Archive for December, 2009
Friday, December 11th, 2009
Mystery surrounds this 5,000 year old monument in the centre of the World Heritage Site. Visit this prehistoric South West site near Salisbury in Wiltshire, and decide for yourself whether Stonehenge was a place of sun worship, a healing sanctuary, a sacred burial site, or something different altogether!
English Heritage also provide information and services for disabled people such as:
Facilities Details:
Toilets: WC adapted for wheelchair users in large toilet block at far end of car park.
Shop: Level access.
Refreshments: Light refreshments are available from the Stonehenge Kitchen.
Access: On tarmac and grass path around outer circle (subject to weather conditions). One wheelchair available to visitors on request at entrance kiosk.
Parking: Reserved parking for disabled drivers is available close to entrance. Ticket office reached by short, sloping tarmac path.
Visually Impaired Visitors: Braille and large print guides are available on request. Touching Stones accessible at the main entrance.
Hearing Impaired Visitors: Audio tour with hearing loop in ten languages (subject to availability).
Further information regarding facilities at Stonehenge can be found on OpenBritain, on page 126 of the OpenBritain 2010 Guide and on the English Heritage website.
Tags: Access, Architecture, Attraction, Blind, Deaf, Disability, England, Hearing Impairment, OpenBritain, South West, Stonehenge, United Kingdom, Visual Impairment, Wheelchair, Wiltshire
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by Craig Grimes in Architecture, Attraction, Blind, Deaf, England, English Heritage, Hearing Impairment, OpenBritain, South West, Things to Do, Tourism, United Kingdom, Visual Impairment, Wheelchair User, Wiltshire | No Comments »
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Both the South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh and the Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon, have facilities for disabled people , the details of which cab be found on their respective websites as listed below:
South Devon Railway
All our stations are suitable for access by disabled people who are warmly welcomed.
There is plenty of car parking at Buckfastleigh. Our trains have disabled access and reserved spaces for wheelchair users.
Buckfastleigh station is the best starting point for your journey as we have easy, flat access and parking very close to the platform.
Our station at Totnes is only accessible via a footpath link and is some 464 yards from the nearest parking at Totnes National Rail station.
Please note that our dining trains do not have reserved spaces for wheelchair using passengers and the doors of the dining train carriages are narrower than the width of standard wheelchairs. However, we would urge you to contact us so we can help meet your specific requirements.
Museum of the Great Western Railway (STEAM)
STEAM is fully accessible – with lifts and ramps giving wheelchair and pushchair access throughout the museum. Disabled toilet facilities are also available.
The displays have many features designed to meet the needs of people with special needs.
We are pleased to provide the following facilities and services:
- An experience of sights, sounds, smell and touch
- Free admission to carers or helpers assisting a disabled visitor
- Free loan of wheelchair or motorised scooter
- Fully accessible toilets, fitted with call point
- Personal guiding scheme for unaccompanied disabled visitors (booking required)
- Subtitled video and large print information panels throughout STEAM
- Low-level counters at the Ticket Desk, Shop and Cafe
- Induction loop system at the Ticket Desk
- Easy to read signage
- Guide, hearing and companion dogs welcome (dog bowls available)
- Automatic entrance doors
- Adult changing room
- Free parking for disabled visitors is available within 25 metres of STEAM. Disabled visitors can be dropped off outside the museum entrance. There is level access to STEAM from all car parking areas.
Tags: Access, Attraction, Devon, Disabled, England, OpenBritain, Tourism, Train, United Kingdom, Wheelchair, Wiltshire
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Attraction, Devon, Museum, OpenBritain, South West, Things to Do, Tourism, Train, Wiltshire | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
The Mayfield House Hotel sits in peaceful countryside near Britain’s oldest town Malmesbury, a short distance from the capital of the Cotswold’s; Cirencester, and has welcomed many hundreds of guests through its doors over the years.
At the time of construction and its re-development to a hotel over 30 years ago the criteria for accessibility were different to those in place today, therefore some of the facilities may not meet current building requirements – however their commitment to improvement has led to many changes to improve accessibility and their plans for the future will improve accessibility wherever possible.
Of the 28 bedrooms they offer 8 on the ground floor and 2 Best Rooms which have been specifically rebuilt as “Disabled Friendly”.
The Access Statement gives a summary of the hotel’s provision and further details can be found on OpenBritain, on page 123 of the OpenBritain 2010 Guide and on the Mayfield House Hotel Website.
