Accessible Britain

costume. Hand-held electronic guides (included in ticket price) enhance the experience,
particularly while touring the battlefield outside. Using GPS, the guides beep when you
arrive at points of interest and give you background detail, mostly through audio clips,
but with some supporting illustrations and video on-screen. You won’t need a beep
to notice the Cumberland Stone – the giant boulder that’s supposed to mark the spot
where the Duke of Cumberland took up his position to direct the battle.
There are fourteen Blue Badge spaces, and it’s just a short stroll or push to the
entrance of the centre, which has level access throughout. A rooftop viewing area can
be accessed by an external ramp, which is not too steep (1:21) but rather long, so some
wheelchair users may need assistance. It’s worth the effort of getting up there though –
this has the best view of the grounds. On the battlefield itself, hard-surfaced paths are
pushable but undulating in places; again, wheelchair users may need help. Accessible
toilets are just inside the visitor centre entrance and wheelchairs and powered scooters
are available to borrow.
FOOD & DRINK aa The on-site café-restaurant serves good food in a light and spacious
dining room with a patio and fine countryside views. It also has a children’s play area.
133 RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre, Highlands
Address: off the B970, 10 miles from Aviemore (follow RSPB “Ospreys” road signs) Web: www.rspb.org.
uk/reserves Tel: 01479 831476 Hours: daily Apr–Aug 10am–6pm (last entry 5pm); check website for
details of spring opening for Caper-watch Dates: closed Sep–Mar; wider reserve open year-round Entry:
[D]£3 [C]free [A]£5 [under 16s]£2 [Con]£3 [Fam]£10
SCOTLAND
The RSPB’s Osprey Centre – nestling in mature pine forest, near the spot where these
stunning fish-eating birds of prey returned to breed in Scotland – is a mecca for nature
lovers the world over.
Small and well-appointed, it teems with viewing slots and equipment, with some
binoculars and telescopes set low for children and wheelchair users. You get great views
of the osprey nest through these, as well as opportunities to scan for the myriad of small
birds feeding nearby, including, if you’re lucky, chirpy Scottish crossbills, and punkheaded
crested tits. While the Centre doesn’t have dedicated facilities for people with
sensory disabilities, enthusiastic staff are happy to describe the action, and numerous
audio and video feeds from the osprey nest bring the atmosphere close up. Further
afield, in the surrounding Abernethy forest, with a bit of luck, you may see highly
endangered capercaillies, roe deer, common lizards and even otters.
The Centre is extremely well signposted from the A9. There are two disabled parking
spaces near to the reception and toilet block, and with prior arrangement those with
more limited mobility are permitted to drive the last 330 yards to the door, and park
right outside the Centre. Otherwise visitors can follow a gently undulating and wellcompacted
path to the Centre – a chance to take in the hyperactive red squirrels that
appear as if on cue. A gentle ramp takes you inside, where all is on one level and fully
wheelchair accessible. The unisex adapted toilet – an eco-friendly composting facility
– is between the car park and the Centre. There is one wheelchair available to borrow,
154