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Dunster Castle and Watermill - Watermill Tea Room

Dunster Castle, Dunster, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6NY

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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 and a manual door.
  • This entrance is on the decked area.
  • There are 2 floors once inside.
  • Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
  • There is step-free access to the ground floor only once inside.
  • There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
  • 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: standard toilets and a toilet with some adaptations.
  • The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found at the top of the stairwell, out of the side room in the tea room..
  • This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 15m from the main entrance.
  • The standard toilets surveyed can be found lower ground floor.

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.
  • You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
  • You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: trampers. 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 visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
  • The trampers need to be booked prior to visiting.

Route to (the Watermill Tea Room)

  • From the visitor reception turn left taking the less sloped path.
    Continue along this path until you come to a fork and turn right.
    After passing through the River Gardens you will go through some black gates past the Watermill.
    Approximately 50 metres further along the track, the tea room will be on the left.
  • The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
  • Path surfaces along the route are compact earth, tarmac and gravel.
  • The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There is no accessible shuttle to this area.

Ramp or Slope (Main Entrance)

  • The ramp is steep and between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.

Entrance (Main)

  • The entrance surveyed is located on the decked area.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 82cm.

Eating and Drinking

  • This is a café which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
  • Staff can provide assistance and offer service to tables.
  • Menu types include: handheld menus and menu boards.
  • Menus are easy to read (large clear font with contrasting colours).
  • The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups and a portable card machine for payment.
  • Lighting levels are bright.
  • There is 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 90cm 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 tables, high tables, high stools and chairs without armrests available in the seating area.
  • The seating area does not have: a priority table and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
  • There are some tables which are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The surface height of the tables is 76cm.
  • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.

Entrance (Stairwell)

  • The entrance surveyed is located in the side room.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 82cm.

Toilet with Adaptations (Watermill Tea Room - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)

  • This toilet is located at the top of the stairwell, to the rear of the side room.
  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • This toilet is approximately 20m from the main entrance.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • The door is manual, opens outwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The width of the toilet door opening is 81cm.
  • The door has a locking handle.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 135cm x 200cm 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 81cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
  • There is a spatula flush on the 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 and hand dryer.
  • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
  • The height of the toilet roll holder is 103cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
  • The height of the wash basin is 73cm.
  • The height of the soap dispenser is 92cm.
  • The height of the towel dispenser is 96cm.
  • The height of the hand dryer is 96cm.
  • 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 sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
  • The cubicle does not have a full length mirror and coat hooks.
  • The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat, the dropdown rail, the floor and all grab rails.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.
  • Lighting levels are bright.

Stairs (to Lower Ground Floor Seating, Garden, Picnic Area and Standard Toilets)

  • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, LG.
  • There are 14 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked with a handrail on the right going down.
  • The highest step is 19cm high.
  • Lighting levels are bright.

Entrance (Lower Ground Floor Seating Area)

  • The entrance surveyed is located at the bottom of the stairwell.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 78cm.

Exit (Garden)

  • The exit is located at the bottom of the stairwell.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 85cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of less than 1.5cm.

Exit (Lower Ground Floor Seating Area to Garden)

  • The exit is located within the lower ground floor seating area.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 80cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of less than 1.5cm.

Ramp or Slope and Steps (to Garden, Picnic Area and Standard Toilets)

  • The ramp is steep and between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are 10 or more steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked with handrails on both sides.

Picnic Area

  • The following information describes the picnic area located to the rear of the building, next to the river.
  • There are picnic tables.
  • Some chairs have armrests on both sides.
  • Adapted picnic tables are not available.
  • The distance between the floor and the underside of the lowest picnic table is 69cm.
  • The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest picnic table is 69cm.
  • The standard height for the underside of picnic tables is 73cm.
  • The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the chairs and all of the tables.
  • There is step-free level access around some of the area.
  • The surface in the picnic area is not smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to uneven paving/tiles, grass and gravel.

Standard Toilet

  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • The door is manual, permanently held open and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The width of the door opening is 78cm.
  • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
  • The gender neutral toilet was surveyed.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever.
  • Lighting levels are bright.
  • There are hand dryers.
  • There is a baby change facility at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.