Tags: Access, Accommodation, Disability, England, Hotel, OpenBritain, United Kingdom, Wheelchair, Wiltshire
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, England, Hotel, OpenBritain, South West, Tourism, United Kingdom, Wheelchair User, Wiltshire | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Double-Gate Farm is a lovely Georgian farmhouse on a working farm in Somerset. The Riverside Suites are large, luxury ground floor suites unique, adaptable and yet retaining comfort at the Gold Award standard associated with Double-Gate Farm. Designed for able and disabled, families and groups.
Three suites have a double and single bed and one has a double and two single beds. All beds have pocket sprung mattresses for comfort and are on gliders to enable access from any side. Ceiling fans, mood lighting and touch lighting, colour TV/DVD, and silent running fridge. Ample turning space for wheelchairs. Each suite has a river side patio area with table and chairs, access by large glass, patio doors. Watch the fish in the river or birds in the meadow.
Every suite has a wet room. In other words a very large en-suite bathroom! Comprising power shower, two wash basins at different levels, choice of shower seating if required, perching stool and WC. Just to make life a bit more interesting there are sensory mirrors which light up and demist by the movement of a hand and very funky striped grab rails. Who say’s accessibility can’t be fun . . . . . .
If you would prefer self catering accommodation, Double-Gate Farm also provide the Swallow Barn which sleeps up to 8 people. Breakfast can be ordered on a day to day basis at £10 per person. Attractive beamed lounge, with inglenook fireplace and log burner, has a colour TV and DVD.
There is a dining room, handsomely furnished in a Jacobean oak style, and for self-catering guests, an attractive and extremely functional kitchen.
The Riverside Suites and Swallow Barn have been assessed under the National Accessible Scheme and have an Access Statement. More information about these properties can be found on OpenBritain, on page 119 of the OpenBritain 2010 Guide and on the Double-Gate Farm website.
Tags: Access, Accommodation, Bed and Breakfast, England, Level Access, OpenBritain, Self Catering, United Kingdom, Wheelchair
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, Bed & Breakfast, England, OpenBritain, Self Catering, Somerset, South West, Tourism, United Kingdom, Wheelchair User | No Comments »
Monday, December 7th, 2009
Set in the Chew Valley close to Bristol Airport, Winford Manor offers accommodation to suit every budget. Fabulous, accessible services, complimented by friendly professional service. The hotel’s Labyrinth restaurant caters for all dietary requirements with delicious simplicity. The hotel offers two rooms with facilities for disabled people, the Copper Beach and Beech.
Copper Beach
A family friendly ground floor room for a maximum of six people, offering a master twin bedroom, a twin bedroom and a double sofa bed. With its ground floor location this room type provides excellent disabled access and facilities.
Beech
A four-bed family friendly room with a twin bedroom and double bed settee. Also located on the ground floor location this room type provides excellent disabled access and facilities.
Both rooms are available from £67.50 per person per night based on two people sharing – extra person charged at £25 PPPN (subject to availability).
The hotel has an Access Statement and has also been assessed under the National Accessible Scheme (NAS). Further information about Winford Manor can be found on the OpenBritain site, page 113 of the OpenBritain 2010 Guide and on the proprietors website.
Tags: Access, Accommodation, Bristol, Disabled, England, Level Access, OpenBritain, United Kingdom, Wheelchair
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, Bristol, England, Hotel, OpenBritain, South West, Tourism, United Kingdom, Wheelchair User | No Comments »
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Mortons House Hotel, an enchanting 16th Century manor house, now converted into an award-winning 21 bedroom luxury hotel and restaurant, is located in the picturesque village of Corfe Castle, which lies in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck.
Purbeck is a very special place. The World Heritage status of its ‘Jurassic’ coast, together with beautiful beaches, stunning countryside, history, geology, wildlife and so much more make it a ‘must-see’ location.
In recent years, Mortons House has been declared ‘Small Hotel of the Year’ and in addition received a Silver Award for ‘Accessible Accommodation’ (South West Tourism). The owners are equally proud of their ‘Gold Award’ status from VisitBritain. As well as this, the establishment, which has 4 rooms for disabled people, has been assessed under the National Accessible Scheme (NAS) and they also have a full Access Statement.
Further information can be found on the OpenBritain site, on page 110 of the OpenBritain 2010 Guide and on the Mortons House Hotel webpage.
