August Review Roundup

The August review  roundup is packed full of exciting summer reviews and adventures which we hope will inspire you and give you confidence to visit somewhere new.

Exploring the outdoors accessible walks and beaches

Many of our reviewers have been making the most of the good summer weather by exploring new and different places. WheelyP went exploring the Dorset countryside on North Dorset Trailway The path is mainly made up of tarmac and perfect for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and cyclists to share. There are two main car parks available in the area with accessible parking spaces. WheelyP also included some brilliant photographs showing different sections of the walking trail.

Karine1985 recently visited Lauderdale Park in Dunbar. Karine had a great time trying out some of the new accessible play equipment. She whizzed around on the merry go round and took photos of an accessible harness swing. Great fun for all the family.

If you’d like to enjoy the seaside, then why not try a trip to Durley Chine beach?. CliveC visited the  beach, which  is short wheel or walk from the cafe and restaurant, and the nearby seaside town of Bournemouth. There are also some accessible parking spaces near the beach, including some EV charging points. CliveC gave his experience five stars.

Museums to visit and other things to see and do

There are lots of things to see and do in the summer months, especially if you are visiting somewhere on holiday and have time to explore. Belrock recently visited The National Museum of Flight in East Fortune. There is lots to see and do here so make sure you leave plenty of time to see everything that you want to see. Two of the must see exhibits include The Concorde Experience and a Red Arrows Jet. Belrock give their visit five stars.

There is plenty of space to move around in the museum and underneath the planes if you have a mobility aid. There is also a café available within the museum to have a snack.

Belrock made some very helpful suggestions of how to improve the accessibility of the museum to make it more enjoyable for everyone. These include more seating areas for people who are unable to walk long distances,  a video recording of the inside of the Concorde plane so that anyone who uses a wheelchair and can access the inside knows what to expect. Belrock recommends visiting the National Museum of Flight even if you're not a flight enthusiast as it's a great for everyone.

In Stourton in Staffordshire there is Stourhead run by the National Trust, which makes for a really good visit. Accessessence visited recently and mentioned that there are Trampa scooters available for a small donation for anyone with mobility difficulties to move around the paths more easily. There are also accessible toilets in the grounds of the property, although the accessible toilets are quite small and they don't have grab rails. Thank you for sharing your first review on Euan’s Guide!

Nell6568 visited the National Space Centre in Leicester and had a fantastic day out with friends and family. There is even a wheelchair accessible space shuttle! They recommend visiting the planetarium, where you will be taken in first if you are a wheelchair user, and here are signs to warn you of flashing lights and loud noises during the show for anyone who is autistic, or has a sensory impairment.

Visiting furry friends at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

This month our Head of Development and Partnerships Julie and two Euan’s Guide Ambassadors took a trip to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home to drop off some Euan’s Guide dog bowls for some of our four legged friends. While they were there the staff kindly showed them around and told them about some of the history of the building. Most of the areas of the building were very accessible via ramps. There is an accessible parking space in the venue's carpark. There are also different sizes of dog runs where the  public can hire the space to safely walk their own dogs.

You can book a visit to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home via their website. If you or someone you know struggles with feeling overwhelmed by loud noises and lights, let the staff know in advance of your visit and they will do their best to keep noise and lights to a minimum. The staff are keen to welcome everyone to come and enjoy the dog and cat home and to visit the animals. A great day out for all the family!

MikeL visited Hauser and Wirth gallery and farm shop They enjoyed walking round the woodland paths and visiting the farm shop, though they had especially come to see the exhibition which was in a small art gallery. There was also a farm shop and a bookshop to look around - MikeL bought some lunch and an ice cream in the café and bar area. There was also a very spacious accessible toilet which had space for a wheelchair user and a carer. Overall, it was a lovely day out for all the family and they gave their experience a rating of 4.5 stars

Review of the month comes from Nell6568 who visited the National Space Centre Leicestershire with their family. The trip sounds like a fantastic family day out with lots to see and do for everyone. It is exciting to hear that the venue is doing its best to make sure that visitors with autism and sensory impairments feel comfortable enough to enjoy their visit. The wheelchair accessible space shuttle sounds amazing!

Thank you  Nell6568 for sharing your experiences and helping other disabled visitors and their families to know what to expect. We look forward to reading more of your reviews very soon.

Thank you to reviewers and venues

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences and reviews this month. Sharing your experience does really make a difference. If this is your first time using Euan’s Guide and would like to get more involved, then please contact one of our friendly Volunteer Coordinators Claire and Zoe at hello@euansguide.com . who will be happy to help you get started! 

If you’re the owner or manager of a venue that’s been reviewed this month then please don’t forget to list your venue on our website. By listing you’ll reach tens of thousands of disabled people every month looking for great places to go, and you’ll help them find you more easily.

Tags: Euam's Guide, August review roundup, Places to go, summer, holidays, disabled acccess, Accessible days out