Spinnaker Tower

We visited the Spinnaker Tower at quite short notice and after a couple of e-mails and a phone call, we were pleasantly surprised to find they COULD accommodate a wheelchair user!!! The team were fantastic and bent over backwards for us!!! I had to lift Meg while they put the harness on her, then it was up in the elevator, transferred to an Evac chair (by me) when one of the great Spinnaker staff took over and lowered her down a few half flights of stairs. There, the abseiling team took over, got her attached, outside (100 metres up!!!) and a companion secured to walk her down the wall. I was impressed the whole time with the courtesy, friendliness and professionalism of the staff and would highly recommend to any daredevils!!!

I wanted to abseil down the tower. I emailed to ask if I could, told them my condition, (Cerebral Palsy), and that I am unable to weight-bare. I was told that it was possible, so I booked it. I had not abseiled before so I did not know how it was going to be made accessible. When I was there, the instructors took me where I needed to go, helped me to put the sling on, and pushed the evac-chair down some stairs so I was able to get to the right exit to start abseiling. An instructor fastened herself to me, to make sure that I didn't hit my legs on the wall. With her there, it also gave me confidence in the abseil. I have now become more adventurous.

Just a quick trip up The Spinnaker Tower while in this part of the world, which was a completely new experience. There is a lift thank goodness and all the staff were nice and friendly. As we arrived when it opened there were no queues (and it was Sunday) On assenting to the cafe butterflies entered my stomach as I looked out. It was still high (don't like heights) but it was a lovely day and the views spectacular, you can see for miles. There is a glass section of floor which ordinarily I would not of crossed but as a a captive in a wheelchair I was wheeled over, not once but twice, giving clear vie of the drop to street level.t is possible to go up another floor, but only on foot. They are also equipped with a disabled toilet and all the trimmings. Try coffee and cake at the cafe and the shop is back on the ground floor at the exit. A s the tower stand in the town parking was in the local multi-storey (Disabled bay of course) and a short walk through a level shopping centre.