Accessible Britain

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Silent Valley Nature Trail NORTHERN IRELAND The Silent Valley Nature Trail is a gorgeous, very accessible, loop of about a mile through the Kilkeel River Valley, amid the Mourne Mountains’ spectacular scenery. It begins at the car park a short distance south of the Silent Valley Reservoir, which was built in the 1920s to provide Belfast with a new water supply; part of the trail follows the old railway line that brought supplies and materials to the construction site. Gently undulating, with no steps, the route passes through heathland and woodland, and over the Kilkeel River on an accessible wooden bridge. Look out for the numerous dragonflies and damselflies by the riverside – you might be able to spot trout or salmon in the water too. In spring and summer there are lots of butterflies, as well as a good covering of wildflowers, including bluebells, dog violets and foxgloves. You can extend your journey to take in the reservoir itself, an impressive sight against a stunning backdrop of rippling hills. There’s also a children’s play park, picnic area and other walking trails, with podcasts for walkers to download as they head into the wild. The nature trail is part of Silent Valley Mountain Park, which has a fully accessible visitor centre operated by Northern Ireland Water. There is a car park with four disabled spaces close to the start of the trail, and there are two additional Blue Badge spaces next to the visitor centre. There’s one fully accessible toilet in the car park and another at the visitor centre. The trail itself is level and constructed of light gravel and cinder; in theory it’s an all-weather surface, but it can sometimes get muddy in wet weather. There are plenty of rest benches along the route. FOOD & DRINK aa There’s also a beautifully sited picnic area by the river, on the trail, with wheelchair-accessible tables. A seasonal café next to the visitor centre serves cakes, sandwiches and drinks, though wheelchair users might find it a bit cramped inside. 200
Useful contacts This chapter features Rough Guides’ pick of the specialist organisations and independent companies that provide advice, assistance and services to help disabled people with holidays and day trips in <strong>Britain</strong>. Getting around has the lowdown on practical services for your day-to-day travel needs. Travel advice flags up the disability charities and organisations that, in addition to their everyday work, provide travel and leisure advice and aid. Here we also champion the specialist providers of UK accessible travel and holiday information. And finally, British tourism highlights the regional and national tourist boards and keepers of national heritage whose access information and advice stands out from the rest. Getting around Bus pass scheme, England Free off-peak travel on the whole English local bus network is now available for over 60s and disabled people. Passes are usually available from the local council. Some councils offer additional benefits such as peak-time travel. Further information at www.gov.uk/ apply-for-disabled-bus-pass Bus pass schemes, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland operate independent bus pass schemes. In Wales, contact your local council for a pass you can use on buses at any time of day. A similar scheme is run by Transport Scotland www. transportscotland.gov.uk and requires a National Entitlement card. In Northern Ireland, check Translink www.translink. co.uk for details of access, fares and available assistance. Changing Places www.changingplaces.org England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 020 76966019; changingplaces@ mencap.org.uk Scotland: 01382 385154 pamischangingplaces@dundee.ac.uk This consortium campaigns for public toilets for people who require non-standard access features, including hoists and height adjustable changing benches. The website has a map of current and planned Changing Places toilet locations with opening hours. Disability Rights UK www. disabilityrightsuk.org; 020 7258181; enquiries@disabilityrightsuk.org Campaigning network of organisations and disabled people who operate the National RADAR Key Scheme for accessible toilets. They also publish a guide to the key scheme that lists details of the 7000 UK toilets. Disabled Persons Railcard www. disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk; 0345 6050525; textphone 0345 6010132; disability@atoc.org Concessionary railcard that costs £20 annually, but allows 1/3 off most standard and first-class rail fares for those with a disability (plus an adult companion, if train travel presents difficulties). The website also has useful 201
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THE ROUGH GUIDE to Accessible Brita
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Enjoy even more fun, family days ou
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Contents Click on any chapter to go
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About this book Designed to be good
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HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS IWM Duxford (E.
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Brockholes Nature Reserve (Northwes
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London 001 The Roundhouse 002 Wembl
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It’s the colour of the pitch - su
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On the site of the London 2012 Olym
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LONDON ZSL London Zoo FOOD & DRINK
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The tour starts in the MCC Museum w
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LONDON Royal Opera House FOOD & DRI
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LONDON London Transport Museum ther
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Ideas aa Art and sculpture Tate St
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016 Westminster Abbey Address: 20 D
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hop-on/hop-off at any stop along th
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the Painted Hall and chapel. There
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023 Horniman Museum and Gardens Add
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024 Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire
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Parents of any disabled child will
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If you’d rather go sightseeing, h
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FOOD & DRINK aa The sizeable Studio
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In 1842, when the young Charles Dar
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grotto and birds of prey centre 10a
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populated by grazing sheep and the
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available on request, subject to av
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Beach: Address: The Estate Office,
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Emirates Spinnaker Tower THE SOUTHE
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043 Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Br
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and the tidal pools, as well as aro
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centre whose residents range from d
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Temple of Flora and Palladian Bridg
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051 Haldon Forest Park, Devon Addre
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you can pre-book bikes with trailer
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Weymouth and Portland National Sail
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Octavia the octopus always draws a
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Trengwainton Garden THE SOUTHWEST p
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Lincoln Cathedral 059 Lincoln Cathe
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Ideas aa Animal sanctuaries Bolderw
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Holkham Hall Reserve: in summer you
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FOOD & DRINK aa The T&D café bar o
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a wheelchair, while benches provide
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Southwold Pier side and in all the
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Wicken Fen is one of Britain’s ol
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depending on what you most fancy se
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field Cavendish AM LE field Pentlow
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floor has a large step up to it, bu
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M6 M1 Barrow-in-Furness The West Mi
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A619 080 Peak District Scenic Drive
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a boat across it or admire it from
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084 RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire
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Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museu
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FOOD & DRINK aa The on-site café i
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Severn Valley Railway Northwood), a
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091 Royal Shakespeare Company, Warw
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Hereford Cathedral FOOD & DRINK aa
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WWT Slimbridge mile. To take the wh
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M18 The Northwest MID LOTHIAN Berwi
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South of Grasmere you’ll pass the
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it’s a fairly steep hundred-yard
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103 Brockholes Nature Reserve, Lanc
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Southport Pier 105 Airkix Indoor Sk
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the whole site (even the sewer syst
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installations in a converted docksi
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Anderton Boat Lift Blue Badge holde
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M18 The Northeast and Yorkshire 113
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smooth, solid surfaces, although it
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Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the
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fully accessible bus, with a wheelc
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efreshments, call in at the friendl
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Betty’s Tea Rooms, Harrogate If y
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Roundhay Park of here sits The Mans
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(book in advance). The museum has a
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Yorkshire Wildlife Park 128 Magna S
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Page 167 and 168: provide a stunning backdrop to the
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Page 203 and 204: advice on available facilities for
Page 205 and 206: than state what is possible. Predic
Page 207: Credits Reviewers: Claire-Louise Ba
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Accessible Britain

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