Access Guide

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Summary

View information about opening hours.
Amenities in this building include: a historic house.
The most accessible entrance has step-free level access and an open entrance with no doors.
This entrance is the entrance at the front of the castle.
There are 2 floors once inside.
Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
There is stepped access once inside.
Doorways to ground floor internal rooms have a single step at the threshold.
There is restricted room to manoeuvre and restricted headroom at this property.
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, Braille information, maps and on site-transport.
A large format photograph book of inaccessible areas of the castle is available in the castle entrance and at the tickets and information building.
This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is around the right side of the toilet block, to the right of the Wharf Tea-room. View information about this toilet (new tab)

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.
You can borrow these from the tickets and information building. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.

From the tickets and information building cross the car park entrance road to the open gate for the parkland.
Follow the path to the castle, and go either way round the castle to reach the entrance bridge on the opposite side.
The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
Path surfaces along the route are compact earth and gravel.
The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.

The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the castle.
There is step-free level access at the entrance.
There is an opening without doors.
The width of the opening is 200cm.
The entrance bridge is made of wooden planks with slight gaps between them, some of which move slightly underfoot.

The tour is guided.
The tour takes approximately 40 minutes.
There is stepped access along the tour route.
There are doorways or openings used on the tour which are under 75cm wide.
The majority of walkway widths are under 120cm.
The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a photo album.
There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets, Braille and information board.
Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
There are bench seats and chairs with armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
Flooring along the tour route is not smooth and even.
Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to uneven paving/tiles and gravel.
Lighting levels are varied throughout the tour route.
Doorways to ground floor internal rooms have a single step at the threshold.
A large format photograph book of inaccessible areas of the castle is available in the castle entrance.
There is also, on request, a Braille book describing inaccessible areas.
Some interior areas have no lighting and can be very dark.
The castle towers are only accessed by very steep, narrow staircases, some of which are two-way.