This time, Quingo Scooters are taking you to the UK’s most southerly city, Truro. It is the only city in Cornwall and it is a place that is has a rich history, fascinating winding streets to explore and a vibrant cultural life to enjoy. It is a wonderful place to visit and we’re pleased to say that much of this historic city is also fully accessible to all.
Exploring Truro
Truro is one of those cities that will keep calling you back and we really fell in love with it when we visited. It is small enough that you always feel the powerful influence of the stunning Cornish countryside that surrounds it, but it is also large enough to give you plenty to do if you want to stay for a few days. It really feels like the cultural and historical heart of the region, and so our first suggestion is just to get out there and explore.
Take time to explore the city
The streets can be small and winding, but much of the city is relatively flat, making it an easy place to explore on your mobility scooter. It is a great place to shop, with lots of independent traders as well as the usual high street stores. We recommend heading along to Lemon Street Market which is packed full of local shops, cafes and galleries. And if all the shopping is leaving you feeling peckish, go to Falcatch for some truly fresh Cornish seafood. There are 90 spaces at the nearby Tabernacle car park, but it doesn’t have designated Blue Badge parking, so if that is full then Lemon Quay just around the corner is a good alternative.
Visit the awe-inspiring Truro Cathedral
You really can’t go anywhere in Truro without getting a glimpse of its magnificent cathedral. It’s three spires dominate the city and the surrounding countryside and it is well worth visiting to take a look inside too. This stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture was built in 1910 and features three beautiful circular rose windows.
Pretty much all of the Cathedral (with the exception of St Mary’s aisle) is accessible to those of us on scooters, but you can always give the team a call on 01872 276782 before you visit if you need to discuss your particular requirements. Truro Cathedral is right in the centre of the city, and although it doesn’t have its own parking facilities it is close by to many of the city centre car parks. Find out more about them here.
Lose yourself in the Lost Gardens
If you feel like you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Truro, then you really do have to visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. As the name suggests, they were forgotten about for many years, hidden in the undergrowth that had covered the neglected estate. Their restoration has been a remarkable effort, and today it is now possible to enjoy some sense of the gardens as they were first intended when they were created over 400 years ago.
The team behind the gardens have done a fantastic job of making as much of this historic site as accessible as possible, and their dedicated accessibility page is a good place to begin your visit. Entry is free for anyone who has come along to help you out.
Enjoy family fun on the farm
No trip to Cornwall is complete without experiencing the joys of home-made Cornish ice cream. So, we highly recommend taking a short trip out of Truro to the lovely Callestick Farm, where the Parker family have been perfecting the art of making seriously delicious ice cream since they moved there in the 50s. The secret to their success is the happy band of 300 or so cows who graze there and who you can also get to meet when you visit. It’s a great day out if you’ve got kids (and even if you haven’t), and they do a great Cornish cream tea too. Just head out of Truro a few miles north west on the B3284.
Accessibility
Truro is an ancient city, with some cobbled streets that can cause issues for those of us exploring on our mobility scooters. But it is also surprisingly small and manageable, packing a lot into a relatively compact area. That means that journey times between sites are usually short, and because the city centre itself is generally flat it makes for a very accessible experience.
All of the public toilets are fully accessible and you’ll just need to pick up a RADAR key for £3 from the VisitTruro shop on Boscawen Street. Most of the car parks in central Truro are also free for Blue Badge holders. You will need to display your badge and you will also have to register on the Cornwall Council exemption scheme to use the spaces. This needs to be done before you visit, and you can either call on 0300 1234 222 to arrange this or apply online here.
The accessibility page on the Visit Truro website is a great place to start your journey.
Getting to Truro
As the only city in Cornwall, Truro is well served with transport links. Take the train from London Paddington direct, as well as services from South Wales and as far afield as Scotland. If you’re driving then follow the M5 to Exeter. From there, follow the A30 or the A38 via Plymouth before taking either the Carland Cross junction or the Chiverton roundabout for Truro. The nearest airport is in Newquay, around half an hour’s drive from Truro.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.