Access Guide

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Summary

View information about opening hours.
The most accessible entrance has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
This entrance is from the castle tour.
There is step-free access once inside.
There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
The following are also available: seating, a clearly signed hearing assistance system 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.
The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is across the corridor from the exit to the castle shop. View information about this toilet (new tab).
Additional toilet facilities with adaptations for disabled people are just off the courtyard near the entrance to the castle café. View information about this toilet (new tab).

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.

After exiting the visitor centre follow the gravel path up the hill until the path splits.
Turn right and follow the path until you reach the end and are facing the corner of the castle.
Bear right then continue, keeping the castle on your left. Go through the two archways and then go through the door to the left.
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.
The visitor shuttle can take a wheelchair but it needs to be folded up first.

The following information describes the picnic area located on the left of the courtyard before you reach the café.
Access into the area is via a slight ramp/slope.
The slope is over 150cm wide.
There are tables.
No chairs have armrests on both sides.
The surface height of the lowest table is 74cm.
The surface height of the highest table is 74cm.
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 uneven paving/tiles and gravel.

The entrance surveyed is located at the far side of the courtyard.
There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
This entrance has a bell.
Features not positioned at a suitable height for a wheelchair user include: the bell.
There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
The width of the opening is 110cm.
There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.
There is a slight ramp between 75cm and 150cm wide beyond the entrance, with no handrails.

The entrance surveyed is located opposite the castle shop.
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 112cm.
There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.
There is an open doorway beyond the entrance to the right with a width of 155cm.

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: written wall menus and menu boards.
Menus are easy to read (large clear font with contrasting colours).
The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups, two handled cups, easy grip cutlery, takeaway cutlery and a portable card machine for payment.
Lighting levels are moderate to good.
There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
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 with a tray rail.
The counter is 85cm 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 and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests available in the seating area.
The seating area does not have: a priority table.
Tables are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
The surface height of the tables is 75cm.
All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.