Irton House Farm: Access Review

Back in June I was chatting to the lovely Lindsay from Irton House Farm, Cumbria, who very kindly invited me to spend a weekend in one of their cottages.

Irton House Farm is a working sheep farm of 246 acres in the Lake District National Park, commanding superb views from the farmstead over Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw.  Immaculately kept self-catered apartments offering spacious and comfortable self-catering holiday homes, for 2, 4 and 6 people. All include wet rooms and ground floor accommodation making them fully accessible for disabled visitors.  They’re also dog friendly (by arrangement) for pets and assistance dogs, so Poppy came along with Darren and I.

The cottages were converted from farm buildings by Lindsay's parents Reg and Joan 27 years ago. Considering how long ago that was they had such vision; the accommodation is very spacious, with wet room showers, accessible kitchens, helpful aids and equipment, amazing views and such a homely, non-medical feel. There are plans to modernise the interiors but keep the farmhouse, country cottage look and feel.  In the long term, the plan is to convert one of the farm buildings into a central place where guests can meet, chat and enjoy a drink by an open fire, and events can be hosted.

Lindsay, Nick and their children are a welcoming, kind family who are passionate about promoting accessibility to the countryside. They have many guests who they count as personal friends returning year after year.

After a peaceful first night, we were woken by the noise of sheep at the window.  Our plan for the day was to visit the nearby Lakes Distillery, and the market town of Keswick.

The Distillery is a renovated 1850s Victorian model farm, located next to Bassenthwaite Lake. Here they produce The ONE Whisky, The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka.  The shop, bistro, bar and tour are fully accessible, and the tour is billed as one of the best distillery tours in the world.  As we’d brought our dog along with us, we opted for lunch on the terrace.  The food was delicious, generous and locally sourced.  We couldn’t leave without visiting the shop, and came away with a bottle or two!  We found the staff friendly and engaging, and knowledgeable about their products.

Next stop was Keswick, around 20 minutes drive from Irton House Farm.  Situated between Derwentwater and Skiddaw, Keswick has become the major centre for tourism in the north lakes.  After parking up at the local Booths supermarket (2 hours free for Blue Badge holders) we came across Podgy Paws pet shop, such a lovely place!  Poppy was happy to be treated to a new harness and a bone.  Next we came to the market, which was lively and bustling with over 70 stalls, selling everything from local produce to clothing and footwear.   We finished off with smoothies and cake at St Mungo's deli.

Back at Irton House Farm, after a tour of the vacant cottages and a stroke of the newest additions to the farm – two ponies – we settled in for our last night, and happily headed home the next morning with a leg of their award winning lamb to roast!

We had a thoroughly enjoyable time exploring part of the Lake District that’s reasonably local to us, but not somewhere we’ve spent much time before.  I think we can all benefit from a Staycation, as we have such wonderful places on our door steps.

Disclaimer: Accommodation was provided on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Croft Bungalow: Access Review

I was lucky enough to be the first ever guest at Croft Bungalow, in the Peak District, back in April.  I was encouraged to fill the lodge, which had 2 bedrooms, so along came my husband Darren, friends Rachel and Alastair, and of course, Poppy the puppy.

Croft Bungalow is a level access bungalow that can sleep 3 or 4. It has been recently refurbished (completed October 2015).

There is one large bedroom (which can be set up as a twin or double) and one single bedroom with electric profile bed. This can also be turned into a sensory room and lighting can be provided if required. It has a large lounge (with bed/settee for one adult or two children), kitchen and wet bathroom, with grab bars that serve the shower and toilet. Wheelchair access to Croft bungalow is via a ramp. All internal doorways have been replaced to be wide enough for wheelchair access.   Outside at the rear is a large private south facing garden with open country views and a large level flagged patio area, a wheelchair friendly picnic bench and a gas barbeque.  The bungalow also has Wi-Fi, and Freesat TV.

The finishing touches really make Croft Bungalow special. It feels so homely and comfortable that we settled in almost instantly, and they’ve done a fantastic job of adapting what is a relatively small property.

After a full cooked breakfast (prepared by chef Darren) on our first morning, we decided we’d spend the day at Crich Tramway Village.  A couple of week’s beforehand, whilst exhibiting on the Tourism for All stand at the British Tourism & Travel Show, I’d met Amanda from the Tramway Village who offered us some complimentary tickets. 

