Access Guide

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Summary

View information about opening hours.
The most accessible entrance has a slight ramp/slope and doors permanently held open.
This entrance is at the front of the castle.
There are 4 floors once inside.
Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
There is stepped access once inside.
There is stepped access on the ground after you enter through the entrance.
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 and on site-transport.
This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
Toilet and changing facilities available include: a toilet designated as gender neutral.
The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is located to the left of the visitor centre welcome desk. View information about this toilet (new tab).
The standard toilets surveyed can be found to the left side of the castle as you face the entrance.
There is a separate exit.
The exit has steps, a manual door and a door permanently held open.
The entrance can be used to exit by visitors with limited mobility.
The entrance at the front of the castle is closed from November to March. The exit is used during the remaining months.
Anyone who needs to, can still use the front entrance by speaking to a member of staff at the welcome desk in the visitor centre.

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 visitor centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: a tramper. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance.
You can borrow these from the visitor centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
There are charges to borrow a tramper.
A volunteer driven buggy shuttle is available to transport between the visitor centre and castle.
Wheelchair users will need to transfer from their chair.

Exit the rear of the visitor centre and follow the path to the road.
At the road turn right down a slope.
The castle will be in front of you, where the entrance is at the front right to as you go down the road.
There are rubber mats over the gravel area to the entrance.
The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
Path surfaces along the route are tarmac, gravel and rubber matting.
The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
There is a shuttle which can take visitors to this area, but wheelchair users will need to transfer into it.

Access into the toilet is via steps.
There are 6 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
The door is manual, permanently held open and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
The width of the door opening is 92cm.
Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
The gender neutral toilet was surveyed.
The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 61cm.
The wash basin tap type is push.
Lighting levels are moderate to good.
There are hand dryers.

The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the castle.
There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
The slight slope is over 150cm wide.
There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
The width of the opening is 130cm.
There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
The width of the opening is 123cm.
This entrance is closed from November to March. The exit is used during the remaining months.
Anyone who needs to, can still use the front entrance by speaking to a member of staff at the welcome desk in the visitor centre.

The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
The tour takes approximately 1 hour.
There is stepped access along the tour route.
The majority of walkway widths are over 180cm.
The tour can not be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via an information booklet.
The tour route may vary depending on the season.
There may be background noise along the tour route.
Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets, Braille, television/screen and BSL.
The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
There are armchairs, sofas and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests 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.
Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
Lighting levels are low throughout the tour route.
Step-free access in the castle is limited to the entrance hall, library and billiard room only on the ground floor.
There are stairs to all other parts of the castle in a mezzanine arrangement.

The exit is located at the rear of the castle on the lower ground floor.
There is not step-free access at the exit.
There are 7 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
Steps are split with a resting area.
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 86cm.
There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of more than 1.5cm.
There are 4 steps beyond the exit, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
Steps are split with a resting area.
The steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm) .