Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: historic interiors, a historic house and exhibition rooms.
- The most accessible entrance has steps, a manual door and a door permanently held open.
- This entrance is the entrance located to the right after entering the castle quadrangle.
- There are 2 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is step-free access to the ground floor only once inside.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: seating and on site-transport.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found in the castle quadrangle.
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 43m from the castle entrance.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found in the castle quadrangle.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has steps, doors permanently held open and a manual door.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from Visitor Reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: a tramper. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from Visitor Reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Route to (the Castle)
- After passing through Visitor Reception, bear left then pass through the gap between the buildings.
Go straight ahead then turn right; following the signs for the castle.
Continue straight on until you come to a road. Follow this for a short way then bear left up the steep hill.
When you reach the castle building, turn left and carry on following the roadway up the hill. After a little way the entrance to the castle will be located on the right. - The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac, gravel and cobbles.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located to the right after entering the castle quadrangle.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- There are 7 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- Some of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 120cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- There are balustrades either side of the steps to provide support.
This is the only entrance into the castle.
There is a thick mat after the doorway which may be a trip hazard.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 1 hour.
- There is stepped access along the tour route.
- The majority of walkway widths are over 180cm.
- The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a virtual tour.
- There is background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: Braille, television/screen, audio description and audio guides.
- The tour has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There are armchairs, sofas, bench seats and chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
- Some flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet and uneven floorboards.
- Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- Lighting levels are varied throughout the tour route.
- Guided tours are also available.
Stairs (Ground to First Floor)
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up.
- The highest step is 15cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
Stairs (First to Ground Floor)
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the left going down.
- The highest step is 17cm high.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Exit
- The exit is located opposite the entrance.
- There is not step-free access at the exit.
- There are 3 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- Some of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 102cm.
Toilet with Adaptations (Castle Quadrangle - Accessible - Left Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located in the castle quadrangle.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 43m from the castle entrance.
- There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 84cm.
- The door has a sliding bolt lock.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 181cm x 225cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 111cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and a vertical rail on the left side of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder and wash basin.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: soap dispenser and towel dispenser.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 45cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 100cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 76cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 112cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 109cm.
- The height of the baby change is 79cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a waste bin without lid, a nappy/incontinence items bin, a sanitary bin and a padded back rest for seat.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror and coat hooks.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door, the floor and the toilet seat.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the dropdown rail and all grab rails.
- Lighting levels are bright.
Standard Toilet (Castle Quadrangle)
- Access into the toilet is via steps.
- There are 3 steps, which is clearly marked, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 79cm.
- The male standard toilet was surveyed.
- There is also a female toilet in the same location.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 58cm.
- The wash basin tap type is push.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
- The female toilet could not be surveyed as it was undergoing maintenance at time of survey (October 2023).