As vintage trams ride down the traditional village street, it really does feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, to a bygone era.  All areas are wheelchair accessible (and dog friendly, with the exception of the National Tramway Museum) and there is an Access Tram which runs twice a day, and should be requested on arrival at admissions.  Unfortunately, the Access Tram had broken down on the day of our visit!  But with help I was able to transfer to the regular tram, and the staff were so accommodating, knowledgeable and enthusiastic – many of them are volunteers .  A “smoothway” provides a smoother alternative to the cobbles for wheelchairs and buggies, and is shown on the village map.  We enjoyed a delicious ice cream fromBluebells, drinks at the Red Lion pub (which has an accessible toilet) and took home some old-fashioned treats from Barnett’s Sweetshop.

On our way back to Croft Bungalow after such a fun day, we decided to pop in to one of the village pubs, also called the Red Lion Inn, which is just 100 metres from Croft Bungalow.  We had a lovely time here chatting to some of the locals and enjoying drinks.  It definitely isn’t the most accessible pub I’ve been in – the doorways and toilets were tight and difficult to navigate, but manageable for a manual wheelchair user with some mobility.  The pub boasts it’s own microbrewery and a varied menu of tasty looking food.

We enjoyed a relaxed evening at the bungalow, making use of the garden patio.  After yet another hearty breakfast the next morning we set off to visit our friends David and Felicity Brown, at Hoe Grange Holidays just down the road.

Darren and I had awonderful stay at Hoe Grange back in 2014, so we wanted to visit for a quick catch up, to introduce them to Poppy and see the latest additions to their holiday accommodation – glamping pods!  At the moment the pods aren’t easy to get to using a manual wheelchair, so the famous Boma 7 was wheeled out, and off up the farm fields I went.  The glamping pods are a chic mini cabin just for two, with the added luxury of your own bathroom and kitchen facilities.  Though they haven’t been purpose-built for accessibility (there are 4 very accessible, larger cabins on site for this) a pod would be manageable for me, and we hope to return soon to try one out!

The final destination on our Derbyshire trip was Carsington Water, as recommended by our colleagues at Accessible Derbyshire.  This is a reservoir, with a visitor centre, and a wide range of facilities including shops selling souvenirs, craft items, embroidery materials, ceramics, books etc and a cafe and restaurant.  You can hire Tramper mobility scooters and accessible bikes here, and there is a Sailability Club offering accessible sailing.  Our visit here was the perfect end to our trip, and we had such a lovely walk on the very accessible path around the water.  We were pleased to see that it was so busy, with locals and tourists alike, and Poppy made lots of doggy friends!

This was our second trip to Derbyshire, and we will definitely return, as we still have so much more to see.  Thanks to all of the people who welcomed us so warmly!

Disclaimer: Accommodation was provided on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Homelands Fife: Access Review

The lovely people at Homelands Fife invited me there back in February.  I was encouraged to fill the lodge, which had 2 bedrooms, so along came my husband Darren, friends Chris and Kate, and the newest addition to our family, Poppy the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy!

Homelands sits in mature woodlands in the pretty seaside village of Lundin Links, with panoramic views across Lundin golf course and Largo Bay to Edinburgh and the Lothians. In this beautiful setting, four luxurious lodges have been built, each with a wide range of equipment to suit various disabilities.

Specialist disability equipment, such as ceiling tracking hoists, profiling beds, clos-o-mat toilet and riser/recliner chairs are provided to ensure all visitors’ needs are met and the dream of a family or group holiday can be achieved. The buildings are architecturally stunning and luxuriously furnished. Homelands has an extremely welcoming environment for disabled people, as well as their carers, friends and family members. Three of the lodges can sleep four people (six with a sofa bed) and the fourth can sleep up to eight people in four twin/ double bedrooms.

The Paxton Centre, just a few yards from the lodges, is open to guests and day visitors and offers a variety of alternative therapies, counselling, exercise classes, art workshops, and mindfulness, in addition to various other activities and one off events.

Our first port of call on arrival was the local pub!  I’d asked Jan, the Secretary at Homelands to recommend dog-friendly, accessible places to eat and drink.  Helpful as always, Jan recommended 8 locations, and also some suggested itineraries for our weekend.

