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Access Guide

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Summary

  • View information about opening hours.
  • The most accessible entrance has step-free level access, a manual door and a door permanently held open.
  • This entrance is to right hand side of the castle.
  • There are 2 floors once inside.
  • Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
  • There is stepped access once inside.
  • A ramp is available to by pass the steps on the ground floor from the sub-solar room into the great hall.
  • There is restricted headroom and restricted room to manoeuvre 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.
  • This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
  • Toilet and changing facilities available include: a step free standard toilet.
  • The standard toilet surveyed can be found in the castle on the ground floor.
  • There is a separate exit.
  • The exit has a step and a door permanently held open.
  • The entrance can be used to exit by visitors with limited mobility.

Admissions

  • At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: parking.
  • At this location the following areas are free to access for National Trust members but payable for everyone else: entry to the castle and gardens.
  • This site offers companion or carer discounts.

Public Transport

Parking

  • This site has a car park.
  • This is an open air car park with a grass surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • Maps and information boards are not available.
  • There are no Blue Badge parking bays available.
  • Obstacles from the car park include: level changes with no dropped kerbs and a lack of pedestrian walkways to cross the car park.
  • There are not parent and child parking bays available.
  • There is a designated drop-off point without a dropped kerb.
  • A Blue Badge parking area will be roped off when in use.

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 the visitor reception area in the castle. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
  • Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.
  • Umbrellas are available to borrow from visitor reception.

Route to (the Castle Main Entrance)

  • From the car park follow the path towards the castle.
    Go through the first archway.
    The main entrance is to the left rear of the courtyard.
  • The route to the area is step-free level.
  • Path surfaces along the route are tarmac, gravel and paving stones.
  • The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There is no accessible shuttle to this area.

Entrance (Main)

  • The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the castle.
  • There is stepped access at the entrance.
  • There are 3 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
  • All of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
  • The width of the opening is 184cm.
  • There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
  • The width of the opening is 106cm.

Visitor Reception

  • There is step-free level access around the area.
  • The majority of aisle widths are under 150cm.
  • There is no room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) within the majority of the area.
  • The flooring is not smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet and uneven paving/tiles.
  • There is step-free level access to the counter.
  • The height of the counter is 82cm.
  • The counter does not have a hearing assistance system.
  • 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 low.

Route to (the Castle Accessible Entrance)

  • From the car park follow the path towards the castle.
    Go through the first archway.
    Go to the right of the castle, and through another archway to the right.
    The accessible entrance is on the left.
  • The route to the area is step-free level.
  • Path surfaces along the route are tarmac, gravel and paving stones.
  • The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There is no accessible shuttle to this area.

Entrance (Accessible)

  • The entrance surveyed is located to right hand side of the castle.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
  • The width of the opening is 150cm.
  • There is a second manual door which opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 83cm.

Event Space (Chapel)

  • Access into the activity area is via a step.
  • There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
  • The door is manual, permanently held open and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The width of the door opening is 78cm.
  • Internally the door has a medium colour contrast.
  • There is step-free level access around the space.
  • Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • There are bench seats available in the space.
  • The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs.
  • The space does not have a hearing assistance system.

Tour

  • The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
  • The tour takes approximately 45 minutes.
  • There is step-free access via ramp along the tour route.
  • 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 an information booklet.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
  • Tour information includes the following formats: information board.
  • Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
  • The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
  • There are 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 along parts of the tour route.
  • A ramp is available to bypass the steps on the ground floor from the sub-solar room into the great hall.

Standard Toilet (Female - Sub Solar Room)

  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • The door is manual, opens inwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The width of the door opening is 103cm.
  • Internally the door has a medium colour contrast.
  • The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 64cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • There are no hand dryers.
  • There is a baby change facility which is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • There is a diagonal grab rail on the right as you face the toilet.

Stairs (Up)

  • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
  • There are more than 20 steps between floors.
  • The steps are not clearly marked with no handrails.
  • The highest step is 22cm high.
  • This is a spiral staircase and will be narrower in some areas.
  • Lighting levels are varied.
  • The stairscase is narrow in places.

Stairs (Down)

  • The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1, G.
  • There are 18 steps between floors.
  • The steps are not clearly marked with no handrails.
  • The highest step is 19cm high.
  • This is a spiral staircase and will be narrower in some areas.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • There is a partial rope on the left going down to aid support.

Exit

  • The exit is located beyond the visitor reception.
  • There is not step-free access at the exit.
  • There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
  • The steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm) .
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
  • The width of the opening is 118cm.