Posts Tagged ‘Wiltshire’

Stonehenge, Wiltshire

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.

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Posted 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 »

Railway Attractions in South West England

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.


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Posted by Craig Grimes in Attraction, Devon, Museum, OpenBritain, South West, Things to Do, Tourism, Train, Wiltshire | No Comments »

Mayfield House Hotel, Malmesbury, Wiltshire

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.

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Posted by Craig Grimes in Accommodation, England, Hotel, OpenBritain, South West, Tourism, United Kingdom, Wheelchair User, Wiltshire | No Comments »