Accessible Britain

aqueduct: the Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust runs trips for disabled visitors in
a specially adapted narrowboat with a hydraulic wheelchair lift, a disabled toilet, low
windows providing exhilarating views, and space for twelve passengers and up to four
wheelchairs.
Half-day trips follow the canal to Llangollen Wharf, five miles west, while full-day
trips go all the way into the English county of Shropshire. All trips depart from Trevor
Basin, adjacent to the aqueduct; there’s a drop-off point near the mooring, and a small
car park about twenty yards away (with a RADAR key-accessible toilet). You book the
whole boat for your party, and should arrange it well in advance; a donation of £85 is
requested per trip.
Over at Llangollen Wharf, the Horse Drawn Boat Centre offers delightful 45-minute
narrowboat trips, pulled by a horse plodding gently along the towpath. It’s a supremely
leisurely affair, without even the sound of an engine to disturb the peace. The boats have
ramped access for wheelchair users, who can sit in the open air or under cover – book
ahead to be sure of a space. There’s no parking at the wharf, but visitors with restricted
mobility can be set down at a drop-off point while a companion parks elsewhere: staff
will advise you of the nearest parking spots. There’s a small disabled toilet at the wharf.
FOOD & DRINK aa At Trevor Basin, the wheelchair accessible Telford Inn (01978 820469)
serves decent food on the opposite side of the canal from the boat moorings – the Canal
Boat Trust can drop you off on that side after your trip. Over in Llangollen Wharf,
there’s a tearoom near the horse-drawn boat ticket office, with ramped access and a
tempting array of home made scones, cakes, soups and light meals.
155 Snowdonia Scenic Drive
WALES
Driving distance: 53 miles Approx time without stops: 1 hour 40 minutes
The 53-mile drive between Machynlleth and Beddgelert is one of the most scenic in
Wales. Taking in woodlands, valleys, mountains, beaches and an ancient castle, it offers
all the quintessential hallmarks of southern Snowdonia.
From Machynlleth – a handsome little town in the Dyfi Valley – take the A487
towards Dolgellau. Five miles up the road, past the beautiful beechwoods of the Tan y
Coed forest reserve, you’ll pass the signed turn-off for the Corris Crafts Centre, worth a
stop to browse through the jewellery, leatherwork, ceramics, glassware and other items
sold here (there’s also an on-site accessible café with a disabled toilet). Continuing
north from here, look left for some impressive close-up views of Cadair Idris, southern
Snowdonia’s most famous peak.
Heading north from Corris, the Snowdonia National Park car park near the junction
with the B4405/A487 at Minffordd is known as Dol Idris and has a picnic area, a disabled
toilet and a nice wheelchair-friendly circular walk of about 800m around two small lakes.
There is also a café in summer.
Onwards from Dolgellau, head for the A493 (to Fairbourne) then turn off at
Penmaenpool for the toll bridge over the Mawddach Estuary (60p) – the car park off the
trail, just short of the bridge, is a good place to admire spectacular estuary views, and
the trail itself is wheelchair accessible (see www.mawddachestuary.co.uk). Once over the
bridge, follow the A496 to Barmouth, where the road follows the coast north, in places
offering terrific views down to the sandy beaches of Cardigan Bay. One of them – Traeth
176