Overview

Accessible glamping pod with a ceiling tracking hoist in the bedroom on the grounds of Callanders hostel.

Transport & Parking

There is a parking space available for each glamping pod and there is a disabled parking right behind the accessible glamping pod making it very easy to unpack and repack the car when we arrived and left. The only problem I saw with the parking was that there was a sign at each parking space saying it was reverse parking only. However, this is not possible for me as I need to get out of the back of my car so we didn't do this. I don't know why this has to be done as my car is quite big and my carer managed to reverse out okay. I don't know about any of the public transport in Callander so I can't comment on it but the glamping pods are located down a sreet just off of the high street so I'm sure there's public transport nearby.

Access

To get up to the accessible glamping pod there is a built in ramp to go up on to the outdoor seating area. Here there is a table with four chairs that are under a covered area outside the pod where you can over look the beautiful scenery. The door to get into the pod is a sliding door and it looked quite stiff to open when my carer opened it so a wheelchair user may struggle to open the door if they are on their own. To got your keys when you first arrive you have to open their key lock system on the wall outside with a code you get emailed. Inside there is a sofa bed that was folded into a sofa when we first arrived but we ended up leaving it open as a bed for the rest of our stay because I was still able to get around the pod. There was also electric closing blinds going across the glass door of the pod. The kitchen has an electric hob area which has space for a wheelchair user to get underneath but a wheelchair user wouldn't be able to get under the sink area. I also feel it might be hard for a wheelchair user to get into the fridge due to the position of the dining table. I can't do anything in a kitchen though due to my muscle weakness. There was everything you needed in the kitchen area and there was an instant boiling water tap at the sink. We felt there wasn't anywhere to really put our food as all the cupboards were full. Around the pod there were lots of double plug sockets with two USB ports on them and in the accessible bedroom there were 5 of these plug sockets which I was very surprised about. The accessible bedroom has a ceiling tracking hoist and a electric profiling bed which is fantastic. We had to move the bed back and forward when I was transferring and getting help on the bed because the hoist didn't go around the full area of the room due to part of the ceiling being curved but we managed with this, you can see where we moved the bed from my images below. There was a table at the side of the bed which was very handy to put my medical things on. The window in the accessible bedroom was quite high for a wheelchair user to close the blinds so it would be good if this closed electronicly as well. The bed is single in the accessible room so if a couple stayed one person might have to stay on the sofa bed. I didn't think I was able to walk into Callander from the pod as the pathway ended at a gravelled stone area but before I left we got told there was an accessible pathway that went through the garden of the hostel.

Toilets

The accessible glamping pod has a massive shower room adjoined to the accessible bedroom. The ceiling tracking hoist goes from the accessible bedroom into the shower room, I didn't use this feature but it would be very helpful for other guests. Within the shower room there is a height adjustable sink, a big mirror above sink, a heated towel rail, a toilet that has a remote that you can use to flush the toilet and dry yourself , an electric shower, a shower seat mounted on the wall and an adult changing bench that you can have a shower n. I haven't been glamping before and I know it's usually more minimal in standard glamping pods but it would be good to have a little bit more storage. There was a 3 tier wired shelf system in the shower room and room around the sink to put beauty products on but I had to keep my medical things in my suitcase. Although I also don't pack very lightly.

Staff

We met a few staff members or maybe they were volunteers who help manage the glamping pods and everyone was very friendly and helpful. We didn't have any spare bin bags in the pod so one day when we went out somewhere kindly put more in our pod.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

The glamping pod was very clean when we arrived and we didn't really see many people so I felt COVID safe when visiting.

Photos

Video