Tag Archives: accessible attractions

Accessible Routes, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Routes: Danbury Country Park

Quingo Scooters empowers our users to go forward and explore the UK’s glorious natural beauty at their leisure. In our series of articles, we’re bringing some of the nation’s best accessible routes to your attention, highlighting various green spaces you can discover on your mobility scooter.

Today, we’re travelling down to Essex, the UK’s most southerly county. The area plays host to Danbury Country Park, a popular natural attraction which boasts various accessible routes.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE ROUTES: DANBURY COUNTRY PARK 2

Danbury Country Park

Based in Danbury, Essex, Danbury Country Park lies on an estate which was originally constructed back in the 13th Century. Today it includes a range of stunning natural sites, such as meadows, woodlands, lakes and ornamental gardens. Its main route will take you past the Park’s stunning lakes, where you can get a glimpse of fascinating wildlife such as carp, ducks, coots, moorhens and even kingfishers. You can also go fishing on its lower and western lakes from 8.30am until dusk from 16th June to 14th March.

The park’s greenery is simply breath-taking. It’s a good place to visit in late spring, as this is when the rhododendrons in its ornamental gardens start to bloom, providing you with a spectacular show. The space also plays host to wildflower-strewn meadows, which are known for attracting butterflies in the summer, as well as majestic trees such as sweet chestnuts, hornbeams and ancient oaks.

Danbury Country Park is also a history enthusiast’s dream, as it features various ancient structures for you to check out. This includes an old ice house, where before the invention of refrigerators, ice from the lake was stored in winter for use in the palace which once existed on its grounds. The venue also puts on various events such as its annual Easter Bunny Trail, where kids can hunt down and paint eggs. Danbury Country Park is free to visit and opens daily from 8am until dusk.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE ROUTES: DANBURY COUNTRY PARK 3

Accessibility

Danbury Country Park is a fully accessible attraction for mobility scooter users. It is accessible via the Essex public transport system and you can book a trip through Traveline South East’s Journey Planner tool. You can also reach Danbury Country Park by car, with the venue’s primary car park located between Woodhill Lodge and its main lakes, providing easy access to the park. There are small fees for parking, ranging from £1 for up to 30 minutes to £4 for over three hours.

The space is known for its hard-surface and well-maintained tracks. Most of Danbury Country Park’s trails are suitable for mobility scooters, with the popular lakeside path being the easiest, as well as most scenic, to travel. There are also plenty of picnic tables dotted around Danbury Country Park, providing various spaces to stop, rest and enjoy a bite to eat as you enjoy some natural sights.

There are also two accessible restroom complexes, which include disabled facilities, in Danbury Country Park. These are located across from the site’s main lakes carpark and adjacent to the smaller woods car park. These facilities, however are closed in the period between November and April every year.

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, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Attractions: West Yorkshire Playhouse

Quingo Scooters encourages users to explore the world around them on their mobility scooters, so they can make the most of the world around them. In our series of articles, we’ve been revealing some of the UK’s top accessible attractions which are open to mobility scooter users and guarantee a great day out.

Today, we’re heading up to God’s own country Yorkshire to take in some culture. We’re sharing with you the West Yorkshire Playhouse, based in Leeds, which is one of the UK’s most accessible venues.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE ATTRACTIONS: WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE 2

West Yorkshire Playhouse

The West Yorkshire Playhouse is a world-class theatre. It is best known for displaying compelling stage productions, as well as serving as a creative hub for regional actors, directors and other theatre industry personnel. The West Yorkshire Playhouse has two separate theatres for you to visit…

  • Quarry Theatre: This amphitheatre-style space seats 750 people and attracts top regional productions for your viewing pleasure. It is soon to be hosting Babe the Sheep Pig, a play inspired by the Oscar winning film of the same name, from 15th to 18th February 2017.
  • Courtyard Theatre: Set in a rectangular shape, this space features lower and upper galleries, with accessible entrances at the back. It is currently showing a production of the classic Bernard Shaw work Pygmalion, which explores class identity, from 7th to 25th February 2017.

The West Yorkshire Playhouse also boasts a range of other attractions for you to explore. This includes a bar, a restaurant and the Priestley Room, a quiet space to go in intervals located in easy reach of the bar and restaurant. The venue also holds various events for you to check out, like the Transform Festival in April, where independent productions are performed across Leeds, celebrating local talent.

Visit the ‘What’s On’ section of West Yorkshire Playhouse’s website, to find out the ticket prices and showing times, for your production. Remember, however, that a £1.75 surcharge will apply to the price, but there are discounts for people aged under 16 or over 60, as well as NUS card and Leeds City Card holders. You can book tickets via the Playhouse’s Box Office, which is open between 9am and 5pm. The Box Office can be contacted via phone, at 0113 213 7700 or by email at [email protected].

