The first time I came across the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) was when I was studying for my degree and have to admit that, firstly it has been a long time since I visited this attraction and secondly it was before my I was a wheelchair user.

CAT offer a visitors centre that has “Interactive displays show global issues such as energy generation and transport, and practical, everyday solutions for everyone.” It’s highly educational, fun and stimulating, not just for the children but also for adults.

CAT mainly give information and advice for wheelchair users on their access page:

“Information for wheelchair users

Access to the Visitor Centre from Easter to the end of October is via the cliff railway which has carriages that are adapted to receive wheelchairs.

When you arrive at the Visitor Centre you will see the reception area in the car park at the bottom of the cliff railway. Parking is free. There is a short low-gradient ramp to access the reception and railway. We offer free entry to the Visitor Centre for carers

During the winter months, the railway is closed and access to the Visitor Centre is via the Garden Steps. This is a stepped pathway, which takes about 10 minutes to walk, passing the eco-cabins, vegetable fields and shop. Parking is provided near the visitor circuit at the top of the South Drive for those who are unable to walk up.

As CAT is located in a rural area with steep gradients, it has not been possible to make all paths accessible. The Garden Steps and Woodland Walk leading from the lower car park to the Visitor Centre are not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.

The displays are located throughout a 7-acre open-air site. Most of the pathways around site are made up of compacted aggregates which are mostly level; however wheelchair users may require assistance in using these, particularly during periods of inclement weather. All the buildings have ramped or level access with doors, entrances and corridors wide enough for a wheelchair. There are wheelchair accessible toilets at the bottom car park reception building and near the shop at the top of the cliff railway.

We have electric mobility scooters and a wheelchair, either of which can be hired free of charge by calling 01654 705993 in advance of your visit.

Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs are permitted onto the Visitor Centre.”

As I mentioned, it has been a while since I’ve been to CAT, but as I’d really like to go again, maybe I’ll see you there soon.

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Cambushinnie Croft is on a working farm in Cromlix, Perthshire and was completed in 2008. The farm is surrounded by open views of the Ochil Hills and is also only 4 miles away from the Cathedral town of Dunblane.

The 3 bedroom property sleeps up to 6 people and one of the bedrooms is on the ground floor making it accessible for wheelchair users. This bedroom also has an en-suite wet room with shower. Cambushinnie Croft has been assessed by Visit Scotland and has been awarded a Category 2.

For further information please see OpenBritain, on page 336 of the OpenBritain 2010 Guide and on the Cambusinnie Croft website.

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Sandringham House is near the accessible accommodation Park House Hotel and is one of the Royal Family’s country retreats. “The Estate is a thriving mixed landscape, including the tidal mudflats of the Wash, woodland and wetland, arable, livestock and fruit farms, and commercial and residential properties; it is managed to a high standard and sustainably with the aims always of being financially self-sufficient and of providing a place of enjoyment not only for The Royal Family but also for the many thousands of visitors who come to see the House, Museum and Gardens or just to enjoy the Country Park.” (source: www.sandringhamestate.co.uk)

Sandringham House is also fully accessible for wheelchair users and their web site has an Accessibility Page which gives a full Access Statement and there is also an Area Plan of the estate.

Sandringham House is closed until Easter 2010.  The Visitor Centre (Gift Shop, Restaurant and Plant Centre) is open every day all through the year.  Sandringham Church is closed until Easter 2010.

2010 opening dates:  from Saturday 3rd April daily until and including Friday 23rd July, then from Sunday 1st August daily until Sunday 31st October. For further details please see the Sandringham House Website.

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The DisabledGo search engine is now available on OpenBritain in the left hand column. The engine allows users to search through over 50,000 venues and organisations that have facilities for disabled people. The venues listed include educational institutions such as universities and colleges, as well as health care centres such as hospitals, doctors surgeries and dentists. Libraries, post offices, community centres and local government and council services are also included.

In addition to this you can search for disability organisations and community groups in your area. You can also change the search radius from between 1 – 50 miles of a given location or postcode.

OpenBritain are proud to working with DisabledGo, so what are you waiting for? Why not try it today?

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BALTIC is housed in a landmark industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead and is the biggest gallery of its kind in the world.

BALTIC has no permanent collection, providing instead an ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and activities that give a unique and compelling insight into contemporary artistic practice. The BALTIC programme ranges from blockbuster exhibitions to innovative new work and projects created by artists working within the local community.

The centre currently has 3 exhibitions by Martin Parr, Malcolm McLaren and Kimsooja and they also give quite a lot of information regarding facilities for disabled people which includes:

“BALTIC is fully accessible with a range of free mobility, parking and general visitor facilities.

