Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms and historic interiors.
- The most accessible entrance has steps, a steep ramp/slope (which bypasses any steps), a manual door and a door permanently held open.
- 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.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: seating, a clearly signed hearing assistance system, a virtual tour and on site-transport.
- 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: an accessible toilet for the use of everyone, a toilet with some adaptations and standard toilets.
- There are 2 toilets with adaptations for disabled people.
- The toilets with adaptations for disabled people can be found just off the castle courtyard and at the accessible exit from the castle, both of which are near the castle café and shop.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found in the castle courtyard near the castle café and shop.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has a step and manual doors.
- The entrance can be used to exit by visitors with limited mobility.
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, binoculars, magnifying glass and torch.
- 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 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.
Route to (the Castle)
- After leaving the visitor centre follow the gravel path up the hill.
When the path splits take the path to the right and follow it until you are facing the castle.
Bear left and follow the path through the archway and the entrance to the castle will be directly ahead. - The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are gravel.
- 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.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located at the end of the driveway and after passing through the arch.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The steep ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with a handrail on the left going up.
- The ramp overcomes the steps.
- There are 2 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 128cm.
- There is a second manual door which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 118cm.
- There is a steep ramp between 75cm and 150cm wide beyond the entrance, with no handrails.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 45 minutes.
- There is stepped access along the tour route.
- The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
- The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a virtual tour and a photo album.
- The tour route may vary depending on the season.
- There is background noise which varies, depending on the time of day.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information board.
- The tour has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There are bench seats and chairs 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.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- Lighting levels are varied throughout the tour route.
Stairs (Ground Floor to First Floor)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 1.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with no handrails.
- The highest step is 16cm high.
- Lighting levels are varied.
Steps (Ante Lobby)
- There are 8 steps.
- The steps are not clearly marked and there are no handrails.
- Lighting levels are low.
Steps (End of Ante Lobby Corridor)
- There are 8 steps.
- The steps are not clearly marked and there are no handrails.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Stairs (First Floor to Ground Floor)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1 and G.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with no handrails.
- The highest step is 17cm high.
- Lighting levels are varied.
Stairs (to Exit)
- There are 14 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
- Lighting levels are low.
Exit (from the Stairs)
- The exit is located to the right after exiting the castle shop.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 85cm.
Picnic Area
- The following information describes the picnic area located at the northern side of castle.
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- There are picnic tables.
- No chairs have armrests on both sides.
- Adapted picnic tables are available.
- The distance between the floor and the underside of the lowest picnic table is 72cm.
- The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest picnic table is 81cm.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs and all of the tables.
- There is step-free level access around 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 grass and gravel.
Toilet with Adaptations (Staff Area - Ambulant - Left Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located in the staff area, with access allowed after asking permission.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 7m from the exit to the castle shop.
- There is no signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 75cm.
- The door has a sliding bolt lock.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 199cm x 151cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat.
- The lateral transfer space is 103cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the non transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door and a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder, wash basin, soap dispenser, towel dispenser and hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 42cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 104cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- The height of the wash basin is 78cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 97cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 82cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 91cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a waste bin with lid 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: the internal door, all grab rails and the dropdown rail.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the floor and the toilet seat.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Ramp or Slope and Steps (from Courtyard up to Inner Courtyard)
- The ramp is steep and between 75cm and 150cm wide.
- The ramp has a handrail on the left going up.
- There are 8 steps.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up.
- The ramp overcomes the steps.
- There is a short part of the ramp where there are handrails on both sides, then just on the left going up.
Toilet with Adaptations (off the Castle Courtyard - Accessible - Transfer Both Sides)
- This toilet is located just off the courtyard near the entrance to the castle café.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 95cm.
- The door has a twist lock.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 213cm x 259cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
- There are lateral transfer spaces on both sides of the seat.
- The transfer space on the left as you face the toilet is 90cm.
- The transfer space on the right as you face the toilet is 87cm.
- There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
- There is a dropdown rail on both sides of the seat.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: wash basin, soap dispenser and towel dispenser.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 46cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 71cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 93cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 89cm.
- 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 reachable for seated and standing users.
- The shelf does not 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 nappy/incontinence items bin, a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror.
- The height of the coat hook is 138cm from the floor.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat, all grab rails, all dropdown rails, the floor and the internal door.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is also an outer door before the main door into the toilet. This opens away from you, has good colour contrast both externally and internally and is 81cm wide.
Standard Toilet (Castle Entrance Archway - Female)
- Access into the toilet is via steps.
- There are 2 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 78cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 71cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
Standard Toilet (Castle Courtyard near Castle Café and Shop - Male)
- Access into the toilet is via a step.
- There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 66cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 72cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
Standard Toilet (Castle Courtyard near Castle Café and Shop - Female)
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 66cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 72cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
- There is a baby change facility which is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The baby change has a wash basin with a lever mixer tap.