Lovely garden centre, tea room, deli and gift shop near Helensburgh
5
5
Date of visit: January 2024
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets, hearing and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hearing aid or cochlear implant, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Excellent
This is an attractive family run accessible establishment. My review is only of the garden centre, shop and tearoom as we have not visited Monty's Farm Park or the play area.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
The entrance, shop and tearoom are all on the level with a hard floor which makes it easy for wheeling. The cafe has some outdoor seating with picnic style tables and benches. The plant display area is all paved, with no difficult gravel. It is on a slight slope but the paving makes it easy for a wheelchair. There is a lovely grassed area which is a peaceful place to sit, full of birdsong. The seat seen in the picture can be accessed via a level path, although you will see a step in the photograph. A herbaceous border is beautiful in season, but there is an annoying fairly high step in the middle of it. You can access the whole thing in a wheelchair but it needs some backtracking to see the two halves.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
Large tarmac car park, with several blue badge spaces. The car park is on a slight slope but it is manageable for pushing a wheelchair if the disabled spaces (which are on the level) are not free.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
The toilet is roomy enough for a wheelchair user and assistant and as a plus is not shared with the baby change. There are grips on both sides, though one is not quite horizontal with the floor. The red cord hangs to the floor. A chair has been placed beside the toilet, which is handy for us for bags etc but would not allow a lateral transfer. The entrance to the toilet area is well planned - wide and roomy with no awkward turns. See picture 12.
Staff
Excellent
Always very pleasant and helpful.
Additional Information
The deli is very well stocked and has a large cheese counter. The gift shop area always has a good selection. There is a takeaway kiosk at the main entrance which is open in high season. There are a few picnic tables and seats there ( under cover) for dog owners to be able to enjoy a coffee. As the season progresses there is a good selection of plants, so don't be put off by the empty spaces in my picture which was taken on a chilly January day not long after Christmas
