Access Guide
Summary
- Services / facilities within the grounds include a Farm Explorer Tractor Pulled Bus providing transport between the Museum and Farm Buildings and a path route leading between the buildings separate from the Farm Track Road.
- For the National Museum of Rural Life - Farmhouse AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab).
- For the National Museum of Rural Life - Getting Around The Farm AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab) .
- For the National Museum of Rural Life - Museum First Floor AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab) .
- For the National Museum of Rural Life - Museum Ground Floor AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab) .
- For the National Museum of Rural Life - Farm Toilets AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab) .
- The path from the museum to the farm is approximately 850m. The tractor bus uses a bumpy route and car parking at the farm buildings can be arranged instead if preferred using tarmac roads.
Getting Here
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By Road
View
- The museum is located to the North West of East Kilbride via Stewartfield Way, close to the A726/A727 interchange.
- There is a car park at the main building and parking can be arranged at the farmhouse buildings off Kittochside Road.
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By Bus
View
- There is not a bus stop within 150 metres of the venue.
- Bus 31 serving East Kilbride stops around 300m away on Stewartfield Way.
- For more information on buses in East Kilbride please click here (opens new tab).
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By Train
View
- The nearest Railway Station is Hairmyres.
- Hairmyres station is around 2 miles away.
Taxi and bus routes are available from the station. - For more information on National Rail please click here (opens new tab).
Getting Help and Assistance
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- There is a member of staff trained in British Sign Language.
- The alternative formats documents can be provided in include: Braille on request and large print on request.
- There is an assistance dog toilet or toileting area at the venue/nearby.
- The assistance dog toilet or toileting area is located to the rear of the main building.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
- There are mobility aids available.
- The mobility aids available include wheelchairs.
- To obtain mobility aids please contact a member of staff.
- There is a designated place of safety which can be used by people who may feel scared or at risk .
- The designated place of safety is located on the ground floor to the right as you exit the front lift.
- Sensory backpacks are available from reception and in the Quiet Space.
Farm Explorer - Tractor Bus Lift
- The tractor-towed Farm Explorer bus can be used to travel between the Museum and Farm.
- There is a bus stop just beyond the ground floor entrance, by the Courtyard Exhibit.
- There is a lift available to access the bus which is staff operated.
- The dimensions of the lift are 81cm x 131cm.
- There is a safety belt available for the lift.
- There is 1 wheelchair space at the rear of the bus.
- There is a bell next to the rear wheelchair space to attract the tractor drivers attention.
- There are steps available to board the bus on the opposite side to the lift.
- The width of the opening at the steps is 59cm.
- There are 6 deep steps to gain access.
- There is a bus shelter with benches available at the Farm.
- The bus schedule is available from staff, and during quieter periods it may be possible to have staff call the bus when required.
- The bus ride can be bumpy throughout, so parking at the Farm can be made available by arrangement using tarmac roads if preferred.
Generic (Museum to Road)
- Exit the Museum via the ground floor Farm Explorer Bus Stop entrance. Continue ahead and beyond the bus stop where the concrete surface begins to slope downwards towards the road. There is an easy slope as you head towards Philipshill Road where there is a cobbled surface just before the road.
Generic (Philipshill Road Crossing)
- Cross over the cobbled surface which slopes slightly upwards to the roadside. The road has markings to 'Look Both Ways' as it is a public road down past the Museum. Cross the road heading towards the single gate on the left. The gate is clearly signposted as 'Footpath to Farm' to the left of the 'Farm Explorer' route on the right. There is a compact earth surface leading down to the gate on the other side of the road.
Generic (Philipshill Road Gate - Hill Path)
- The gate to the footpath is 122cm wide, heavy and opens both ways. Continue along the path which has a gravel surface. There is a long steep slope throughout the path at first. The width of the path at this stage is 90cm. There is a farm gate halfway up the hill with signposted views to an adjacent field. There is a grass surface to the gate. At the top of the hill the path levels out and there is a bench available. Continue along the path towards where the tractor farm track can be seen on the right.
Footpath
- Follow the path round to the left away from the farm track on the right.
- The path is waymarked and offers another bench along the way.
- There are some easy slopes as you follow the path and it narrows down to 50cm in width.
- There are some areas which are slightly uneven and grassy.
- After following the path round to the left there is an uneven area with a slight hole where care should be taken.
- The path then begins to turn up towards another hill.
Narrow Path - Farm Track Gate
- Following the path, take a right turn up a steep hill where the path narrows to 30cm in width.
- Continuing uphill then round to the right again leads to a signposted gate at the farm track road.
- To avoid the steep hill, a path over grass which has a moderate slope can be taken by continuing straight on instead.
- Follow the grass path past the bench and viewpoints and re-join the main path near the farm track gate.
Farm Track Gate Crossing
- There is a 122cm wide heavy gate which opens both ways to cross the farm track road.
- The quiet farm track has a gravel surface and there is a similar gate at the other side back onto the path.
- Once through the gate at the other side, follow the path round to the left where there are some easy slopes.
Farm Path
- Follow the path round to the right between the fields.
- The path then narrows to around 50cm and follows an easy to moderate slope uphill.
- There is a bench with signposted views across the field before the slope.
- There are some uneven grassy areas on the path at the access gates between fields.
- Continue up the slope towards the Farm Garden trees.
Farm Gardens - Farm Gate
- At the top of the slope there is a signpost for the Farm before a Y-junction in the path at a bench.
- The Kitchen Garden can be accessed here using the path to the right, through a white gate which opens away from you and is permanently held.
- There are steps and a steep slope up to the ornamental gardens at the farmhouse from the Kitchen Gardens, please refer to the separate guide for details.
- The path to the left from the Y-junction is the accessible route to the Farm Buildings and Upper Gardens.
- Follow this wider path along beside the field on the left and trees to the right until you reach the gate to the farm.
- The gate is similar to the others along the route, heavy, 122cm in width and opening both ways.
Generic (Farm Gate - Farm Buildings)
- Beyond the gate turn right and follow the track round past the Farm Explorer Bus Stop area. The surface changes to concrete. There are some easy slopes here with a moderate slope round to the right near the toilet blocks leading to the farm buildings. You have arrived.