At the Crusoe Hotel, just a short walk/wheel from Homelands, we dined on delicious ribeye steak and chatted to some of the locals.  The gorgeous, beamed ceilings and views of Largo harbour made for a really lovely atmosphere.  The hotel didn’t have accessible toilets, but the ladies toilet was step free and manageable in a manual wheelchair.

Waking up to a view of the coastline the next morning was really rather special, and after fuelling up on bacon sandwiches we headed out to the Loch Leven Heritage trail, an accessible thirteen mile circuit round the loch.  I’d been lucky enough to borrow a Mountain Trike from Progression Bikes in Dunkeld.  Over the last couple of years I’ve gazed longingly at the Mountain Trike when attending mobility shows, and even had a go, but a flat, level exhibition hall is quite different to the great Scottish outdoors, as I was about to find out! 

Our timing was fairly terrible. As soon as we were on the trail the weather turned against us.  I tried to persevere, but my inexperience with the Mountain Trike really showed and I was terrified of dropping off the cliff!  Poppy was as disgruntled with the weather as the rest of us, so we retreated to a nearby café to warm up with hot chocolate.

The Mountain Trike IS a fantastic piece of kit, as it gives riders the ability to go to places that were completely inaccessible previously, whilst maintaining the function and versatility of a standard wheelchair.  I just need some more practice, preferably in the sunshine.  If you’d like to have a go, check out the accessible rambles that my colleague Craig Grimes organises in the North of England.

Once we’d thawed out, we decided that a visit to St Andrews would be a less challenging way to spend the rest of the day.  The Medieval centre of St Andrews consists of a series of narrow alleys and cobbled streets with shops, restaurants and cafés.  This makes for a slightly bumpy ride in a wheelchair, but it’s such a lovely place just to take in the scenery and people watch.

Our evening was spent enjoying a lovely relaxed dinner in the lodge, and planning the next day’s activities.

First on the agenda was a visit to Kellie Castle , which is a National Trust Scotland property.  As it was a Sunday in low season the castle itself was closed, but we had a lovely walk around beautiful gardens and woodland.  For those wishing to visit the castle, the ground floor is accessible for wheelchairs, as are the shop, tearoom, toilets and garden.  A wheelchair is available to borrow, and there is also an accessible tour facility featuring a slideshow and photograph albums.



The last stop on our tour of Fife was the pretty little fishing village of Crail.  Charming cobbled streets tumble down to the miniature harbour, which is sheltered by cliffs and surrounded by historic fishing cottages.  Seasoned wheelchair travellers will know that cobbles + hills can make things particularly difficult, so I’d recommend a strong pusher!

Our time at Homelands was so special, as the accommodation has such a high standard of accessibility, without any compromise on style or luxury.  It is difficult to incorporate equipment such as hoists and profiling beds without giving the impression of a hospital, but the team at Homelands has got it just right.  It was wonderful to explore a part of Scotland that we hadn’t before, even with all the liquid sunshine!

Disclaimer: Accommodation was provided on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Ribby Hall Accessible Spa Break

Back in November 2015, my husband and I were pondering what we should buy each other for Christmas. Having decided that there was nothing each of us needed, and after a stressful house move, we thought that a relaxing break was in order!

After a family recommendation and some online research we decided on a spa dinner break at Ribby Hall Village – Spa Hotel.

We arrived in the afternoon of 23rd December, after a short drive over to Lancashire. The holiday village itself has lodges and cottages (some of them accessible) bars, restaurants, shops, swimming pools, tennis courts, a climbing wall, archery and lots more. The spa hotel is Ribby Hall’s adults only, luxury option, for relaxation and indulgence.

Following a speedy check in, we arrived in the biggest accessible room I have ever seen! Lots of space meant I could access all parts of the room in my wheelchair, and the bathroom offered the choice of an accessible bath tub or wheel in shower. Whilst all this was practical, there was no compromise on style, and the room, just like the rest of the hotel, was beautiful.

Next was my first treat of the afternoon – an Elemis White Brightening Facial. The spa treatment rooms were self-contained, with their own reception and waiting rooms. My therapist offered to assist me to transfer from my wheelchair to the treatment bed, and was very helpful. I then lay there for 40 minutes or so feeling very relaxed, whilst various lotions and potions were massaged on to my face, arms and neck. Afterwards my skin felt wonderful and was much brighter and clearer.

