Great beach (so long as you don't need the loo)
I often go to Ogmore by Sea Beach because it's the most accessible beach in the area, and I can manage here without assistance.
Having said that, there are some accessibility issues to be aware of.
The loos for example...
But first of all, let me describe the place.
The beach adjoins a common, and on the part of the common nearest the beach, a network of tarmacked lanes has been created, leading to several interlinked parking areas.
In the winter, when it's quieter, the lanes are great for me to cycle on on my recumbent tricycle. I can't cycle far, and this is the one place I can cycle in short loops.
There are no specific disabled parking places, but apart from occasional very busy days (bank holidays for example) there are always spaces here. especially during the week.
Parking is free for Blue Badge holders. It is monitored by CCTV on the way in and out, so make sure your Blue Badge is displayed clearly on the dashboard before you get near the turn off for the beach.
There is a slipway from one end of the car park down onto to the beach. I often see people with mobility scooters on the beach. (The sand is firm, not soft.) This week when I went, the sand was actually up on the slipway so it was easy to scoot straight from the slipway onto the sand. However, this is the first time I've seen it like this - usually there is a step down onto the sand, or even some rocks which a scooter would need to be lifted over.
The tide comes all the way in over the sand. At high tide it is possible to swim off the slipway.
At low tide, it's a long way to the water's edge.
From most parts of the car park, there is a grassy bank giving way to rocks which gradually descend to the pebbles and sand.
Because I can walk short distances, I find it easier to make my way carefully down the rocks, than go down the slipway, because the slipway is a much longer walk from the nearest parking space, and if I used my scooter I wouldn't be able to get it from the slipway to the sand by myself.
The grassy areas are popular spots for barbecues.
In the summer there is usually a van selling teas and coffees, as well as an ice cream van.
These are situated in a tarmacked area set back from the beach, where the loos are as well.
The loos are badly designed and not very accessible.
The gents are at the front so are more accessible, but parking a car right by the door to the gents means you block the lane leading to and from the loos and refreshments area.
The ladies are round to the side, accessed by a narrow path round the building, or down a steep flight of steps from the grass.
I have always parked as close as possible to the ladies, and made my way along the path to them without my scooter.
This time, because I was planning to write this review and I was taking a couple of photos of the facilities, I discovered there is a disabled loo!
It's not signposted - and it's hidden round the back (rolling my eyes), beyond the ladies.
As I was driving back from the loos to park nearer the beach again, I noticed for the first time that there is a small lay by at the rear of the loos which I presume is parking for anyone using the disabled loos. But to get from there to the loos you have to go down a sloping path, turn right and go along the side of the building a short distance, then turn left round the corner of the building, and then turn left again into the disabled loo. I wouldn't want to try that on my scooter!
I often go to Ogmore by Sea Beach because it's the most accessible beach in the area, and I can manage here without assistance.
Having said that, there are some accessibility issues to be aware of.
The loos for example...
But first of all, let me describe the place.
The beach adjoins a common, and on the part of the common nearest the beach, a network of tarmacked lanes has been created, leading to several interlinked parking areas.
In the winter, when it's quieter, the lanes are great for me to cycle on on my recumbent tricycle. I can't cycle far, and this is the one place I can cycle in short loops.
There are no specific disabled parking places, but apart from occasional very busy days (bank holidays for example) there are always spaces here. especially during the week.
Parking is free for Blue Badge holders. It is monitored by CCTV on the way in and out, so make sure your Blue Badge is displayed clearly on the dashboard before you get near the turn off for the beach.
There is a slipway from one end of the car park down onto to the beach. I often see people with mobility scooters on the beach. (The sand is firm, not soft.) This week when I went, the sand was actually up on the slipway so it was easy to scoot straight from the slipway onto the sand. However, this is the first time I've seen it like this - usually there is a step down onto the sand, or even some rocks which a scooter would need to be lifted over.
The tide comes all the way in over the sand. At high tide it is possible to swim off the slipway.
At low tide, it's a long way to the water's edge.
From most parts of the car park, there is a grassy bank giving way to rocks which gradually descend to the pebbles and sand.
Because I can walk short distances, I find it easier to make my way carefully down the rocks, than go down the slipway, because the slipway is a much longer walk from the nearest parking space, and if I used my scooter I wouldn't be able to get it from the slipway to the sand by myself.
The grassy areas are popular spots for barbecues.
In the summer there is usually a van selling teas and coffees, as well as an ice cream van.
These are situated in a tarmacked area set back from the beach, where the loos are as well.
The loos are badly designed and not very accessible.
The gents are at the front so are more accessible, but parking a car right by the door to the gents means you block the lane leading to and from the loos and refreshments area.
The ladies are round to the side, accessed by a narrow path round the building, or down a steep flight of steps from the grass.
I have always parked as close as possible to the ladies, and made my way along the path to them without my scooter.
This time, because I was planning to write this review and I was taking a couple of photos of the facilities, I discovered there is a disabled loo!
It's not signposted - and it's hidden round the back (rolling my eyes), beyond the ladies.
As I was driving back from the loos to park nearer the beach again, I noticed for the first time that there is a small lay by at the rear of the loos which I presume is parking for anyone using the disabled loos. But to get from there to the loos you have to go down a sloping path, turn right and go along the side of the building a short distance, then turn left round the corner of the building, and then turn left again into the disabled loo. I wouldn't want to try that on my scooter!