Tags: Access, Accommodation, Disabled, Dorset, England, Hearing Impairment, Hotel, Tourism, United Kingdom, Wheelchair
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, Deaf, Dorset, England, Hearing Impairment, Hotel, OpenBritain, South West, Tourism, Wheelchair User | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Based in Torquay, Torbay, the Crown Lodge Hotel offers modern bed and breakfast accommodation to visitors who are looking for English Riviera accommodation of the highest standard.
The Crown Lodge has been assessed under the National Accessible Scheme (NAS) and has an entrance with ramp access. Once inside, there are no steps to the dining room, nor to either of the ground floor bedrooms.
The ground floor twin bedded room is most suited to guests with restricted walking ability, or who may need a wheelchair some of the time, and who would benefit from some support when using the en-suite. The en-suite is a wet room with conveniently positioned grab bars and a shower seat.
However, the ground floor double bedroom has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The room has been furnished to a high standard, and has an adjustamatic double bed. The wet-room en-suite is spacious and accessible to wheelchairs. A shower seat and several grab rails are provided to aid mobility.
The hotel also the following mobility aids free of charge to guests:
- Manual/Self Propelled Wheelchair
- Tri-Walker
- Shower Wheelchair
- Bed Guard
- Bed Raisers
- Toilet Seat Raiser
- Cushion for Shower Seat
The Crown Lodge also has an Access Statement, further details of this property can be found on the OpenBritain site and on page 108 of the OpenBritain 2010 Guide.
Tags: Access, Accommodation, Bed & Breakfast, Devon, Disability, Disabled, Hotel, Level Access, OpenBritain, United Kingdom, Wheelchair
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, Bed & Breakfast, Devon, England, Hotel, OpenBritain, South West, Tourism, United Kingdom | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Manelly Fleming Farm is a 43 acre rural enterprise situated in St. Veep, an attractive rural village near the Ancient Stannery Town of Lostwithiel in Cornwall. The accommodation consists of “Berts Rest” and “Roys Barn” both of which have facilities for disabled people.
Berts Rest is of the highest quality and accessible for any disability, it is equipped for four persons. The property is a top floor studio apartment with its own independent lift and it has a wide wheelchair access doorways. Inside you will find solid oak flooring throughout the living, kitchen and bedroom areas and a wet room/bathroom all on the same level for ease of access and manoeuvrability.
Roys Barn which also sleeps up to four people is the ground floor studio apartment with a wide access door way and ramp.
Both Berts Rest and Roys Barn have similar features such as:
The living area has freeview tv, dvd, stereo, beanbag and a sofa bed with large wood windows looking over the front garden and beautiful peaceful Cornish countryside.
The kitchen is fitted with electronic worktops that you can raise or lower at the press of a button and has cooker, fridge/freezer, washing machine and all crockery and utensils.
The bedroom has two single electric adjustable beds with tempor mattress’s for ultimate comfort, also there is an electric hoist, bedside table and French dresser again with two windows looking over the front garden and countryside.
The wet room is fitted with a fully automated sink unit which raise and lowers, taps turn on and off and plug opens and closes at the push of a button. It also is fitted out with an electric hoist with a level access shower and wet chair.
Fitted with alarm pull cords throughout the apartment for peace of mind and safety.
Both properties have been assessed by Visit England’s National Accessible Scheme (NAS), for further details please visit the Manelly Fleming Farm website.
Further details can also be found in the OpenBritain 2010 Guide on page 99.
Tags: Access, Accommodation, Cornwall, Disabled, Hearing Impairment, OpenBritain, United Kingdom, Visual Impairment, Wheelchair
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, Blind, Cornwall, Deaf, England, OpenBritain, South West, Tourism, Wheelchair User | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
Hartswheal Stables at Hartswheal Farm is self catering accommodation at a Cornish working farm where the stables is the lower floor of an old granary which has been converted for wheelchair access. The accommodation has a profiling electric bed and ceiling hoist with tracking into the bathroom.
The property is located just off the A390 one mile east of Lostwithiel, Cornwall and 5 miles from Fowey, the Eden Project and Bodmin.
A full Access Statement is available in PDF format on the OpenBritain website, just click on the blue AS symbol in the accommodation description for further details.
Further details can also be found in the OpenBritain 2010 Guide on page 95.
Tags: Access, Accommodation, Cornwall, Hoist, Level Access, OpenBritain, Shower, Travel, United Kingdom, Wheelchair
Posted
by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, Cornwall, England, OpenBritain, South West, Wheelchair User | No Comments »
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