Wojtek, we meet again.
4
4
Date of visit: October 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
I had to write this quick review when I encountered this tribute to Wojtek the bear. This is the second location in Scotland where I’ve seen a monument to a bear with such an interesting backstory. Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish soldiers during the Second World War. He became part of their unit, helping lift morale and carrying ammunition during the Battle of Monte Cassino. His service saw him promoted to Corporal. After the war, he lived at Edinburgh Zoo, where many of his old comrades would visit him before his passing at the age of 21. This statue is a gift from the Polish town of Żagań, with which Duns is twinned, and it was installed in 2016.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
There’s little in the way of access features to note, but the pavements are in good condition and there’s a memorial bench where you can sit for a spell.
Parking & Transport
Good
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
There are several standard size parking spaces next to the statue, and a single yellow line and a bus stop across the street. Less than a minute away, there are two accessible parking spaces at the Easter Street car park.
Accessible facilities: Public or on street parking
Accessible Toilets
There are no toilets at this venue. However, there is a toilet at the nearby Jim Clark Bistro. Further up South Street, there are public toilets, but these were out of order at the time of my visit.