 

I found my husband in the bar, where we sampled a couple of cocktails, before a quick change into our complimentary robes and slippers ready for the Aqua Thermal Journey. This was a series of steam rooms, saunas, pools and Jacuzzis of varying temperatures, just what was needed on a cold December day! All were accessible to me apart from the outdoor hot tub, which was up a flight of stairs. It should be noted however, that there weren’t any grab bars or hoists. The steps into the pool were wide and had railings either side and all of the saunas and steam rooms were step-free.

Feeling fully unwound from our afternoon of pampering, it was time to change for dinner. This was the best treat yet – in the hotel’s Orangery we were lucky enough to enjoy cod cheeks, gineau fowl, risotto, fillet steak, chocolate pudding and pistachio cake. The meal lasted 2 hours and the service was amazing, nothing too much trouble.

An equally amazing breakfast the next morning set us up for the journey back to Cumbria, and we were ready to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ribby Hall Spa Hotel to anyone, and I hope to return very soon.

Disclaimer: Spa treatment was provided on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Visiting Parliament by Wheelchair

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a ‘Visit Parliament’ afternoon. 

I’ve attended Parliamentary meetings in the past with Trailblazers, who chair the All Party Parliamentary Group for Young Disabled People, so was fairly familiar with some areas of the House of Commons, but there was so much more to see.

The accessible route into the visitors entrance heads down a long ramp, with a view of Big Ben to the right.  It feels right to pause, look around and take in the moment – here we are at the seat of democracy!

After airport-style security checks, I arrived at the start of the tour... The 900 year old Westminster Hall. 

There is bench seating in Westminster Hall, and visitor assistants can escort visitors with disabilities from Westminster Hall to Central Lobby. This part is particularly interesting, as the accessible route takes you to areas that visitors don’t usually get to see, and our assistant was very keen to share even more information with us at this point.  It is worth noting that the lift used is very small, we just managed to squeeze the 3 of us in as my manual wheelchair doesn’t take up much space.  The tour is step-free from Central Lobby onwards.

Our tour was self-guided using an audio tour, which offers a fascinating insight into the history and traditions that make up Parliament, whilst you are surrounded by beautiful art and architecture.  The sheer size of the Palace of Westminster is amazing, and following the same route as the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament is pretty special.

Helpful staff advised of alternative routes where space may be too narrow for a wheelchair to pass, and thankfully I managed to pass through the very lavish Lords Chamber without scratching the leather benches! 

At the end of the tour we were encouraged to visit the Houses of Parliament Shop, accessed via a more modern lift.  Here you can buy everything from books, to cufflinks, to wine.  There is also a café on the same level serving homemade Panini’s, coffee & cake, and lots more yummy treats!  An accessible public toilet, including a changing bench and a hoist, can be found in Lower Waiting Hall just off Central Lobby.

Accessible tourism sometimes gets a bad reputation but I received an impeccable level of service at all points – train, taxi and the Houses of Parliament.  To me, this raises the question - If historic buildings such as the Houses of Parliament can adapt, why can’t all others?  After all, culture is for everybody.

Disclaimer: Tour provided on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Hoe Grange: Access Review

Back in February I was invited by Hoe Grange Holidays to take a weekend break in one of their accessible self catering log cabins. They have a selection of 4 homely cabins, based on a working farm on the edge of The Peak District, Derbyshire.

Darren and I arrived and were shown to our accommodation, Daisybank, by David, who runs the farm and holiday business with his wife Felicity. Despite the gale force winds and pouring rain the cabin was so cosy, centrally heated using latest ground source heating technology. We were welcomed with freshly baked bread and cakes, as well as eggs, marmalade, and gorgeously fragranced eco friendly toiletries.  

Every requirement had been thought of and catered for in a truly inclusive way – fully accessible accommodation without an ‘institutional’ feeling, a real home from home. We had a wet room shower with shower chair, as well as a luxury whirlpool bath. The fully equipped open plan kitchen was spacious and easy to use from a wheelchair. A wide range of specialist, accessible equipment can be provided, such as mobile hoist, electric profile bed, perching stool, shower chairs and bed rails. 

After a relaxing evening reading the wealth of information provided – accessible places to visit, eat & drink and countryside trails – we started our Saturday a with a delicious Farmhouse takeaway breakfast, brought to our door by David and Felicity. As the weather had not improved, we spent the day visiting the local indoor attractions, including Peak Shopping Village where I bought some lovely local jam and the Peak District Lead Mining Museum in Derbyshire’s answer to Blackpool, Matlock Bath.

