St James’s Park, London
The lush and tranquil St James’s Park, bordered by The Mall, Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade, is one of the prettier parks in London. Sensory highlights include the squawks and flashes of colour from the waterfowl, including the famous pelicans, and increasingly common ring-necked parakeets that will often feed from your hand. Pathways are level, solid surfaced and wide.
Open: daily
Entry: free
Facilities: cafés, disabled toilets.
royalparks.org.uk/parks/st-jamess-park
Henry Moore Studios and Gardens, Perry Green, Hertfordshire
The gardens of arguably Britain’s greatest sculpture host 20 of his well-known and highly tactile works – which visitors are invited to explore through touch. While there are paths through the gardens, much of it is grassland which can be uneven.
Open: 31 March to 31 October.
Entry: £12.25.
Facilities: blue badge parking, free admission for a carer, mobility scooter/wheelchair loan, seats, disabled toilets.
henry-moore.org
West Sands, St Andrews, Fife
A straight route for 2.5 miles along an easy and mostly flat waterfront with views of the famous “home of golf” – and the beach used in the film Chariots of Fire. The weather can be breezy or bracing, depending on the time of year.
Open: daily
Entry: free
Facilities: blue badge parking, disabled toilets in town.
fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/walks/fife-beaches/st-andrews-west-sands
Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills, Co Antrim
The iconic world heritage site is simultaneously steeped in myth and scientific wonder. The site’s Green Trail (aka Runkerry Trail) is suitable for wheelchair users and includes tactile models that give people with visual impairments a sense of its dramatic geographical features. A little help from a companion for manual wheelchair users through areas where there are loose stones may be required.
Open: daily.
Entry: £13 for visitor centre with facilities or free to stroll on the trail.
Facilities: blue badge parking, wheelchairs for loan, seats, Changing Places toilet, free entry for a carer.
nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway
Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
The route around the mysterious stone circle consists of grass paths which will be more readily accessible for powerchairs and scooters. There are also touching stones in the external exhibition.
Open: daily.
Entry: from £22.80.
Facilities: Step-free access bus from visitor centre to stones, Changing Places toilet and emergency disabled toilet at the stones. Audio descriptive tour or transcription, or large-print or easy-read versions.
english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge
Salcombe Hill, Devon
Just under a mile long, with a good gravel surface suitable for wheelchair users, Salcombe Hill forms a part of the South West Coast Path, with views taking in Sidmouth, High Peak and Ladrum Bay.
Open: daily.
Entry: free.
Facilities: seats. Sidmouth is approximately 2.5 miles away.
nationaltrust.org.uk/sidmouth-countryside
Glenmore Forest Park, Glenmore, Inverness-shire
An opportunity to enjoy one of the few remaining areas of Caledonian pine forest. There are two accessible trails to choose from, taking in views of Loch Morlich and Loch Uaine, respectively. While it’s fine for powerchair users, manual wheelchairs users may occasionally need a little assistance on a few of the steeper stretches.
Open: daily.
Entry: free.
Facilities: blue badge parking, disabled toilets, scooter loan.
forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/glenmore-forest-park
The Camel Trail, Cornwall
The Camel Trail is a wide multi-use pathway running from Padstow to Wadebridge and then on to the edge of Bodmin Moor. It follows miles of disused railway line through stunning countryside.
Open: daily.
Entry: free.
Facilities: disabled toilets in Padstow and Wadebridge.
The Lake Walk, Mount Stewart, Co Down
The gardens and demesne walks are variously surfaced with grass and gravel and can be slippery in places in certain weather. That said, the garden which enjoys the mild climate of the Ards Peninsula, is a feast for the senses, not least as the reflections in the lake change season by season.
Open: daily.
Entry: £12.10.
Facilities: blue badge parking, wheelchairs and powerchairs for loan, disabled toilets, free for carers.
nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart
RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve, Llandudno Junction, Conwy
Many of the RSPB reserves around the UK offer decent access and facilities. Trails around this wetland site are largely level and either rolled slate or boardwalk. A variety of bird species visit the wetlands throughout the year, with the black-tailed godwit being the one most coveted by twitchers.
Open: daily.
Entry: £6.
Facilities: blue badge parking, seats, disabled toilets.
Linlithgow Loch, Linlithgow, West Lothian
The ruined birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots is still an impressive monument. Pathways around the adjacent loch are a mix of compacted gravel and tarmac.
Open: daily.
Entry: free.
Facilities: the palace is in the centre of Linlithgow.
historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/linlithgow-palace
The Mawddach Trail, Dolgellau, Gwynedd
The nine-mile trail along a disused railway line along the Mawddach estuary in southern Snowdonia is considered a classic by walkers and its hard, wide surface means that it is open to all. It offers views across to Diffwys and the Rhinogs, and up the estuary to Y Garn and the Arans beyond Dolgellau.
Open: daily.
Entry: free.
Facilities: seats, wide gates aid wheelchair access, audio guide download for people with visual impairments.
mawddachtrail.co.uk
Kingston Lacy, Near Wimborne, Dorset
A multi-use trail runs through woodland with views of the house and parkland. A solid gravel track is in place, but you can also borrow off-road wheelchairs.
Open: daily.
Entry: £18.
Facilities: off-road wheelchair loan, disabled toilets, blue badge parking.
nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
One of the world’s leading botanic gardens, this is a fantastic sensory experience of sight, sound and fragrance throughout the year. It is set in 70 acres with mostly tarmac surfaced wheelchair accessible pathways, though some are quite steep.
Open: daily.
Entry: free.
Facilities: blue badge parking, disabled toilets, wheelchair and scooter loan, seats.
rbge.org.uk
Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
The reserve is great for either bird watching or bird listening, as well as tranquil walks and peaceful stops in largely step-free hides. Pathways are solid and level.
Open: daily.
Entry: concessions £13.50.
Facilities: blue badge parking, wheelchair loan, scooter hire, disabled toilets.
wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge
Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne, Downhill, Co Londonderry
Windswept but wonderfully romantic and with views across the north coast, the estate is part of the Binevenagh area of outstanding natural beauty. There’s a mix of gravel and grass paths.
Open: daily.
Entry: free (car park £5).
nationaltrust.org.uk/mussenden-temple-and-downhill-demesne
Editor’s note
Because of the pandemic, check in advance that facilities are open since short-notice changes cannot always be predicted. Similarly, you are advised to raise specific questions about access and facilities before you plan your visit. Some facilities are available only to paying visitors. Find out more via the web addresses provided, including disability access statements.
Tom Jamison is the editor of ‘Able Magazine’, the UK’s most popular disability lifestyle publication (ablemagazine.co.uk)
