Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this property include: a food kiosk, gardens and a historic house.
- The most accessible entrance has steps and a slight ramp/slope.
- This entrance is the main entrance.
- There are Ground Floor and 1st Floor floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is stepped access once inside.
- Once entering the house, to the left there are stairs leading up to the 1st floor.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: seating and a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: an ambulant cubicle and a standard toilet.
- The standard toilet surveyed can be found at the rear of the Shaw Corner house.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has steps.
- The entrance can be used to exit by visitors with limited mobility.
Public Transport
- There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the building.
- The nearest train station is Welwyn North.
- Welwyn North is 4 1/2 miles away from Shaws Corner.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Traveline (opens new tab).
Parking
- This site has a car park.
- This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and gravel surface.
- Parking is free for all users.
- Maps and information boards are not available.
- There are 2 Blue Badge parking bays.
- The nearest Blue Badge bay is 12m from the Shaw Corner house.
- Obstacles from the car park include: cobbles and loose chippings.
- There are not parent and child parking bays available.
Admissions
- At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: Parking is free for all users.
- At this location the following areas are free to access for National Trust members but payable for everyone else: The house and garden is free for National Trust members .
- This site does not offer companion or carer discounts.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from Shaw's Corner. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: mobility scooters. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from Shaw's Corner. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Route to
- Exit the car park, carry straight down the path and Shaw Corner house will be ahead.
- The route to the area is step-free level.
- Path surfaces along the route are cobbles.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no accessible shuttle to this area.
Entrance (Shop & Kiosk)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- There are 2 steps, which are unmarkedno handrails.
- Some of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There are double manual doors which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 110cm.
- The venue has ramps available if required.
Shop
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- All flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
- There is step-free level access around the shop.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 102cm.
- There is a low level counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- Services/facilities available in the shop include: a member of staff to provide assistance.
Tour
- The tour is guided.
- The tour takes approximately 45 minutes.
- There is stepped access along the tour route.
- The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
- The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a virtual tour.
- There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are no seats at regular intervals along the tour.
- Some flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good throughout the tour route.
Eating and Drinking
- This is a kiosk which serves drinks and snacks.
- There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
- Menu types include: counter menus.
- Menus are not easy to read (unclear font with poorly contrasting colours).
- The following are available here: takeaway cups.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- There is a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There is a counter over 85cm high without a tray rail.
- The counter is 104cm high.
- There is not a section of the counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is step-free level access around the seating area.
- There are high stools available in the seating area.
- The seating area does not have: a priority table and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
- All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
Standard Toilet
- Access into the toilet is via steps.
- There are 2 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 73cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The shared standard toilet was surveyed.
- There is an ambulant cubicle available with vertical grab rails on both sides.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are no hand dryers.
Toilet with Adaptations
- This toilet is located next to the shop/kiosk.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 2m from the blue badge bay.
- There is no signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 77cm.
- The door has a lever twist lock.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 136cm x 138cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat.
- The lateral transfer space is 85cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the non transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the transfer side and a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 51cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 142cm.
- There is no emergency alarm.
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle does not have a mirror, a full length mirror, disposal facilities and coat hooks.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door, all grab rails and the floor.
- Lighting levels are low.
Outdoor Spaces
- This information is for the access point located next to the Shaw Corner house.
- Access into the area is via steps and a slight ramp/slope.
- The slope is over 150cm wide.
- There are 4 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- There is a gate at the surveyed access point which opens away from you (push).
- The gate is not self-closing.
- The gate has a latch lock.
- The width of the gap is 105cm.
- The following outdoor facilities are available: gardens.
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: cobbled, grass and bonded gravel.
- Footpaths are available in all of the outdoor spaces.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- There are slight ramps/slopes without handrails in the main areas.
- There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.