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE ATTRACTIONS: WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE 3

Accessibility

The West Yorkshire Playhouse is fully accessible. You’ll find it around 20 minutes away from the centrally located Leeds Train Station. The venue is based opposite the Quarry Hill Bus Station and is also easily accessible by car. It has a car park which, as a Blue Badge holder, you can use for free, and the spaces are right outside the main entrance. Visit the website’s ‘Finding Us’ section to learn more.

Discover just how accessible the West Yorkshire Playhouse is by downloading the ‘Open to Everyone’ document, available on the ‘Access’ section of its website. The West Yorkshire Playhouse has level access up from the car park, while its Box Office includes a lowered counter, making it easy for you to book tickets. The accommodating Box Office staff will be only too happy to fulfil your request for aisle or entrance level seats whenever possible, when you book your tickets at the Playhouse.

Both the Playhouse’s theatres feature spaces for mobility scooter users and the venue’s front of house team are happy to help you reach your seat. The West Yorkshire Playhouse also features wide lifts enabling access to all floors, as well as automatic doors and spacious areas e.g. the restaurants, with broad accessible routes. There are also accessible toilets around the building, as well as moveable tables and chairs in the bar and restaurant areas, promoting comfort. At the West Yorkshire Playhouse, you can even pre-order your interval drinks to avoid the busy queues that often build up at these times.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible places 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.

Accessible Routes, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Days Out: Clifton Country Park

Here at Quingo Scooters, we want to help you live your life to the fullest, by encouraging you to discover the world around you on your mobility scooter. In our series of articles, we’re shedding light on various accessible days out, which you can use to explore the UK’s most scenic outdoor spaces.

Today we’re going to Clifton Country Park. You’ll find this popular, stunning attraction in Irwell Valley, which is just a few miles away from thriving Salford. Read on for a fabulous day out…

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE DAYS OUT: CLIFTON COUNTRY PARK 2

Clifton Country Park

Clifton Country Park is a 48 hectare picturesque local nature reserve, serving as an oasis away from the hectic confines of urban Salford. It features various meadows, woods, ponds and lakes for visitors to discover. The park has various self-guiding trails, with the highlight being its highly popular lake path. It won the prestigious Green Flag Award in both 2006 and 2007, so you know it’s a great place to visit.

This is a great park to indulge in a little wildlife spotting in particular, as it’s popular with bird watchers and fish enthusiasts. It also boasts various beautiful plant-life, from Irish Yews to Norwegian Maples. Clifton Country Park is especially known for its Arboretum, as well as for housing the remains of the Wet Earth Colliery. Set up in 1740, this was one of the first deep mines to be sunk into the Irwell Valley.

Clifton Country Park is free to visit and opens daily. It also has a Visitor Centre, where you can find out more about the Park, access key services and learn about the area’s fascinating industrial past. The Clifton Country Park Visitor Centre is open 11.30am – 4.30pm on Saturdays, 10am – 4.30pm on Sundays and 11.30am – 4.30pm on Mondays, but it can be opened at other times by arrangement.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE DAYS OUT: CLIFTON COUNTRY PARK 3

Talking accessibility

The park itself has a hard-surfaced, main cark park with three parking bays available for designated blue badge holders, which can be accessed via Clifton House Road.

After you have arrived, you can reach the nearby Visitor Centre by taking the level ramp up from the main cark park. The Visitor Centre is fully accessible and it also has fully accessible toilets. These spacious facilities include grab rails and easy access wash basins and hand dryers. The site also has a café and shop, which can be accessed via a level ramp, as well as an accessible picnic area with tables.

The main trail running around Clifton Country Park’s lake is fully accessible.  It boasts a wide, hard surface, making it easy for mobility scooter users to navigate, providing you with a clear, circular walk. We should also note that rangers patrol the park from 9am to 5pm on most days, providing you with assistance when necessary. The Park’s rangers run a regular Friday morning walk for those with limited mobility, which starts at the Visitor Centre and is held from 10.15am to 11.30am.

About QuingoThe 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, Public Transport, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Days Out: Edinburgh Bus Tours

Quingo Scooters encourages users to get out and about, discovering some different days out in the best cultural hotspots. In our series of articles, we shed light on various accessible days out for you to enjoy on your mobility scooter.

Today we head to the North of the UK, to the Scottish capital. A beautiful city, Edinburgh is known for its historical attractions and architectural gems, making it one of the UK’s top tourist destinations. See everything it has to offer by having a day out on one of the Edinburgh Bus Tours.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE DAYS OUT: EDINBURGH BUS TOURS 2

Edinburgh Bus Tours

Since they were established in the 1920s, the Edinburgh Bus Tours have become Scotland’s third most popular paid-for attraction. They’re operated by Lothian Buses and depending on the tour you take, you can see some of Edinburgh’s best sites. This includes Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Grassmarket, Calton Hill and the Palace of Holyrood House, which is the official residence of the Scottish monarch.

