Accessible Britain

THE WEST MIDLANDS AND WEST COUNTRY
Log Cabin Café – from there a solid wooden footbridge starts the path up the hill. The
total distance from the car park to the summit is around 450 yards. The inclines along
the way are not too extreme, but if you’re using a manual wheelchair, assistance may be
required in some places. At the viewpoint, low walls allow wheelchair users to enjoy the
glorious views and the first-rate birdwatching possibilities – if you visit between April
and August, look out for the pair of peregrine falcons that nest in the area.
When you’ve had your fill of the views – and if you’ve still got energy to spare –
you could finish your day at the aMazing Hedge Puzzle, a few miles over the river
in Symonds Yat West. This perfectly formed maze, one of the largest in the UK, is
composed of six-foot-high, three-foot-wide hedges; it’s quite a challenge, but great fun
and a big hit with kids. Note that you can only exit the maze by finding the centre
or going backwards, so this is not something to undertake if you might need to exit
quickly. The hard, wide paths are fine for wheelchairs, though the viewing platform
in the middle can only be accessed via a metal staircase. Those on foot, however, will
appreciate the well-deserved rest seats. The attraction has designated disabled parking
and a RADAR key-accessible toilet.
FOOD & DRINK aa Symonds Yat Rock has the Log Cabin Café on site (Mar–Oct daily; Feb
& Nov Sat & Sun only; closed Dec & Jan). Alternatively, The Saracens Head (01600
890435, www.saracensheadinn.co.uk), at Symonds Yat East, a two-mile drive away, has
outdoor seating overlooking the river, a ramped side entrance and a disabled toilet.
The aMazing Hedge Puzzle has its own tearoom, serving cakes, teas and light lunches.
095 WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
Address: Slimbridge GL2 7BT Web: www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge Tel: 01453 891900
Hours: daily Nov–Mar 9.30am–5.00pm; Apr–Oct 9.30am–5.30pm; last entry one hour before closing
Dates: closed 25 Dec Entry: [D]£12.70 [C]free [A]£12.70 [4–16s]£7 [Con]£9.80 [Fam]£35.50
You may imagine that wetland centres are frequented solely by fanatical ornithologists
brandishing binoculars and talking about obscure species. But in fact, the Wildfowl & Wetlands
Trust (WWT) work hard to ensure their habitats are fun places for everyone to visit.
Situated beside the Severn Estuary, Slimbridge Wetland Centre is the jewel in the crown
of the nine WWT locations in Britain. Visitors are free to roam in the same wetland area
as many of the birds, and can get very close – feeding of some species is allowed, using bird
food available on site. Other species, including flamingoes, are in outdoor open enclosures.
In the visitor centre there is an excellent daily talk on frogs and toads, and back outside,
beavers, otters, voles, shrews and harvest mice can be seen. Small children won’t be able to
resist splashing around in the Welly Boot Land wet play area – remember to bring a change
of clothes! The pond dipping area is also great for kids wanting to discover mini aquatic
beasties. Canoes are available for hire if you want a duck’s-eye-view of the reed beds.
There is a large car park, with plenty of disabled spaces, next to the visitor centre
and entrance. A long ramp leads up to the reception area where you can get a map
and advice on what to see. All the paths are tarmac, hard gravel or boardwalks, while
routes around the different areas of the grounds vary from a quarter of a mile to a full
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