A nice place but hard work
3
3
Date of visit: May 2024
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Average
Accessibility unchanged since 2015 review, but parking very different. You really need a powered wheelchair (or strong arms) or mobility scooter to get round the limited ‘accessible’ path, and very few buildings have level access nor level floors (as you’d expect from old buildings). Flat access to cafe, disabled loo and entrance/gift shop but gravel paths and slopes thereafter. Lovely people.
Disabled Access In and Around
Poor
Their website is realistic about paths in the site. The compressed gravel path is only for the first 50 yards or so from the gallery. Thereafter it’s very loose rough large gravel - not good for manual wheelchairs and very bone shaking for collapsible scooters. If dry, it’s better on the grass where there's not too much of a slope. There is a very short stretch of level paving. Off the paths, and around and in the old buildings the ground is very uneven and steps are steep, not good if your walking is restricted - and it’s a very large site. Limited seating around the site.
Parking & Transport
Good
We drove and my wife used her collapsible mobility scooter. Separate rough surface disabled car park (room for about 10 cars) near entrance. Good path down from car park to entrance.
Accessible Toilets
Good
We only used the disabled loo by the cafe. There are reportedly 2 other loo blocks around the site. Space to drive a mobility scooter in and out, but not to turn it round. Extra Grab rails clearly added since the earlier review (or maybe it’s a new facility as the entrance area looked very new) and emergency cord reached to the floor. Cramped for scooter and a carer.
Staff
Excellent
Reception staff helpful. Reduced rate for disabled and free for carer. Volunteers we met - some in costume - were very friendly and helpful, especially apologetic about paths and said that they hoped to improve them shortly (?).
