Accessible Britain

fully accessible bus, with a wheelchair lift and space for four wheelchairs, is available
to transport visitors around the site. Visitors with greater mobility can take advantage
of the tramway and bus that serves the museum’s main points of interest, and there
are also many spacious, accessible toilets dotted around. Historical authenticity means
that you may well have to negotiate some areas where there are uneven surfaces such
as cobbles and steps, but the staff here are always happy to help out with any problems.
There are several induction loops around the site.
FOOD & DRINK aa There’s a good choice of food outlets here, including the accessible Tea
Rooms, located in Edwardian Town. Particularly recommended is Davy’s Coal Fired Fish
& Chip Shop in Pit Village, serving fish and chips fried in beef dripping on a coal-fired
range – delicious!
118 Low Barns Nature Reserve, County Durham
Address: Witton-le-Wear, Bishop Auckland DL14 0AG Web: www.durhamwt.co.uk Tel: 01388 488728
Hours: daily 9.30am–5pm; Nov–March 9.30am–4pm Dates: closed 25 Dec Entry: free; car park £2.50
Low Barns Nature Reserve is tucked away in a secluded location in West Durham.
Based around three old gravel lakes in a meander of the River Wear, it affords easy
access to many different types of habitat and wildlife – for such a small area there is
incredible diversity here.
Visitors to the reserve regularly see roe deer, stoats and sometimes even otters have
been spied on the circular walk around the lakes. Starting from the visitor centre,
this walk is less than two miles long, but you can also add on an optional detour
to one of the observation hides. There are four hides in all, giving you great views
of Marston Lake, with its islands and marshes; West Lake, with its reed beds and
wet pasture grazed by Exmoor ponies; and the ancient Alder Wood. There is also
a butterfly garden, coot pond, observation tower, and a wonderful boardwalk that
leads through the reed beds. In addition, several winter-feeding stations attract a
huge variety of birds – you should look out for brilliant kingfishers and, in summer,
even migrant pied flycatchers.
This is a fully accessible site, with a tarmac car park and an accessible toilet. A
powered mobility scooter can be booked free of charge (phone in advance). All the
paths are level and firm, with few gradients, though they can get muddy in wet weather
and there are some patches of loose chippings filling puddle areas – powered scooters
will have no trouble, but manual wheelchair users may need assistance. The paths
that lead to the hides are inclined, but well surfaced, while the boardwalk is flat and
wide. All the hides are spacious, with low windows. The only inaccessible feature is the
observation tower, but a video link is provided for anyone who can’t manage the climb.
FOOD & DRINK aa The visitor centre has a very welcome coffee shop, which is run by
volunteers. Otherwise you’ll have no problem finding a lovely local pub in the nearby
Witton, Crook and Bishop Auckland areas.
THE NORTHEAST AND YORKSHIRE
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