gore Quarry, Blackgang, Isle of Wight (No. 25) created in 1960. Off the A3055 PO38 2JB. Grid Ref SZ 491 767. (Courtesy of Ken Fry).
Leeson Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight (No. 26) created in 1970. On the A3055. PO38 1QD. Grid Ref SZ 580 789. (Courtesy of Ken Fry)
Nansen Hill, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight (No. 27), created in 1960. On the A3055. PO38 1PT. Grid Ref SZ 576 783 (Courtesy of Ken Fry)
Bouldnor Viewpoint, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight (No.28). PO41 0NH. Grid Ref SZ 367 899. (Courtesy of Ken Fry).
Ide Hill, Kent (No. 29) created in 1960. On the B2042. Photo credit Trustee Andy Graham.
Carn-y-Gorfydd, Brecon Beacons National Park, off the B4246 created in 1964 (No. 32). Grid Ref SO 2703 1093. ///series.static.lengthen. (Courtesy of David Jenkins).
Cefn-y-Coed Brecon Beacons National Park, off B4269 created in 1964 (No. 33). Grid Ref SO 2846 1092. ///crown.deduced.eclipses. (Courtesy of David Jenkins.)
Porth-y-Parc, Llwyn-du, Abergavenny. Created in 1964 off the A40 (No 35). NP7 7DN. Grid Ref SO 2888 1664. ///pitch.tailwind.book. (Courtesy of David Jenkins.)
Mynydd Llanwenarth, Sugar Loaf Mountain, off the A40. Created in 1967 (No.36). NP7 7EN. ///sample.beak.bake. Grid Ref. SO 2686 1672. (Courtesy of David Jenkins.)
Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire. (No 38) funded in both 1958 and 1999. On the A170 at the North Yorkshire National Park Sutton Bank Centre. Photo Credit: George Brown.
Crugiau Cemmaes, Pembrokeshire (No.41) created in 1968. Off the B4582. ///flaked.geek.bystander. SN 1256 4148. Photo credit David Jenkins.
Fishguard Fort, Pembrokeshire (No.42) created in 1958. Off the A487. ///obviously.rash.building. SM 9624 3759. Photo credit David Jenkins.
Kilpaison Burrows, Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire (No.43) created in 1969. Off the A4319. ///tanked.amplifier.cabbage. SM 8843 0045. Photo credit David Jenkins.
Rhy-elli-Dynas, Pembrokeshire (No.44) created in 1970. Off the A487. ///nips.weep.directors. SN 0104 3826. Photo credit David Jenkins.
St David’s Road, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire (No.44) created in 1964. Off the A487. ///pints.copy.brands.SM 9425 1611. Photo credit David Jenkins.
Woodhill, Newgale, Pembrokeshire (No. 46) created in 1967. Off the A487. ///shame.above.urge. SM 8529 2184. Photo credit David Jenkins.
Lydeard Hill, Somerset (No. 48) created in 1966. Off the A358.(Credit Trustee Ginny Clarke)
Reigate Hill, Surrey (No. 50) created in1958. A217. Photo credit Trustee Andy Graham.
South of Duncton, West Sussex (No. 52) created in 1968. Off the A285. Photo credit Trustee Andy Graham.
West of Houghton, West Sussex (No. 53) created in 1991. Off the B2139. Photo credit: Trustee Steve Gooding.
LLwyn-onn Reservoir, Brecon Beacons National Park (No. 74) created in 2019. A470. Grid Ref SO 0099 1184. ///activity.micro.motivations. (Courtesy of David Jenkins.)
Winter Hill, Maidenhead (No. 55) created in 1979. (Credit Trustee Ginny Clarke)
Red Point, Gairloch. (No. 59)created in 1968. Photo credit Richard Sutcliffe, photograph taken July 1975.
Queen’s View, The Whangie, Stirling (No. 65) created in 1964. On the A809. Photo credit Richard Sutcliffe.
Black Swan Ockham (No. 73) created in 2005. A3 southbound turn off at Wisley. Photo credit Trustee Andy Graham.
LLwyn-onn Reservoir, Brecon Beacons National Park. (No. 74) created in 2019. A470. Grid Ref SO 0099 1184. ///activity.micro.motivations. (Courtesy of David Jenkins.)