Interesting forest walks along a variety of trails
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: March 2016
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
There are a number of car parks to choose from and many trails/paths. So you can make your outing as long or short as you like. Some of the gradients are a bit steep given the location but there are some gentle routes following the valley contours along the side of the beck. There are also off road cycling routes here - make sure you stay off these! You'll need a mobility scooter or robust powered wheelchair. We went from the car park at the south end nr Lunton Hill and followed the forest drive through to the visitor centre (cafe, loos) at the north end. We took a small detour along Bedburn Beck which was a footpath but easily accessed. It was about 7 miles and 3.5 hours round trip.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
I'm giving this a good rating on the basis that the route we took followed a bye way and a firm footpath, both of which were easy to negotiate in my electric wheelchair trike. There were a few slopes but they climbed quite gently and I didn't need a hand on any of them. A manual wheelchair might have struggled though with the distance and the gradients (unless you're very strong and fit). If you walk but with difficulty, the distances from the car parks into the forest could well prove a problem and there are few benches. However some of the car parks had adjacent picnic areas with tables and benches eg Mayland Bank - see relevant map and Forestry Commission website.
Parking & Transport
Average
There are several car parks in the forest - our route took in five. All charged apart from the one we used- £4 a day at time of writing. Didn't see anything about blue badge concessions. Don't think buses come here. Saw only one disabled parking space and that was by the loo at the visitor centre. However the loo was some way from the cafe/centre.
Accessible Toilets
Good
It's a good large and clean loo. It's quite some way from the cafe and centre, cross the car park. It has a parking space outside. Unfortunately it's located on the far side of the toilet block with absolutely no signage to say there's a disabled loo until you get right round the back. Looking over from the cafe, you can see the huge male and female loo symbols - there should be an accessible loo sign too! That said, there's an adult changing table as well in there. There's a red alarm cord but it's finger grips are missing.
Staff
Bad
Didn't encounter any staff.
Additional Information
Worth a visit if you're in the area and have a reasonably robust set of wheels. Use of a map is recommended. Suggestions for improvements are clear signage for the disabled loo, visible from the cafe and roadway plus replacement of the red alarm cord to include finger grips.
