Tag Archives: accessibility

Accessible Routes, Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: Harrogate

We all need to get away sometimes, and there is nothing we love more here at Quingo Scooters than tracking down the best short breaks in the UK for you. There are certainly plenty to choose from but this time we’re finding out what the beautiful northern spa town of Harrogate has to offer.

Exploring Harrogate

It’s a regular winner of the best place to live in the UK and it really is no wonder. Harrogate is a stunning town, full of historic buildings and tea rooms to wile away the days in. So, it is a great place to live, but it is also a wonderful town to visit. And whether you fancy taking in the town’s peaceful parks, treating yourself in one of its great cafes or restaurants or enjoying a spot of local history, the great news is that many of its attractions are accessible too. Here is our pick.

Editorial credit: Albert Pego / Shutterstock.com

Have a little something at Betty’s

If there is one thing that Harrogate is known for around the world, it is its wonderful tea rooms, where people have been filling in that lengthy gap between lunch and their evening meal for generations. Betty’s is without doubt the town’s most famous, as the queues outside prove, but it is certainly with good reason. Having Afternoon Tea there is a fantastic experience, and while the queues can be long, don’t let that put you off. If you really want to treat yourself then book a Lady Betty Afternoon tea online and avoid any waiting. You’ll get to enjoy the luxurious surroundings of Betty’s Imperial and Belmont Rooms, and you even get your own pianist! The café, shop and toilet at Betty’s are all at pavement level and so are easily accessible for scooter users.

's Tearoom Harrogate - Quingo Scooters
Editorial credit: cornfield / Shutterstock.com

Chill out (and warm up) in the Turkish Baths

Of course, thanks to William Slingsby’s discovery of the local springs four hundred years ago, Harrogate is also a spa town, and the historic Turkish Baths are well worth a visit. The place itself is breathtaking (literally, in the case of the cold plunge pool!) with intricate mosaic floors, and Islamic arches creating a real sense of being transported to another world. The baths take you through a process of heating, cooling and cleansing your body, and you can also take your pick from a number of treatments. The baths are fully accessible, although it can be busy and some of the rooms aren’t huge, so we’d recommend giving them a call on 01423 556746 to make sure it won’t be too packed when you visit. As with Betty’s, you can park nearby on the street using pay and display or disc, or there is also the Jubilee long stay car park about 5 minutes away. The Jubilee is just off Cheltenham Road and is open 7am – 10pm Sunday to Wednesday, and 7am – 11:59pm Thursday to Saturday. There are 444 spaces, with a number reserved for Blue Badge holders.

Take a trip around RHS Garden Harlow Carr

If Harrogate’s wonderful tea rooms and relaxing spa facilities weren’t enough, there is also one of the country’s most beautiful and horticulturally important gardens to enjoy. Harlow Carr is a wonderful space to explore, with an extensive garden that is home to an incredible range of different plants. The Royal Horticultural Society have done a fantastic job of making a visit there a real journey through lots of different landscapes, from woods to rich wildflower meadows. We’d suggest you pick a day when the sun is shining and set aside a whole afternoon to explore the garden’s 68 acres.

And as the weather gets colder, we’d also recommend their Winter Garden, that has been designed and planted with the specific shapes and colours of winter in mind. Although some of the paths can be steep, the gardens have been designed to be fully accessible, and you can also park very close to the entrance. For more information, take a look at their accessibility page here.

Harrogate in Autumn - Quingo Scooters

General accessibility

While Harrogate is hilly and can be busy during tourist season, it is easy to get around and many of the town’s most popular attractions have taken into account the needs of those of us who use mobility scooters and wheelchairs. The town’s main tourism information site is a great place to start planning your stay.

Getting to Harrogate

Harrogate is well served by road, rail and air. If you’re coming by car, it’s about 20 minutes from the A1. For those of you coming from the North, take the A1(M), leave at Junction 47 (Knaresborough) and follow signs to Harrogate. If you’re coming from the South, then take Junction 45 (Wetherby) and then the A661 to Harrogate. It’s half an hour on the train from Leeds, and you can reach Harrogate from London on the train in under three hours. Leeds Bradford Airport is also only about 20 minutes away. There is a direct airport shuttle bus (the 747) which takes you right into the heart of town.

