Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has a steep ramp/slope.
- This entrance is The pathway to the left of the Brewhouse café.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: a large map in the car park and an information board in the car park.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
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 and fidget toys.
- 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: an off-road/all-terrain mobility scooter. 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.
- Visitors should call 01732 462 100 to book the powered mobility vehicle at least 23 hours in advance. The rollator can be borrowed for use in the upper showrooms.
Route to (Parkland)
- From the car park walk past the front of the building and turn left. the 3 routes are ahead.
- The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope and is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are muddy and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no accessible shuttle to this area.
Outdoor Spaces
- This information is for the access point located directly beyond the car park.
- Access into the area is via slight ramps/slopes.
- The slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- The access points to the area are located The outdoor space surrounds the car park in all directions.
- There is open access at the surveyed access point.
- The following outdoor facilities are available: parkland and woodland.
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: wood bark, grass, gravel, bonded gravel, compact earth, uncompacted earth, sand and loose stones.
- Footpaths are available in some of the outdoor spaces.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- There are slight ramps/slopes without handrails and steep ramps/slopes without handrails in the main areas .
- There is a slight slope on the pathway leading to the main entrance and the walks beyond. There is also a steep slope to the left of the main building leading down to the Brewhouse Café and the pathway beyond.
- There are some bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
Hikes and Trails
- The walk is approximately 5km.
- The most accessible walk is along the pathway to the left of the Brewhouse Café via a steep slope where visitors can join Broad Walk and complete the remaining section of the Family walk before returning via the pathway alongside the Brewhouse Café. At the time of the survey (February 2024) this walk is not featured on maps, but there are plans to include an accessible route soon. There are three mapped walks which all start at the Gatehouse Tower. The 5km circular family walk is coloured red and carries straight on past the Tower before turning left until it reaches Broad Walk. Turn right and this wide pathway continues to the southern edge of the park where the walk turns sharply to the left onto Chestnut walk. It then takes a pathway on the left through woodland until it meets Broad Walk once more, taking visitors back to the Tower the way they came. The 5km Boundary walk is coloured black on signs and carries straight on past the Tower before following the boundary of the park in a counter clockwise direction, returning to the Tower. The 4km Woodland Ramble is coloured blue and broadly follows a similar route to the family walk whilst following a route through woodland with grass and compacted earth under foot. This circular route also returns to the Tower.
- The walk is not open 24 hours.
- None of the paths are lit at night.
- The route includes the following surfaces: grass, bonded gravel and compacted gravel.
- Some of the route contains steep gradients and very uneven surfaces.
- These are found in the following areas: On all walks there is a steep gradient on the pathway from Chestnut Walk to Broad Walk.
- There are alternative routes to avoid these areas.
- The route is clearly signposted.
- The route has information boards with large maps, handheld maps and online maps.
- Seating is not available on the route.
- There are no toilet facilities along the route.
- There is an information board with map by the car park and by the main entrance.