Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this area include: a reception and parkland.
- The most accessible entrance has a steep ramp/slope and a gate.
- This entrance is beyond the Spread Eagle Courtyard.
- 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, an accessible route map and on site-transport.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is in the Spread Eagle Courtyard. View information about this toilet (new tab).
- Additional toilet facilities with adaptations for disabled people are near to visitor reception near to the car park. View information about this toilet (new tab).
- On site-transport includes a shuttle bus service from the main car park to the Spread Eagle Courtyard and golf buggy tours around the garden. Please call ahead to ensure they are available.
There are also guided walks around the garden. Please call ahead to find out if they are available.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs and mountain trikes. 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, soft toy and accessible maps.
- You can borrow these from the Access Hub. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: off-road/all-terrain mobility scooters. 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.
- Hire charges do not apply, however, there is a donation box.
There is a pop up quiet/sensory tent available for visitors to borrow.
There is no Braille map available, but there is a Braille guide for borrowing, plus a large print guide.
A stair climber is available to book in advance.
Please call 01747 842 030 to book these in advance, or email stourheadestate@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Route to (the Landscape Garden Lakeside)
- From the visitor reception take the pathway from the exit down to the Spread Eagle Courtyard.
The shuttle bus takes visitors from visitor reception to the Spread Eagle Courtyard, next to the bookshop.
There are also Blue Badge parking bays located in the car park next to the Spread Eagle Courtyard.
Proceed through the courtyard and turn left onto a roadway that will take you to the entrance gate and landscape garden visitor reception on the right. - The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
- The Spread Eagle Courtyard surface is uneven in places due to brick tiles.
Along the top route into the garden from Gate A (House Entrance), there are concrete gullies in the pathway.
Visitor Reception (Lakeside)
- Access into the area is via a steep ramp/slope.
- The slope is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is step-free access via ramp to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 90cm.
- There is not a low level section at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
- Services/facilities available include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- There is a steep slope from the reception back to the main path.
If visitors are unable to access the counter due to the slope, they can enter via the exit gate, which bypasses the payment counter.
Outdoor Spaces (Lakeside)
- This information is for the access point located at the bottom of the path leading from the Spread Eagle Courtyard.
- Access into the area is via a steep ramp/slope.
- The slope is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is open access at the surveyed access point.
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: grass and bonded gravel.
- Footpaths are available in all of the outdoor space.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is step-free level access around some of the area.
- There are slight ramps/slopes without handrails and steep ramps/slopes without handrails in the main areas.
- There are trampers available to hire and there is buggy service available to transport visitors around the lake.
There is a very steep slope between the lakeside area and the upper gardens. - There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
- There are a number of buildings located around the lake which visitors can access including the Temple Flora which is accessed by a step and double doors, The Gothic Cottage which is accessed by 2 steps and a single width door, The Pantheon which is accessed by 6 steps and double doors and the Temple of Apollo which is accessed by a long steep slope to the path around the temple and 9 steps and double doors into the temple.
Route to (Upper Gardens)
- From visitor reception, take the pathway from the exit down to the footbridge over the road.
Then walk through the walled garden which leads to a roadway leading slightly uphill to the upper gardens. - The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
- There is a shuttle bus from visitor reception to the house.
Visitor Reception (Upper Gardens)
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 103cm.
- There is not a low level section 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 could not be tested at the time of the survey.
- Services/facilities available include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
Outdoor Spaces (Upper Gardens)
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: grass and bonded gravel.
- Footpaths are available in all of the outdoor space.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- There are steep ramps/slopes without handrails in the main areas.
- There is a steep slope leading down from the upper gardens to the lakeside area.
- There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.