About Quingo

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 's Tearoom Harrogate - Quingo ScootersConduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Accessible Routes, Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: The Lake District

Mobility scooters offer the perfect way to get around if you’re wanting to explore the great outdoors. And the destination we’re focusing on this time certainly has fresh air in abundance: the Lake District is famous around the world, and the great news is that much of it is accessible. So, here Quingo Scooters finds out what this incredible National Park has to offer.

The Lake District

Never mind just the UK: we’re going to be bold with this one and say that the Lake District must be truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It really does have it all, from breathtaking mountains and forests to yes, lakes (although strangely, only one, Bassenthwaite Lake, is officially a lake by name). There is also a rich vein of artistic connections to explore in the Lakes as well, with many painters and writers over the years, from Turner to Wordsworth, being inspired by this incredible place.

Bassenthwaite Lake

The great thing about the Lake District is that there really is a day out to suit every taste. If you love to explore the wilds of the fells and the valleys then there are plenty of accessible routes for you to try. But the towns are also well worth a visit, despite getting incredibly busy in the summer tourist season. Whether you’re looking to pick up a bargain in one of the countless outdoor shops in Keswick, or if you want to enjoy the Beatrix Potter Experience in Windermere, there are lots of options.

Accessibility

The Lake District National Park is an area of great natural beauty and of course, as with any of the UK’s wild places, access to it on a mobility scooter or wheelchair can depend heavily on the weather. That said, the National Park authority website is a good place to start your journey: their dedicated Miles Without Stiles page gives a great overview of the 48 routes in the Lake District that have been identified as being particularly accessible for all. One of our favourites is a fairly lengthy route alongside the stunning Coniston Water. The views are out of this world and one of the best things about it is that is very adaptable if the Cumbrian weather turns against you suddenly (as it often does!). It’s easy to cut the 4.3 mile route short and turn it into just a couple of miles if you need to by getting on one of the Coniston Launches from the jetty at Torver. There is also a car park, accessible toilets and café on Lake Road near to the Coniston Boating Centre.

Another great Miles Without Stiles route is along the shore of Derwentwater, surely one of the most beautiful of all the lakes in the park (and one that has even had a role in Star Wars, of all things!). It takes you along the western shore of the lake, with great views of Skiddaw and the other local mountains that surround Keswick. You can park at Hawse End where the walk starts, but there is also the option to take public transport by using the Buttermere Rambler (service number 77 / 77A). We’d recommend checking with the team there on 01228 597222 to make sure it will be a low floor bus that is operating on the day you want to travel.

Derwentwater

As we mentioned earlier, the Lake District isn’t just about the great outdoors. The Beatrix Potter Experience in Windermere is a real family favourite, and is fully accessible. There is an accessible entrance on Crag Brow, and although it is an old building they’ve done a great job of ensuring everyone can enjoy it. There is also lift access to the Tea Room. It is open every day, from 10 until 6.30pm, with last entry at 5.30pm. If you’re blind and partially sighted then there is also the opportunity to go on a ‘touch tour’ (with authentic aromas) of the exhibition. Just give the team a call on 015394 88444 a couple of weeks before you go to book it in.

Getting there

The Lake District is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK and it is well served by the M6 motorway that runs north and south along its eastern edge. Junction 36 and then A590 will take you to the southern Lakes, while Junction 40 and the A66 or A592 will take you to the north. You can also take the train, either to Carlisle, Oxenholme or Penrith from London and Glasgow, and there are direct trains from Manchester to Windermere too. Buses also link many of the towns within the park itself, but again we’d recommend checking to make sure they are accessible, on 01228 597222.

Lake District Valley

Share your accessible route with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible routes on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

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.

 

 

 

Accessible Routes, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: Beddgelert Forest, Snowdonia

It looks like this long, hot summer isn’t over yet, with high temperatures forecast for just about everywhere for August. In the UK, we have so many accessible, beautiful, life affirming walks and routes to explore on your mobility scooter, it would be a shame not to try as many as you can before the sun goes in.