Parking (disabled)

There are seven reserved parking spaces for Blue Badge Holders situated to the rear of BALTIC with an access ramp on the riverside of the building which will direct you to the main entrance on BALTIC Square (approximately 180m away). A further five disabled parking bays are available adjacent to BALTIC on South Shore Road.

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Halloween is upon us again and so it’s time to start looking at what’s on over this fun filled period around the UK. First off is the Peak District and Derbyshire’s Spookyshire events. Various different celebrations will be undertaken throughout the region and here’s a look at a few of them.

Halloween Spooktacular at Gulliver’s

Celebrate Halloween in style at Gullivers. All the usual rides and attractions, plus a fantastic firework display. Pop into Halloween shows throughout the day to see special characters. The perfect evening for the whole family. Booking is advisable as space is limited. Children in fancy dress receive £1 off admission before 2pm.

For information for disabled people please download the Gulliver’s  Word Document or find it in their site under “What is Gulliver’s”

Alton Tower’s Scarefest

You can also find more theme park Halloween fun at Alton Tower’s Scarefest from the 17th October – 1st November. For information for disabled people please visit their Disabled Access page where you can also download a leaflet.

Halloween at Chatsworth House

For a truly haunting half term come and enjoy a week of tricks and treats at Chatsworth’s Farmyard Halloween Hoot. For the brave there’s all kinds of evil excitement to keep the little horrors happy including making monstrous masks and cards or taking one of the daily ‘Fright Flights’ through the haunted Warlock Wood. Just watch out for the sinister Spellweaver that lurks amongst the trees. Most activities free upon normal farmyard admission fees. Fright Flights can be booked on the day for an additional charge.

Halloween Spooktacular at Tropical Butterfly House

Come face to face with animated ghosts and ghouls in the Haunted House. Take a Haunted Hayride round the Freaky Forest and play Trick or Treat on the Witch in the Wood.

The Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry website states:

• Most of the centre is accessible to wheelchairs and push-chairs. Disabled toilets and baby changing facilities are also available.
• Sorry – dogs are not permitted, except for guide dogs. Please do not bring your dog and leave him in the car.

For more events in the Peak District and Derbyshire please visit the Spookyshire page where you can also find symbols to indicate facilities for disabled people.

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The Bure Valley Railway runs almost al year round from Aylsham to Wroxham in Norfolk and has to be a great way to see the area. When I first found this through the VisitNorfolk website I was slightly cynical in thinking that there wouldn’t be any facilities for disabled people. However, after a few clicks and a little bit of exploring I found the Disabled Access information page and was pleasantly surprised to find that not only are both of the stations accessible but also the Bure Valley Railway has 6 adapted carriages that can take up to 4 manual wheelchairs each!

The Bure Valley Railway also work with Broads Tours so that people can take the train and then an hour and a half long river boat trip before going back to Aylsham by train. What’s more, the Broads Tours boat also have facilities for disabled people including access statements for each of the boats!

For me this looks like a great day out for all the family and shows that companies are not just providing facilities but are also trying to give us the information that we need in order to make informed decisions about whether an attraction is suitable for our individual requirements.

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Trebah Garden is 26 acres of sub-tropical paradise, located in Cornwall where you can explore under canopies bursting with exotic blooms and follow vibrant tunnels of all year round colour that cascade down to a private beach on the Helford River.

“Information for visitors with disabilities

Parking We have four disabled parking spaces for badge holders near our visitor centre.

Admission Prices For registered disabled: £3.00 per person and for carers: £3.00 per person.

Motorised buggies/wheelchairs Trebah is a ravine garden and has steep sections and steps on some paths making wheelchair use difficult. However, three motorised buggies and one carer controlled buggy are available for use in the garden.

A full demonstration will be given by a member of staff. We recommend visitors telephone to book in advance as the buggies and wheelchair are very much in demand. (Telephone 01326 252200).

The Planters Café, the Gallery Shop and Gardens Shops are fully accessible.

Toilet facilities: We have a fully adapted unisex toilets in the visitor centre. If you have any queries whilst in the garden, Trebah staff will be pleased to help.

Dogs are welcome in the garden and on the beach – on a lead at all times please. We ask that you leave your dogs outside Planters Café but they are welcome on the café veranda and in the picnic area. Water bowls are available outside the visitor centre and poop scoops given to dog owners on arrival.”

Currently there is also the ‘Textiles Plus Trebah’ Exhibition on until the 9th October which is “A collection of work inspired by Trebah from over a two year period, produced by the local group ‘Textiles Plus’ and on display in the Visitor Centre and Planters Cafe.

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