Accessible Britain

051 Haldon Forest Park, Devon
Address: Haldon Forest Park, Kennford EX6 7XR Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/haldonforestpark Tel: 0300
0675826 (ranger’s office; info and Tramper bookings) Hours: daily; Apr–Oct 8.30am–9pm; Nov–Mar
8.30am–5pm Dates: closed 25 Dec Entry: free; parking: £2–£4 (car), £15 (coaches)
The Forestry Commission’s Haldon Forest Park has miles of graded walking, cycling
and horseriding trails set in 3500 acres of glorious Devon woodland. Its accessibility
means everyone can get a taste of the great outdoors and potentially spot birds of prey,
butterflies and the rare black fallow deer that live in the forest.
The park has two circular, 1.5-mile-long “all-ability” trails suitable for wheelchairs
and people with restricted mobility. The Discovery Trail is quite level, and takes in a
great viewpoint, while the Mamhead Sensory Trail offers tactile interpretation boards
and sensory waymarkers as well as features designed to stimulate your senses. Besides
these, there are several more demanding trails, which include sloping or rougher
surfaces; visitors can hire special all-terrain powered scooters known as Trampers,
which can handle the trails with ease (if you’ve never used a Tramper before, you’ll
need to call in advance to arrange a short training session). In addition, you can hire
specialist bicycles including wheelchair and recumbent bikes from Forest Cycle Hire
(01392 833768) or even take a guided “glide” around the forest with Go-Segway! on
their two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicles (07545 917416).
The main car park, from where most trails are accessed, has three disabled spaces and
a fully accessible toilet. Nearby you’ll find the ranger office, the café and the cycle hire and
Tramper hire outlets (these can be brought to your car if requested). The rangers can help
THE SOUTHWEST
Haldon Forest Park
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