Vindolanda

Staff very helpful and we got off to a good start with a pathed route around the dig but then it got steep and there were cinder paths. My mobility scooter cut out numerous times and had to be reset, luckily I was not on my own! The dig itself is gravel and although well trodden in places I still got stuck and had to turn around, again with help! The cafe & museum is out of reach as so steep going down I could chance it. My husband went down on his own which made me feel low. The incline coming back from the dig was so steep my scooter lost control and I went hailing down and only the grass stopped me - very frightening. Sad coz it was a fantastic weather day and I missed out on lots 😔

As we often visit Vindolanda, it was a good place to test out the new normal. If you want to be covid secure / have been shielding, the archaeology part of the site is mostly outdoors except for the entrance porch where you pay which has screens. There are a couple of the usual access mistakes that would have been nice to see ironed out when the new museum building was designed which are listed in the accessibility statement for example the entrance to the Introduction room includes a tight turning space in the doorway and doorway lips so 'assistance may be required for wheelchair users' should probably read 'reversing through doorways spatial challenge'. Although entry is free to disabled visitors this isn't clearly signposted from the disabled access end of the site. That said, the staff are always friendly and helpful. We didn't use the museum on this trip however it is amazing although some display cases are harder to see from wheelchair height. Some parts of the site are steep so you'll want to know your brakes work if self-propelling! If bumpy surfaces are a problem for you, may want to plan your route to avoid the loose graveled surfaces but the fully tarmacked areas of the paths are great for wheelchairs or walkers with joint pain although they don't cover the whole site as yet. The paths with loose chips are trickier with a light chair. I did have to ask for the ramp for the slight lip on the entrance doorway as it was tucked out of sight for Covid cleaning reasons, I alerted them to the need to let us know the ramp exists rather than having to guess. The exit turnstile is now wide enough for a wheelchair so the fun of getting yourself locked in at closing time has been eliminated! Oh and since this is Hadrian's Wall, it can be cool even in summer - you might want to bring your coat even on a sunny day! The AD122 bus travels the tourist routes https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/travel/bus The detail of the downloadable access information is here: https://www.vindolanda.com/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=1306123e-66e4-4c87-851f-4bc6697f393b

The museum itself is nicely wheelchair accessible including gift store and restrooms. It had a lot of information on a 2000 year old Roman fort and adjacent village named Vica. Some of the artifacts were amazingly preserved. The archaeological dig nearby was also accessible, at least at the front of it. More of the dig would be accessible in dry weather. It was really very worthwhile and interesting. Hadrian’s Wall is within a few miles and is also very, very worth going to! Ask to drive back and park at the museum for wheelchair access.