This time we’re heading to the jewel of the Welsh countryside, Snowdonia’s Beddgelert Forest. It’s 700 acres of forest, encompassing a treasure trove of different routes to try. As it’s a multi-use trail so you’ll see lots of different kinds of people along the way.

Stunning views

As you make your way around the accessible route, you’ll enjoy stunning views of Snowdon (if the visibility is right!) and can stop and enjoy a picnic next to the peaceful Llyn Llywelyn lake.

Listen out as well for the Old Welsh Highland railway trains that still go through the forest as they travel from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. You can find out all the information about the Snowdonia National Park Lon Gwyrfai trail that runs through the forest from Beddgelert to Rhyd Du on their website. In the meantime, here are a few key details.

Beddgelert Forest Snowdonia

Accessible trail

The route starts from the Forestry Commission car park. Very soon it crosses the Highland Railway line on the level crossing and follows a track around the forest edge. A you descend south, the track leads to the lake and an ideal resting spot. You can’t access the picnic bench by scooter, but there is plenty of space to enjoy your surroundings and the views are stunning every season. The circular 2.75 mile (4.4km) route ends up back at the car park.

Llyn Llywelyn Snowdonia

How to get there

Beddgelert Forest is in north Wales and is easy to reach by car or public transport. It is eight miles north of Porthmadog on the A4085, and there is free parking at the start of the route. The nearest train station is Porthmadog, and you can get details of public transport here.

Share your accessible route with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible routes on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website  and we’ll feature them on our blog.

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.

 

Accessible Routes, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: The Ridgeway

With most of the country currently in the grip of some glorious summer weather, many of us are looking to get out and about to make the most of it while it lasts. Fortunately, the UK has a huge number of accessible routes that are great to explore on your mobility scooter. In this, the latest in our series of accessible routes, Quingo Scooters heads south, to the historic Ridgeway path.

The Ridgeway

There can be few accessible routes that we’ve covered here that are as ancient as The Ridgeway. It’s been around, in one form or another, since prehistoric times. The route has been used over the millennia by everyone from soldiers to herders, and it passes through some glorious countryside. It’s a varied landscape too, with the 87-mile route taking in rolling downland and beautiful woods along the way.

Many people start their Ridgeway journey in the historic village of Avebury, and it is a beautiful site to explore. It’s home to the largest stone circle in Britain as well as the incredible West Kennet long barrow and the largest prehistoric mound in Europe at Silbury Hill. There is dedicated Blue Badge parking 200 yards from the stone circle, and quite a bit of the circle itself is also accessible. All of the museums and galleries, as well as Avebury Manor and gardens are accessible and have ramped entrances. You can also find accessible toilets behind the Barn Gallery. The National Trust site here also has plenty of information to help you plan your visit.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: The Ridgeway
Editorial credit: jax10289 / Shutterstock.com

We’re also big fans of the section of The Ridgeway between Ogbourne St George and Sparsholt Firs. While this whole 16-mile route might be a bit much, it is one of the most fascinating sections of the entire Ridgeway path, with plenty of prehistoric sites to see along the way. It’s remote too, so you’ll be travelling along quiet tracks, parts of which have been surfaced with limestone.

The entire western half of The Ridgeway is potentially accessible, weather permitting, and you’ll be able to soak up some of the incredible history of this area as you travel along it. Everything from long barrows to Iron Age forts and white horses in the chalk hillsides.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: The Ridgeway

Accessibility at The Ridgeway

One of the best things about The Ridgeway route is just how accessible so much of it is. A lot of the route follows paths that are unobstructed by stiles, so travellers on mobility scooters will be able to access the whole western half of the route as well as a big chunk of The Ridgeway between Britwell Hill and Wainhill. A word of caution though, it can be a little rough going from time to time as it isn’t paved, so exercise caution if the weather hasn’t been great in the days leading up to your expedition.

If those sections do look like they might be inaccessible, then there is also a great section between Fox Hill to Ashbury that has a generally more solid surface. There is also parking available at both ends of this section of the route, although unfortunately without designated Blue Badge spaces. A great place to start your journey along The Ridgeway is the National Trails website, here.

