Visitor centre (no accessibility to hides)
3
3
Date of visit: May 2026
I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets, dexterity or coordination, moving around and understanding.
I use or have experience of: autism, autism, disabled toilet, walking aid, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Average
None of the Montrose Basin hides are accessible to wheelchair users, so you should get free access to their visitor centre. There is ramped access to the visitor centre, but it is long and a bit steep. Inside the visitor centre, they have full length windows that have a great view over the basin, with space for wheelchairs and telescopes that can be lowered. Staff and volunteers were very enthusiastic friendly and helpful. The toilets are a shared space with baby changing, so the nappy bin was beside the toilet and it's a foot pedal bin. The door opening is also very close to a wall, so manoeuvring with my wheelchair and power wheel was tricky. Staff were open to insight and feedback, particularly regarding charging disabled people access to the visitor centre when all the hides aren't wheelchair friendly.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
Entry doors aren't very wide, so second door needs to be opened from inside. There's a slight lip to get over threshold. Whilst it's single level, the building is quite small with tight areas to get around.
Accessible facilities: Single-level venue
Parking & Transport
The ramped walkway is a bit steep
Accessible facilities: Dedicated on-site parking
Accessible Toilets
Average
The toilets are a shared space with baby changing, so the nappy bin was beside the toilet and it's a foot pedal bin. The door opening is also very close to a wall, so manoeuvring with my wheelchair and power wheel was tricky.
Facilities: Accessible toilet
Staff
Excellent
Volunteers and staff were enthusiastic, helpful and friendly and open to insight and feedback, particularly with regards to charging disabled visitors for birdwatching when they can't access the hidrs.
