Access Guide

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Summary

View information about opening hours.
The most accessible entrance has steps.
This entrance is in the courtyard.
There are 3 floors once inside.
Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
There is stepped access once inside.
Flights of stairs provide access between floors.
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: a companion/carer discount and sensory packs.
The sensory pack includes: fidget toys. For more information about reserving a pack, and any charges, please contact the venue before your visit.
Sensory packs also include noise cancelling headphones and sunflower lanyards.
At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was not working.
This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
Additional toilet facilities with adaptations for disabled people are on the right just before entering the castle courtyard. View information about this toilet (new tab)
There is a separate exit.
The exit has a manual door, a door permanently held open and steps.

You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
Sensory packs can be borrowed which include: fidget toys.
Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.

With the Blue Badge parking behind you, proceed up the hill towards the castle.
Go through the entrance into the courtyard and the entrance to the castle will be on the other side of the courtyard.
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 a shuttle which can take visitors to this area, but wheelchair users will need to transfer into it.

The entrance surveyed is located in the courtyard.
There is stepped access at the entrance.
There are 10+ steps, which are unmarked, with handrails on both sides.
Steps are split with a resting area.
The handrails cover all steps.
All of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
There is a single manual door (with a locked extension leaf) which opens away from you.
The width of the opening is 93cm.
There is a second manual door (with a locked extension leaf) which opens away from you.
The width of the opening is 84cm.
There is 1 step beyond the entrance, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
There is an unmarked 14cm step at the threshold to the second door.

Access to the counter is via steps.
The height of the counter is 112cm.
There is not a low level counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
The counter has windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
Lighting levels are low.
There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
The counter does not have a hearing assistance system.

The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
The tour takes approximately 40 minutes.
There is stepped access along the tour route.
There are doorways or openings used on the tour which are under 75cm wide.
The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a photo album.
There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets and information board.
The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
There are bench seats and chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the chairs.
Flooring along the tour route is not smooth and even.
Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet and uneven floorboards.
Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
Lighting levels are low along parts of the tour route.

The exit is located to the left of the main stepped entrance into the castle.
There is not step-free access at the exit.
There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
The width of the opening is 94cm.
There is a second set of manual doors which are permanently open.
The width of the opening is 125cm.
The second opening has a minimum height of 200cm.
There are 9 steps beyond the exit, which are unmarked, with a handrail on the right going up.