Returning to the farm after a day of exploring, we freshened up taking advantage of the whirlpool bath and headed to The Ketch at Kniveton for dinner, which had been recommended by David and Felicity for it’s delicious locally sourced food and good access, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. We tucked into huge portions of fish pie and lasagne, and were so full afterwards that we were ready for bed! 

We awoke Sunday morning, at last, to sunshine, and time for the highlight of our break. Hoe Grange is the first and only holiday accommodation in UK to offer Boma 7 off-road wheelchair for hire, which can be used to access the High Peak Trail, around the farm, or at local beauty spots such as Carsington water for exciting outdoor adventures.

I must admit to feeling a little apprehensive as the adjustments were made and I was seated in the Boma. Being used to a standard power chair, and all it’s limitations, meant that it took me a while to get used to the new seating position, powerful speed and breaks. But before I knew it we were through the field of sheep and up on to the Trail. We enjoyed a 5 mile trek over all sorts of terrain, and met horses, mobility scooters and even a tractor! For anybody considering a stay at Hoe Grange the Boma experience is a must, it gives an amazing feeling of independence accessing parts of the countryside that would normally be off limits, and the views from the High Peak Trail are stunning.

Back at the cabin we removed our wellies and thawed out, ready for the journey home. I was feeling sad to leave and could happily have stayed for a week! It’s clear to see why Hoe Grange is award-winning, David and Felicity go above and beyond to make their guest’s holidays as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, the little touches make such a difference and nothing is too much trouble. I hope we can return to our Derbyshire ‘home from home’ again soon!

Disclaimer: Accommodation was provided on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Festive London by Wheelchair

Yesterday was my husband Darren's birthday, and to celebrate we planned a weekend in the capital enjoying all that London in December has to offer!

We stayed with friends in nearby Great Missenden, and on Saturday after the short train journey to Marylebone we took in the amazing displays of Christmas lights on Oxford Street before reaching our first port of call - ICEBAR  London.

As someone who feels the cold easily I wasn't sure what to expect, but the specially designed thermal cape which fit over my chair, coupled with the wickedly strong cocktails served in Ice glasses kept me nice and toasty!

Afterwards we had a wander (first of all very slowly in a huge queue) around Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which was extremely busy so difficult to navigate in a wheelchair, but had a lovely festive atmosphere and delicious smells of mulled wine, roasting chestnuts and German sausage.

Ravenous after being tempted with so much food, we finished off our day with dinner in the Hard Rock Cafe, where we had the usual amazing service, huge platefuls and more cocktails... Well, it would have been rude not to. I was especially glad that we'd called ahead and put our names down on their priority list for diners with access requirements, as there was a 3 hour wait for tables.

A lovely London weekend of celebration and festive cheer.

Award Winning Access: Cateys 13

I was honoured to attend the 2013 Catey Awards last week.  The awards recognise true excellence in the hospitality industry, including an accessibility category.

The venue for this very glamorous event was the 5* Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane.  We were treated to fine food and wine - I particularly enjoyed the chef's take on Tiramisu for desert, a chocaholic's dream!  For a hotel built in 1929, the Grosvenor House has been adapted very well for accessibility, but I always find that great guest service really does make all the difference to a disabled person, and I was very well looked after by all of the staff.  One particular member of the events team, Paulina, went out of her way to help me, and even better she enjoyed doing it - service which I won't forget.

The highlight of the evening was seeing One Great George Street win the Accessibility Award.  The leading Westminster conference and events venue is a Grade II listed building which has numerous accessible features, including a platform lift with integrated steps allowing access via the main entrance of the building. You can see a video here of how it operates.  I've been told about this lift many times over the years, and was very excited to finally get the chance to use it late last year!  I'm so thrilled that all of their hard work and commitment to welcoming all guests has been recognised by the Cateys, thoroughly well deserved.

I had a wonderful evening at the awards, catching up with colleagues, meeting some new industry leaders and seeing some famous faces - it's great to see positivity celebrated, and accessibility included.

Accessible Tennis at Wimbledon

After all the excitement of our wedding and honeymoon, Darren and I were thrilled to come home to an email telling us that we had been allocated tickets to the Wimbledon Championships.

