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Kielder Observatory

Black Fell, Off Shilling Pot, Kielder, Northumberland, NE48 1EJ

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • This venue is an observatory in which presentations and stargazing events take place.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: public use telescopes, a hot drinks café, gift shop, and a toilet.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
    • The venue has its own car park.
    • There is a drop-off point.
    • For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
    • The drop-off point is for blue badge holders only. A blue badge holder may park directly adjacent to the venue. See the parking section for more information.
      This venue is in a remote location, and care should be taken using SatNavs or Google Maps etc. Stay on the main road until you see the road sign for Kielder Observatory, after the turn off the observatory ca park is a further 2 miles up the forest track.
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via ramp at the most accessible entrance.
    • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: presentation room, hot drinks shed, outside spaces.
    • The following areas have stepped access: main telescope room, secondary telescope room.
    • Access throughout may include uneven surfaces, manual doors and narrow walkways.
    • There is not a toilet with adaptations available.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • There is seating available.
    • There is a portable hearing assistance system.
    • This venue has "Sonido Digital Listener" devices available in the presentation room.
    • There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.

Opening Times

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the left of the main observatory building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of compacted earth and unsurfaced areas.
    • There is 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay available.
    • The Blue Badge bay is signposted but has no markings.
    • There are no hatched/marked zones.
    • The nearest designated bay is 10m from main observatory entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp or slope, a steep ramp or slope and uneven surfaces.
    • Blue badge parking is offered by allowing cars to park on the track to the right of the main observatory building. The parking is clearly signposted, but bay markings are not available. The track has a steep slope and some people may find it difficult to traverse.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for visitors only.
    • Parking is free for all users.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is a designated drop-off point available.
    • The designated drop-off point is located directly in front of the main observatory building.
    • This drop-off point is for blue badge holders only. Use of the drop-off point is by pre-arrangement only.

Entrance (Main Observatory)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the main observatory building.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 95cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.

Presentation Room

  • The presentation room is located directly ahead of the main observatory entrance.
  • Inside, there is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • The flooring is wooden and shiny. It may appear to be wet.
  • Lighting levels are low.
  • There is fixed seating without armrests on the right-hand side of the room.
  • There are unfixed seats without armrests available.
  • There are "Sonido Digital Listening" devices available for people with a hearing impairment.

Main Telescope Room

  • The main telescope room is located at the rear of the presentation room.
  • There is a small sliding partition to access this area with an opening width of 78cm.
  • There are 6 steps immediately after this partition.
  • The steps are 22cm high and have a tread depth of 25cm.
  • The contrast of these steps is low.
  • There is a handrail on the right-hand side going up that may be difficult to grip.
  • Inside, the lighting levels are extremely low.
  • There is limited space in this room, and no seating is available.
  • The roof in this room rotates and some people may find this disorientating.

Entrance (Secondary Telescope Room)

  • This entrance is located to the rear left of the main observatory building.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient with resting areas.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with a handrail on the right going down.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 78cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.
  • There is step-free access via ramp as you enter.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with a handrail on the right going up.
  • Inside, the ramp curves around the outside of the room and is long (10m). Lighting levels at the ramp are extremely low.

Secondary Telescope Room

  • The secondary telescope room is located at the rear left of the main observatory building.
  • Inside, the lighting levels are low.
  • There is limited space in this room.
  • There are chairs without armrests available.
  • The roof in this room rotates and some people may find this disorientating.

Entrance (Hot Drinks Shed)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the hot drinks shed, which is opposite the main observatory building.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 79cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.

Eating and Drinking (Hot Drinks Shed)

  • Location and Service View
    • The hot drinks shed is located inside the auxiliary building that is opposite the main observatory building.
    • This area has a counter where food and drink can be ordered, staff who can provide assistance with ordering and designated seating.
    • Full table service is available.
    • The following are available: drinking straws and takeaway cups.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • There are no menus available, but staff can inform as to what is available.
  • Order and Payment View
    • The payment counter was surveyed.
    • The counter is located at the rear left of the hot drinks shed.
    • There is step-free level access to the counter.
    • The height of the counter is 96cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
  • Seating Area View
    • There is step-free level access throughout the seating area.
    • There is some room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
    • Some flooring is patterned.
    • The walls and floor have a low colour contrast.
    • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests.
    • There is background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.
    • There are no tables in the hot drinks shed. The pictured table is a "gravity demonstration aid".
      Gifts, souvenirs and other branded merchandise are also available to buy in this facility.

Outdoor Spaces

  • The following is available in this area: a visitor centre.
  • Additional facilities in this area include: a telescope deck and stargazing deck.
  • Outdoor areas consist of compact earth, paving slabs and decking.
  • There are footpaths throughout.
  • The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
  • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: the telescope deck and stargazing deck.
  • There are some seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
  • The paths have uneven surfaces which may create barriers for some users.
  • The telescope deck is located to the left of the main observatory building. The stargazing deck is located at the rear of the main observatory building, in front of the secondary telescope room.

Standard Toilet Facilities

  • The shared standard toilet facilities were surveyed.
  • The toilet is located to the right of the hot drinks shed.
  • The distance from hot drinks shed entrance is 6m.
  • The most accessible route has uneven surfaces and a slight ramp or slope.
  • There is step-free access via ramp into the toilet.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
  • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.
  • There is no sink inside the toilet cubicle. Hand sanitizer is provided instead. The height of the hand sanitizer shelf is 101 cm.