Accessible Britain

smooth, solid surfaces, although it is large, with some slight gradients. Sixteen powered
scooters and wheelchairs are available for three-hour slots, free of charge (advance
booking advised) – check out the scooter-use map available free at reception. At
the time of writing, the charitable trust was raising funds to construct an all-ability
adventure playground.
FOOD & DRINK aa The Treehouse restaurant is a fairly pricey but magical place to eat. If
you’d prefer something lighter, try The Potting Shed located on the Treehouse decking or
the Pavilion Café, which overlooks the Grand Cascade. All these venues are accessible.
114 High House Farm Brewery, Northumberland
Address: Matfen, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0RG Web: www.highhousefarmbrewery.co.uk Tel: 01661
886192 Hours: Sun–Tues 10.30am–5pm, Thurs–Sat 10.30am–9pm Dates: closed Wed, closed 25 Dec;
check ahead for Christmas & New Year closure Entry: Free; Tours [D]£6 [C]free [A]£6 [under 18s]£3 [Con]£6
Not far from Hadrian’s Wall, this award-winning brewery is housed in converted, listed
buildings on the two-hundred-acre High House Farm. It’s a working farm, complete
with all the traditional farmyard smells, but these are quickly swamped with the thick,
hoppy scent of the brewing process.
Founded in 2003, the brewery produces a constantly expanding range of seasonal
beers. Ferocious Fred is an almost black ale, named after the farm’s grumpy and
boisterous bull, while Nettle Ale is brewed to a fourteenth-century recipe with comfrey
and ginger replacing the hops. On the real ale tour, you can learn about the beer-making
process and sample the results. Everything in the brewery is housed in one complex.
Entering from the large car park you’re directed up an external staircase, but you can
enter independently downstairs, where there’s a platform lift. Upstairs you’ll find a large
tearoom and a bar serving High House ales, and spacious shop selling bottled ales and
local delicacies. This is where you enter the brewery and the ale tour. A cut-away floor
allows visitors to listen to the tour guide while overlooking the brewing equipment
below – a real boon for disabled visitors because it provides a unique perspective, and
lets you avoid the hassle of navigating around the tanks. On the tour, walkers descend
a staircase to get a hands-on experience, and a platform lift is available so everyone can
participate.
Outside, after the tour, there’s a circular country lane walk, or a farm walk, though
these may be tricky in a wheelchair, due to the uneven surfaces and mud – read the
excellent trail descriptions on the website before you go, to work out whether they’re
suitable for you. The car park is large and level, but has loose shale that wheelchair users
will need to take care with. The old shell of the building remains, but the interior has
been cleverly modernised so, once inside, this is a surprisingly disabled-friendly place,
and every element of the tour can be accessed. There’s a good toilet, small ramps for
occasional changes in floor levels, solid smooth wooden floors and lots of space.
FOOD & DRINK aa As well as the bar and tearoom, there’s a very comfortable restaurant next
to the visitor centre, serving hot lunches and hearty dinners. Try the traditional apple and
raspberry crumble – it’s perfect washed down with a pint of High House ale.
THE NORTHEAST AND YORKSHIRE
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