We travelled to London by train on Thursday 28^th June, the day before we were due to go to the tennis.  Sadly, this was a day of flash flooding in Cumbria! Which resulted in a landslide just north of our local station.  Chaos ensued, and our journey was heavily disrupted, but the staff were extremely helpful given the circumstances.

Our hotel was the Premier Inn Hammersmith.  This was the first time I had stayed at a Premier Inn hotel, and I was looking forward to staying somewhere new and seeing a different take on accessibility.  There was Blue Badge parking at the front of the hotel, a ramped entrance and a chair lift down 5 or 6 stairs to the reception area.  The room was very spacious, and the bed one of the comfiest we have slept in!  The bathroom again was very spacious, with a low-level bath with transfer point.  We took advantage of the breakfast, dinner and drink deal, and had some really tasty food.  Overall a fantastic value option for a great location – all of the surrounding hotels were double the price of the Premier Inn.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) issue an easy access guide to Wimbledon with all wheelchair tickets, which is very comprehensive and contains all of the information that a disabled spectator needs to visit the Wimbledon Championships.  On entry to the grounds we were asked if we needed a RADAR key and told to contact a steward if we needed any assistance at all, they were really very helpful.  The grounds themselves are completely flat, and a smooth tarmacked surface ideal for wheelchairs.  There are accessible toilets near every court, as well as food outlets which are either level with the ground or ramped.  Each wheelchair tickets comes with a complimentary companion ticket, and a wheelchair space and seat is reserved.  There is ample room in the wheelchair space, even for a large mobility scooter. Our space at court 2 had a fabulous view, and a good patch of sunshine!  For souvenirs there are several gift shops and stalls, the largest being near court 1, which is more spacious and accessible than the rest. 

The first match we saw was delayed by 40 minutes because of rain, so we took the opportunity to indulge in some Pimms, until the sun came out again.  We had a wonderful day watching fast-paced tennis, the atmosphere at Wimbledon is really special.

After a fantastic, but long and tiring day at the tennis we spent the next morning wandering around Hammersmith, and had a leisurely breakfast in one of the many small, family run cafes.   We really enjoyed staying in this area and will definitely return, if we are very lucky we may even revisit Wimbledon.

With thanks to Disabled Persons Railcard on behalf of National Rail, for kindly supplying train tickets.

Planning an Accessible Wedding

Almost 2 years ago, in November 2009, my boyfriend Darren surprised me with a candlelit anniversary dinner, which ended in a romantic proposal.  I was ecstatic, and friends and family were thrilled for us.  After celebrations came the questions about when we would get married, and what we were planning… which was a daunting prospect!  As a wheelchair user, I really didn’t know where to start with all the preparations, how exactly do you plan an accessible wedding?!

The first thing to decide on was the venue.  We ruled out a church ceremony, as neither of us are religious, and for accessibility it would be good to have the whole day in one place.  We did a lot of searching online for accessible local hotels, but struggled to find one which met our requirements, until a colleague recommended the Grange Hotel, at Grange over Sands. 

The Grange Hotel was built in 1866 in an elegant Italianate style, yet still manages to be wonderfully accessible.  All the function areas are accessible by lift and wheelchair ramp, and they have bedrooms specifically tailored for guests with limited mobility, which offer spacious wet rooms.  After one visit, the decision was made!  The hotel have even offered to let us have two bedrooms on the wedding night – a honeymoon suite, and an accessible room, so that I have a choice of bathing options. 

Next on to one of the most important aspects of our big day – my dress!  After getting stuck in dresses and experiencing well-meaning but unhelpful assistants in bridal boutiques, my mum and I managed to persuade a local independent shop to let us take some dresses home to try in return for a guarantee.  My mum’s bedroom provided a much more comfortable and enjoyable trying-on experience – I even got one of my bridesmaids to try the dresses on so I could see them from all angles.  But still, we struggled to find ‘the one’ that would work from a sitting position.  Then, we found Bridal Dream Dress, who will custom make any dress to your exact requirements.  I have to admit it was a nervous wait for the dress to arrive, but I am delighted with the final result!

Once my dress had arrived, I started thinking about my wheelchair on the wedding day.  I decided that I didn’t want to use the same manual chair that I sit in every day, I wanted something special.  After my mum (AKA Chief Wedding Planner) spent days calling around local mobility suppliers, we finally managed to source a second hand manual chair that we will re-spray, re-upholster and customize to match my dress.

