Welcoming Spirits.
4.5
4.5
Date of visit: March 2024
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
This was my first visit to the Glen Ord Distillery Visitor Centre Café/bar and I was very pleasantly surprised to see how accessible the venue was for an older building. The distillery is the only remaining single malt distillery on the Black Isle in the Highlands. On arrival, I was impressed by the wide automatic door entry after which we were greeted by very welcoming staff who directed us to the café/bar which was also very spacious and accessible. It had a nice atmosphere; a mix of young mums and tourists but we arrived just before closing so although it emptied quite quickly, we never felt hurried by the staff. The coffees, juice and cakes were great and I’m told that that the fuller menu is really good quality. It also had one of the most amazing Changing Places I’ve ever seen!
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
Although I didn’t go on the visitor tour, the entrance, reception and the café itself were very accessible with plenty of space to manoeuvre and with step-free access. I also saw that the area at the start of the tour had ramp access.
Parking & Transport
Good
There were four accessible parking spaces and also drop-off available on-site close to the entrance of the distillery; the road surface and pavement were in good condition and nice and flat for a powerchair. There are buses and trains to Muir of Ord but I can’t comment on their accessibility or frequency. The train station is apparently 4 mins walk away but I’m unable to verify this personally.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
The corridor to the toilets was wide and spacious with two disabled toilets available one of which was a Changing Places Toilet. The Changing Places Toilet was locked by a Radar key and staff were happy to provide me with this. It had everything that you would want or need in a disabled toilet, complete with two red cords, hoist grab rails and a bench. I was really impressed by the privacy screen; a tiny thing but it means so much, especially if you have to have someone in there with you. I also liked the aesthetics of the space which were of the same high standard as the non-disabled toilets and were beautifully decorated with quality toiletries sited within reach.
Staff
Excellent
Staff were amazing, really helpful and friendly. I was particularly impressed by how they addressed me directly rather than my P.A., once again, it’s the small things that make a huge difference and they couldn’t have done anything more to make me feel welcome.
Additional Information
I'd certainly visit here again; it was a really heartening, inclusive experience thanks both to the staff and the general accessibility.
