Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has step-free level access and a manual door.
- This entrance is at the front of the shop.
- There is step-free access once inside.
- 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: a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: step free standard toilets and an accessible toilet for the use of everyone.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found in the courtyard near to the shop..
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 10m from the shop entrance..
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found in the courtyard near to the shop.
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.
- Sensory packs can be borrowed which include: ear defenders, fidget toys, magnifying glass, torch and accessible maps.
- You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.
Route to (the Shops)
- Proceed past visitor reception along the main pathway.
Shortly before the end of the pathway, turn right into the courtyard containing the shops and toilets.
Turn left and proceed down the slope towards the toilet block.
The shops are on the left. - The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac and concrete.
- 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.
- A folded wheelchair can be carried on the shuttle if the visitor can transfer from the wheelchair to a seat.
Shop (Gifts)
- There is step-free level access into the shop.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 82cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- All flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
- There is step-free level access around the shop.
- There is background noise here.
- Lighting levels are bright.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 95cm.
- There is a low level counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The counter is placed in front of a patterned background.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- Services/facilities available in the shop include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There are product stands externally at the front of the shop.
Shop (Books)
- Access into the shop 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 88cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- The majority of aisle widths are under 150cm.
- Flooring in the shop is not smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- There is step-free level access around the shop.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are bright.
- Books must be taken to the gift shop or visitor reception for payment.
Entrance (Courtyard Toilets)
- The entrance surveyed is located in the courtyard near the shop.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 80cm.
Toilet with Adaptations (Courtyard - Accessible - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located in the courtyard near to the shop.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 10m from the shop entrance.
- There is pictorial and written text 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 86cm.
- The door has a lever twist lock.
- Internally the door has a medium colour contrast.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 198cm x 255cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat.
- The lateral transfer space is 128cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a push button 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 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 and wash basin.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: soap dispenser, towel dispenser and hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 95cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 73cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 78cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 83cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 88cm.
- The height of the baby change is 80cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is a shelf located where it is not reachable for seated and standing users.
- The shelf does meet the criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets. For the Stoma Friendly Toilets criteria click here and select the Stoma Friendly tab in the right hand pane.
- The cubicle has: a waste bin with lid, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror and coat hooks.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the dropdown rail, the toilet seat and the floor.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.
- Lighting levels are bright.
Standard Toilet (Courtyard)
- 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 70cm.
- Internally the door has a medium 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 55cm.
- The wash basin tap type is push.
- Lighting levels are bright.
- There are hand dryers.