And if you’re planning on spending a bit more time in the area then we certainly recommend taking a look at this great leaflet that has been produced by the Chilterns Conservation Board and Chiltern Society, called ‘Miles Without Stiles in The Chilterns’, It’s a source of loads of useful information on accessible routes on and around The Ridgeway.

Getting there

Due to its proximity to London and the rest of the south east of England, The Ridgeway is easily accessible by road and rail. If you’re relying on public transport then we recommend planning your journey at the Traveline website. Alternatively if you’re heading to the area by car, then the M4 is your best bet. There are also regular trains from London Paddington to Swindon and Reading and from London Marylebone to High Wycombe. And it’s also worth saying that The Ridgeway itself is exceptionally well signposted, so you shouldn’t get lost en route!

Share your accessible route with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible routes on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

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.

Attractions, Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: A Day Out In Chester

The Monty Python team once famously posed the question: ‘What did the Romans ever do for us?’ Well, to the long list of sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system and public health, you can add the fine city of Chester. But it’s not only a beautiful historic city, it’s also a highly accessible one.

In the latest instalment of our Accessible Getaways series, Quingo Scooters looks at some of the great things that you can do in Chester.

Visiting Chester

Firstly, we should take a moment to celebrate the huge lengths that Chester has gone to in making so much of the city as accessible to as many people as possible. The city was the first in the UK to be awarded a European Access City Award, which recognises the effort a city goes to in order to make it accessible for all. It’s open to all EU cities with over 50,000 people, and considering the peculiarities of Chester’s historic centre, we think that this is a pretty impressive achievement. For an overview of just how accessible the city is, head online to find out more. Here’s our pick of some of the best things to do while you’re there.

  1. Explore the Walls

We recommend exploring the two miles of Roman, Saxon and medieval walls that surround the city. It’s a great way to get a lay of the land and to see some of its most famous sites, such as the cathedral, and best of all the walls are largely accessible. Access points vary, with some stepped, ramped or have level access, and there are some steps along the way. If you need to park, Blue Badge holders can stay free for up to four hours on any of the City Council’s pay and display car parks, except for Trinity Street. There are also two Blue Badge parking areas on Frodsham Street and Hamilton Place. To find out more, take a look here.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: A Day Out In Chester

  1. Take in Chester Rows

Chester has a unique set of elevated passageways known as Chester Rows, which have allowed for multi-level shopping since at least the 13th century. With six access points and a route around them that is completely accessible, many shops are at ground level, while others need to be accessed by steps. There is plenty more information in the handy Chester City Centre Access guide, that can be downloaded for free here.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: A Day Out In Chester - Chester Rows
Editorial credit: Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock.com
  1. Soak up some culture at the Storyhouse

Whether you want to go and see a film, catch a play or just stop for a coffee, the Storyhouse is a must visit when you come to Chester. There’s everything from stage versions of musical favourites through to screenings of classic films, talks by renowned authors and cutting edge contemporary dance. The entire building, from its library to the theatre, cinema and studio, is completely accessible by lift. It’s a real model for how well a building can be designed to make sure everyone can enjoy the space. The Market car park has 8 Blue Badge spaces, and there is free on street parking on Hamilton Place and Goss Street. To find out more, take a look at their accessibility page here.

Where to stay

You’re spoiled for choice for places to stay in this beautiful city. Take your pick from places like the Grosvenor in the heart of the historic town, which has reserved Blue Badge holder parking, through to The King’s Suites at the Premier Queen Hotel, which has two accessible rooms, ramped access and designated parking.

Eating out

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat in Chester, then there are the usual suspects like Cafe Rouge and lovely old pubs like the Grosvenor Arms that has been around since 1864, and the Old Harkers Arms. Both do great food and are well worth a visit.

Getting there

Chester is straightforward to get to if you’re coming by car, with links from the M6, M56 and the M53. By air, you’re only 40 minutes from Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon, and by rail you can use Arriva Trains or it’s a short trip from Crewe where there are plenty of connections too.

Editorial credit: D. Pimborough / Shutterstock.com

About Quingo

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.