Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: a reception and a historic house.
- The most accessible entrance has step-free level access, a platform lift, automatic doors, manual doors and doors permanently held open.
- This entrance is the front entrance at the visitor reception.
- There are 3 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: platform lift.
- There is step-free access to the majority of the venue once inside.
- The top floor of the house is not accessible by the lift and is stepped access.
- 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, audio description, a clearly signed hearing assistance system, a companion/carer discount, a virtual tour and maps.
- 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 accessible toilet for the use of everyone and standard toilets.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found to the right of the garden.
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 5m from the accessible exit.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found to the left of the garden.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has step-free level access and steps.
- The entrance can be used to exit by visitors with limited mobility.
Public Transport
- There is a bus stop within approximately 150m of the building.
- X4 or X5 from Penrith, Keswick or Workington to Cockermouth.
- The nearest train station is Maryport.
- Maryport is approximately 6 miles away.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Traveline (opens new tab).
Parking
- This building does not have a car park.
- Nearby parking includes: public car parks.
Admissions
- At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: None.
- At this location the following areas are free to access for National Trust members but payable for everyone else: The House and Garden.
- This site offers companion or carer discounts.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.
Entrance (Main)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the house.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- There are 6 steps, which are unmarkedno handrails.
- Some of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There are double manual doors which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 120cm.
- There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 85cm.
Visitor Reception
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 91cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- There is room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) throughout the area.
- All flooring is smooth and even.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 90cm.
- There is not a low level section 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.
- There are coffee tables, armchairs and chairs without armrests available in the visitor reception.
- Services/facilities available include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Lift (Platform Lift)
- This lift is a platform lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are from visitor reception to ground.
- Externally the lift has: a door with a low colour contrast to the surroundings, buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings, controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user and tactile markings.
- The lift does have a recommended turning space (150cm x 150cm) in front of it.
- The lift door opening width is 83cm.
- The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 140cm.
- Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user, tactile markings, buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- 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, an information booklet, a video on tablet or mobile phone and a photo album.
- The tour route may vary depending on the season.
- There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
- Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are bench seats at regular intervals along the tour.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs.
- 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.
Stairs (Staircase)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are Ground and First.
- There are 18 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a central handrail.
- The highest step is 19cm high.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Exit (Main)
- The exit is located at the rear of the building.
- There is not step-free access at the exit.
- There are 9 steps, which are unmarked, with handrails on both sides.
- The handrails cover all steps.
- Some of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm) .
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 96cm.
Exit (Accessible)
- The exit is located next to the platform lift.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 97cm.
Outdoor Spaces
- This information is for the access point located to the left of the garden.
- Access into the area is via a step.
- There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
- There is open access at the surveyed access point.
- The width of the gap is 97cm.
- The following outdoor facilities are available: formal gardens and gardens.
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: block paving and gravel.
- Footpaths are available in all of the outdoor space.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is step-free level access around some of the area.
- There are more than 3 steps with handrails in the main areas.
- At the rear of the garden.
- There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located to the right of the House garden.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 5m from the accessible exit.
- There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 90cm.
- The door has a twist lock.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 265cm x 184cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 94cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the left transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder, wash basin and soap dispenser.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: towel dispenser.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 105cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 75cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 95cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 85cm.
- The height of the baby change is 86cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a waste bin with lid and a nappy/incontinence items bin.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror.
- The height of the coat hook is 111cm from the floor.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the floor, the internal door and all grab rails.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Standard Toilet
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 83cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 62cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are no hand dryers.