TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham is a passionate advocate of the benefits of getting out and about in the great outdoors.
Living with autism he understands sometimes there can be barriers to accessibility that aren’t always obvious.
For 10 years the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain has been championing accessibility for all. This year for the first time it also includes reviews for visitors with hidden conditions such as autism and mental illness.
All places and venues in the guide have been reviewed by team of reviewers, who either have a disability themselves or visited the venue with a disabled friend or relative.
“From personal experience, I know that many people face particular barriers to enjoying a day out.,” says Chris. “The guide equips visitors with all the information they need to set out with confidence so they can simply concentrate on making the most of their day”.
The guide, available to read free online, includes more than 180 ideas for fantastic days out that are open to everyone.
Here are 10 of the best accessible days out in the north west:
Lake District Scenic Drive
Starting at the market town of Cockermouth and winding through to Lake Windermere, this scenic route takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery of the Lake District. If you drive straight through without stopping, this 47 mile drive takes approximately 1 hr 35 mins, but it would be a shame to do that when there are so many accessible opportunities to stop off and enjoy the views.
There are fully-accessible paths down to the lakeshore at Loweswater and Lake Buttermere. Heading further south the scenery gets more dramatic over the 1167ft high Honister pass. The drive passes Derwentwater, into Keswick, then onto Grasmere, Ambleside and finally Windermere. A map is available on p.127 of the guide.
Theatre by the Lake
Every summer, across its two theatre spaces, Theatre by the Lake produces an alternating programme which enables visitors to see several plays in a weekend, as well as hosting a series of literature, jazz and film events. There’s a huge car park next to the theatre with several disabled parking bays outside the entrance. There are excellent facilities for access, and relaxed performances programmed with chill-out spaces.
If organised in advance, auditorium seating can be removed to create wheelchair spaces; for people on the autism spectrum pre-performance touch tours and familiarisation tours can be booked; infra-red handsets are available from the reception for people with hearing impairments; and there are scheduled captioned and audio-described performances. Assistance dogs are welcome, and you can request audio and large print versions of the programme.
For details visit theatrebythelake.com
Brockhole on Windermere, Cumbria
Brockhole was developed by the National Park Authority as the chief visitor centre in the Lake District. As such it’s an excellent place to collect information on other attractions in the Lakes, but don’t forget to take in the attractions it has to offer itself.
Here 30 acres of mature gardens along the shore of Lake Windermere, provide unrivalled views across to Langdale Pikes. Originally designed in Edwardian times, there are some steep paths and steps. However, the centre is committed to making its facilities accessible to all and if you have difficulty walking or have a hearing impairment, there’s equipment available to help you enjoy the centre and grounds.
There is a car park for Blue badge holders next to the entrance and a ‘Brockmobile’ electric bus to transport people who have difficulties walking from the car park (or jetty if travelling by ferry) to the Visitor Centre. Once inside the grounds the centre provides electric wheelchairs for use in the gardens, and wheelchairs to use indoors. Visit the website for a comprehensive map to help plan your visit.
For more details visit www.brockholes.org
Walls Drive Trail and Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway, Cumbria
The only coastal village in the Lake District, Ravenglass is a peaceful haven away from the busier tourist hotspots of the area. From the car park there is a smooth half-mile trail past Eskdale Steam Railway to the Roman ruins of Glannoventa, once a huge fort. The Bath House that remains is one of the largest existing Roman structures in England.
Ravenglass village itself is small and accessible, with smooth, level roads and pavements throughout. To see more of the area take a trip on the heritage steam railway, one of the oldest and longest narrow gauge railways in England. The journey, which takes 40 minutes each way, travels through seven miles of stunning scenery, encompassing England’s highest mountains, the Scafell Range.
For details visit ravenglass-railway.co.uk
The Blackpool Tower, Lancashire
The Blackpool Tower has been welcoming visitors since 1894. A complete refurbishment in 2011 cleverly kept the Tower’s iconic heritage while ensuring its facilities could be enjoyed by everyone. A swift ride in the lift will take you 380 feet up to the glass bottomed Skywalk, from which you can look across the north west, and on a clear day see as far as the Isle of Man.