Instead of carrying a traditional bouquet, which would make pushing my chair difficult, I will have a wrist corsage of fresh flowers so that I can move around freely and not worry about squashing my flowers.

Since we first got engaged, Darren and I have been wondering how to approach our first dance as a married couple.  After all, slow dancing from a wheelchair is pretty restrictive, but we didn’t want something unnatural and choreographed.  We have decided that we will ask all of our wedding guests to join us for the first dance, perhaps to a song that is a bit more upbeat than the norm.  That way, the pressure is taken off us and we can all enjoy the moment.

With all of the big decisions made, we are now really excited about our big day, and May can’t come soon enough.  I’m now getting stuck into planning our honeymoon, which my work offering information on all aspects of accessible tourism and travel in the UK and overseas should help with!

Points to consider

• Always visit prospective venues to check out accessibility, and if you have any important wedding guests with access requirements, consider taking them with you. 
• Don’t rule out a style of dress because you think that it won’t be suitable or accessible until you have tried it on.
• Remember to shop around when sourcing things like favors, decorations and even dresses – eBay has saved us a fortune.
• Bear in mind the talents of family and friends – ours are helping us with the cake, hairdressing, stationary and my wheelchair, which makes our day more personal.
• Don’t be afraid to think ‘outside the box’ to make your day accessible – after all, the best weddings are unique!

Blackpool by Wheelchair

Darren and I took a day trip to Blackpool, to check out the accessible attractions.

As I’m a bit of a wimp, we decided against the Pleasure Beach, as rollercoasters really aren’t my thing!

After a blustery walk along North Pier, our first port of call was Blackpool Zoo, a short taxi ride away from the centre of Blackpool.

The zoo is all fairly level and flat, with low signage and ramps throughout.  Mobility scooters and wheelchairs are available for hire from the zoo reception.  The accessible toilets are very spacious.  We watched the sealion display, which was good fun and interesting.  Lower benches at presentation points are reserved for those with mobility problems, and all of the viewing windows for the animals are low level.  On our way out of the zoo we visited the Amazonia jungle, where the cheeky little monkeys took a shine to my wheelchair – I was surrounded by them!

Our next stop after another short taxi journey was Sandcastle WaterPark, which on South Promenade.

We were met by the Water Ambassadors on arrival.  These are qualified lifeguards who have close contact with guests in the water, and they are trained to assist disabled guests.  The first thing we noticed was the heat – it really is tropical! 

The downstairs accessible changing rooms are accessed via lift.  There are 4 of these, and the communal shower area has low buttons.  Big, clear fun signage shows accessible route from the changing rooms to the poolside.  3 wet chairs are available for use in the showers and pools, and are fully submergible.  There is also a wet room changing room with shower on the poolside, and a Gold Standard Changing Places room is to be installed.  This is to have bright, contrasting coloured walls and sensory features.  Sandcastle is very spacious throughout, and there is huge importance placed on staff training.  The staff are bubbly, fun and enthusiastic, and nothing is too much trouble.  They offer out of hours sessions for groups that will benefit, such as autistic children or those with a visual impairment, and recognise that building confidence is a huge factor to disabled people enjoying the attraction.  Sadly, we didn’t have time for a swim, but hope to return soon!

Our final place to visit before the train journey home was the new attraction Madame Tussauds Blackpool, which opened in October 2010.

There is ramped access to some celebrity models, but others are accessed via steps or on platforms.  Some chairs can be moved to enable wheelchair users to pose for photos with the celebrities but others are fixed.  Some floors are accessed via a goods lift, which staff are available to help with.  The bridge from the I’m a Celebrity area into the Football Locker room has a steep slope.  We found ourselves getting lost in some areas, as the lift entrances and exits aren’t on the signposted route, but staff were happy to guide, and again really enthusiastic and fun.  Areas like Gok Wan’s Dressing Room and Coronation Street’s Rovers Return are good for those who want something interactive, and especially good for amusing photos!

Our day in Blackpool was varied and exciting, even without the rollercoasters!  Lots to do with really good access, do visit if you can. 

With thanks to Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle Water Park, Madame Tussauds Blackpool and Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board.

Disclaimer: Activities were provided on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.