Accessible Britain

From the visitor centre car park, a fairly long uphill hardcore path leads to the stones,
which might challenge less-fit wheelchair users or those with limited walking ability –
though there are rest-seats en route. To avoid this path, follow road signs to the post
office, which will take you to a second car park with level access into the site. Bear in
mind, however, that Callanish is an ancient monument in a wild landscape consisting
mainly of peat, which can become soft in wet weather and may cause problems for some
wheelchair and scooter users – visiting on a dry day would make life simpler. Entrance
into the visitor centre is step-free, with a small lip at the front door. The reception, shop
and pay counter of the café are all at a good height for wheelchair and scooter users, and
there’s a spacious unisex disabled toilet (no key required) in the visitor centre, which
is clean with grab rails and a wide door. The café and shop are easily negotiated by
wheelchair, though the informative “Story of the Stones” (with audio description for the
sight-impaired) is more compact and may prove a squeeze for users of larger scooters.
FOOD & DRINK aa The lovely, bright on-site café doubles as an art gallery and has glorious
views. It serves reasonably priced hot and cold food, with level access throughout.
131 Fort George, Inverness-shire
Address: Ardesier, Inverness-shire IV2 7TD Web: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/fortgeorge Tel: 01667
460232 Hours: daily: Apr–Sep 9.30am–5.30pm, Oct–Mar 10am–4pm; last entry 45 mins before closing
Dates: closed 1 & 2 Jan & 25 & 26 Dec; site may close at short notice in adverse weather Entry: [D]£8.50
[C]free [A]£8.50 [5–15s]£5.10 [Con]£6.80
SCOTLAND
Built on the orders of King George II in the wake of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, Fort
George is still in use as an army barracks today. It is one of the largest and best preserved
forts in Europe, a spectacular complex of fortifications and garrison buildings
set on a spit of land jutting into the Moray Firth. After parking, you approach the fort
along a path that takes you through sandstone tunnels and over white wooden bridges
that span the moats. Once there, you’re rewarded with magnificent coastal views from
the ramparts – you can even sometimes spot dolphins in the sea from here.
A short (12min) film recounting the Fort George story is a good starting point for a tour,
and a ninety-minute multilingual audio tour is available to guide you around the extensive
site. The Historic Barrack Rooms vividly recreate the living conditions of the eighteenthcentury
soldiers who lived here. Other highlights include the Grand Magazine, which once
held thousands of gunpowder barrels and now stores a vast collection of eighteenth-century
arms; the Garrison Chapel; a dog cemetery (which is not accessible); and the Camp Cinema
with its short film about the history of the Black Watch regiment. There’s a special quiz
sheet for children, and summertime family events – though the shiny weapons, towering
buildings and vast space to run around in will provide ample enjoyment for younger visitors.
Though built to be impregnable, the fort is very accessible today. From the car park
it’s around two hundred yards to the visitor centre and main entrance, mostly across
level ground, but with two short stretches of cobbles to cross. You can borrow powered
scooters at the visitor centre, as well as some manual wheelchairs. The site is largely
wheelchair accessible, though assistance may be needed up one of the six grassy ramps
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