A quiet hideaway
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: June 2014
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
Access to the Gardens as a wheelchair user was a bit tricky. Once I found the level access from Kings Stables Road life became easier.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
I score the park a three and a half simply as the access from the most popular approach, Princes Street, is not very good for the majority of disabled people. One day the Council might install an access ramp with a gentle gradient and make life easier for wheelchair users, young parents with buggies, and others with mobility impairments.
Parking & Transport
Average
You can park on street in Kings Stables Road. Then you have a fair distance to walk to get into the park, around 500 metres. If you come by public transport you can arrive from the Princes Street side of the park but beware of the very steep slopes you have to descend to get in. These ramp like slopes are not suitable for wheelchairs users. You'd need a rope, climbing gear and some sherpas to get down it!
Accessible Toilets
Good
The Park does have accessible toilets both at the East end and within the Ross Bandstand. I visit the one at the East end and must warn that it is built into the hill so it's quite a slope to wheel up to it. The entrance door has a RADAR lock and requires you to do a ninety degree turn to get in. Once in the space is long and narrow. It's clean and fairly good for what it is.
Additional Information
The park has tarmac paths and large areas of grass. Visitors should be aware that it is built on a slope so the nearer you get to Princes Street the more difficult it gets. If you approach from Kings Stables Road you come straight into the lower more level section and there's plenty to see from there. That said the view of the castle ramparts are fantastic and the whole are is a quiet away from it all type of place.
