Our estate is set into the slope of a hill. Therefore all the ground is sloping to some degree, and we appreciate that this can make access difficult for those with mobility restrictions.
PARKING & ADMISSION
There are a few parking spaces available in our entrance yard for those with mobility restrictions. This is nearer to the garden entrance than our main car park. To use this parking area, please follow the disabled sign when approaching the garden.
Due to the geography of the area, unfortunately even our entrance yard & disabled parking is set on a slope, so I am afraid a little negotiation of slopes is unavoidable. Our toilets and admission kiosk are situated at the top of the yard, and include a disabled toilet. There is level access here to the Tea Garden, with just a slight lip into the Tea Room (only open on selected days, so please check ahead of journey if this is important).
GARDEN
At the bottom of the yard, you cross a narrow country road into the garden. There is a level stone path along the top of the garden, that opens out to a grass slope that runs down among the trees. Visitors should be able to pick a route between the trees that is not too steep, but there are no hard-surface paths in this part of the garden, just grass.
The lower part of the garden has narrow paths that are mostly stone surfaced. Suitable for walking, but probably not suitable for a wheelchair. It varies in steepness, but is not too steep. There are various seats around the garden.
We have created new paths through the two fields above the entrance yard. This is where we are extending our arboretum with new plantings. There are good viewpoints in these fields, but I am afraid it does require negotiating sloping grass paths. The path into the wood behind the Tea Garden is less steep than the path heading straight uphill from the yard.
We don’t advertise the garden as being suitable for people with walking difficulties, but hopefully you can enjoy a large part of the garden. It is certainly a peaceful place to sit and listen to the birdsong.
For people with poor vision, we warn that there are steps on some of the paths in several areas of the garden, and some of the paths are uneven and can be slippery in the wet. There is also a road (not busy) to cross into the garden. However, our collections of trees are very tactile and the different textures of the bark are very stimulating to the touch.
TEA ROOM AND TEA GARDEN
Open in the Summer season. Both the tea room and tea garden are accessible for disabled visitors.
For more details on any of the above, you are welcome to contact us on 01647 231311 or use the contact form.