As well as incredible views, the Tower also boasts a host of other attractions including a 4D cinema, Tower Circus, Tower Ballroom, Tower Dungeon, Jungle Jim’s Indoor Play Area and Dino Golf.
Assistance/guide dogs are welcome in the Tower and if requested in advance a BSL interpreter can be arranged for events. Wheelchairs are available for use on site and there is excellent access around all the attractions. However, the age of the building precludes wheelchair access to the balconies of the ballroom.
For details visit www.theblackpooltower.com
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Opposite the Pleasure Beach on the sea side of the promenade, Sandcastle Waterpark is the UK’s largest indoor waterpark and really does have something for everyone. To help plan your visit the website lists detailed information about its facilities for people with mobility, hearing or visual impairments. And once inside, specially trained members of the team are on hand to provide advice and support, including looking after guide/assistance dogs while you enjoy the pools.
The website has a helpful guide to help prepare people with autism for the sights, sounds, tastes, textures and smells that they may experience during their visit. The park also offers familiarisation visits, has a quiet hour at the beginning of the day when tannoy announcements and music etc are minimal, and a quiet room for those who want to retreat for a while from the bustle of the waterpark.
Visit sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk for more details.
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Lancashire
Based on the site of an old quarry near Preston, Brockholes Nature Reserve is 250 acres of woodland, reedbeds, marshland, meadow and water, which has been specially designed to attract a wide range of wildlife. There are a network of trails and hides from which to view nature up close. Two of its three trails are wheelchair accessible: the Gravel Pit Trail, which takes about half-an-hour, and the Reserve Trail, which is a longer two hours, taking in a couple of accessible bird hides.
The star attraction is the floating Visitor Village, which allows you to get as close as possible to the water-based wildlife, while keeping your tea and cake dry at the same time. It’s a beautiful spot to relax and fully accessible, with low counters and exhibits, interpretation boards, tactile features, large-print displays, hearing loops and an accessible toilet.
See www.brockholes.org for details.
Southport Pier, Merseyside
Southport is home to the oldest iron pier in the country, which has been a feature of the town’s coastline for more than 150 years, stretching two thirds of a mile out to sea. Along its length are fish and chips, ice cream and candy floss stalls. There’s also an old-fashioned penny arcade which uses large old penny pieces in its slot machines, and a modern day interactive display about local nature and wildlife.
A tram runs the full length of the pier every 10 minutes. It has space for wheelchairs and powered scooters and there is a café at the far end – the perfect spot to soak up the fresh sea air, looking out towards the Irish Sea or landward across 22 miles of unspoiled coastline.
For more details see www.visitsouthport.com
iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Manchester
Indoor skydiving gives you all the thrill of free-fall ‘flying’ without any of the dangers. There are very few reasons why you wouldn’t be able to take part. These are clearly listed on the website and include weighing more than 18 stone (114 kg) or having previously dislocated your shoulder. In the main though, the activity is open to a wide range of ages and abilities, welcoming flyers from aged 3-103, including those with physical disabilities.
There’s a 20 minute briefing session before you get kitted out with a helmet, flight suit and goggles. The activity takes place in a flight chamber, where you are suspended on a column of air, giving the sensation of flying. The instructor stays with you the whole time; all you need to do is lean into the wind and take flight. A carer is permitted to enter the flying zone with you (free of charge), though not into the flight chamber itself.
For more details visit www.iflyworld.co.uk
Albert Dock and the Museum of Liverpool
In the mid-19th century Liverpool was one of the world’s greatest maritime cities, with more than 40% of all global trade passing through its docks. Today it is still a cultural hub of the city, housing the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings in the country.
Its traditional cobbled walkways can make it appear less accessible than it is, because alongside these all the buildings can be accessed via hard paths laid when the area was redeveloped in the 1980s.
Attractions include the Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Tate Liverpool, The Beatles Story and the Museum of Liverpool. All buildings have lifts, accessible toilets and hearing loops. There are 8 accessible car parking bays at Albert Dock and both Tate Liverpool and the Beatles Story offer free wheelchair hire.
See Albertdock.com for details.