There are three main tours – the Edinburgh Bus Tour, City Sightseeing Tour and Majestic Tour. They all visit some of the same attractions e.g. the Palace of Holyrood, but there are some variations e.g. the City Sightseeing Tour doesn’t stop at the Scottish Parliament, but the other two do. The Edinburgh Bus Tour offers a live guide in English, but the others provide multi-language commentary. Meanwhile, the City Sightseeing Tour is really good for kids, as it gives Horrible Histories commentaries!

The tours last roughly one hour and operate all year round, although the City Sightseeing is closed on Christmas Day. The trips depart every 15, 20 or 30 minutes, depending on the tour and time of year. Visit the tours’ pages on the Edinburgh Bus Tours website to learn their departure times, depending on the day and time of year. An adult ticket for each tour costs £15, but senior tickets (aged 60+) are £14, with students paying the same, while children’s tickets (aged five to 15) come in at £7.50.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE DAYS OUT: EDINBURGH BUS TOURS 3

Accessibility

The main Edinburgh Bus Tours are all suitable for mobility scooter users. The trips all depart from the interchange at Waverly Bridge, which is based right next to Edinburgh Waverly train station, making this location easy to find. You can also join the tours at any stop on their respective routes. You should consult the ‘finding us’ page on the Edinburgh Bus Tours website to help plan your trip.

Lothian Buses has gone above and beyond to accommodate mobility scooter users on its Edinburgh Bus Tours. Following a £6.5m investment, Lothian Buses fitted various mobility-friendly features on the buses used in its Edinburgh Bus Tour, City Sightseeing Tour and Majestic Tour routes. These vehicles offer two accessible spaces, which have securement systems installed. This means that your mobility scooter will be electronically held in place, helping you stay stable as the bus moves.

The accessible spaces fitted on the vehicles used in the Edinburgh, City Sightseeing and Majestic Tours are suitable for Class Two Mobility Scooter users. Various models sold by Quingo, such as the very affordable Quingo Classic, are Class Two, meaning that you’ll have no problem going on one of the Edinburgh Bus Tours with one of these models. The buses also have two ramps, which the drivers will be happy to roll out for you. There are also display screens showing footage from the front of the bus, alongside subtitled commentary, fitted above the wheelchair spaces.

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.

Accessible Routes, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Routes: Itchen Valley Park

Here at Quingo Scooters, we’re always encouraging you to get out and about and to explore the world around you with your mobility scooter. In our series of articles, we’re bringing various accessible routes to your attention, which you can take on your mobility scooter to discover the UK’s amazing natural beauty.

Today we’re heading down to Itchen Valley Park. Based in Southampton, Hampshire, this is an accessible popular nature park which is suitable for mobility scooter users.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE ROUTES: ITCHEN VALLEY PARK 2

Itchen Valley Park

Itchen Valley Park features 440 acres of stunning woodland and meadows for you to explore. It has been recognised with a prestigious Green Flag award for the past four years in a row, showing how popular it is with visitors. Itchen Valley Park has a Visitor Centre on site, where you can access interactive nature-based displays and shops, as well as a café where you can indulge in tea and cake afterwards.

The Park is famous for its trails. We suggest you buy a guide to accompany you, which is available from the Visitor Centre for just 50p. Its two mile Meadows Nature Trail is really popular, allowing guests to view the historic SSSI Water Meadow. It also has a one mile long Woodland Nature Trail, which is a must-see for nature enthusiasts. This forest path boasts various wildflowers and is well known for its bluebells, which appear in spring.

Itchen Valley Park is free to visit, opening at 8.30am daily, but closing at 7pm from November to March and at 9.30pm from April to October.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE ROUTES: ITCHEN VALLEY PARK 3

Accessibility

Itchen Valley Park is largely a suitable destination for scooter users. You can reach the venue by car and it has ample parking spaces, although there is a minimal charge for parking. This ranges from £1 for up to an hour, to £3.90 for more than four hours, but it’s free for holders of Hampshire Cultural Trust Culture Cards. Check out the Visiting Itchen Valley Park webpage to plan how to get there.

After you arrive at Itchen Valley Park, you’ll find that its Visitor Centre lies near the main road. Outside, there is a moderate ramp leading up to the Centre’s main entrance. The ramp has handrails on both sides and is 1100mm wide, making it suitable for mobility scooter users. The main entrance into the Visitor Centre is 930mm wide and you’re allowed to use mobility scooters across this building.

The Visitor Centre was built in an old barn, meaning that its key services all lie on one level. The Centre also has an accessible toilet, and there’s an easily accessible picnic and play area just outside. We should note that not all the trails are accessible, but do seek guidance from the Park’s staff on this matter as they’ll be happy to assist you. The Woodland Nature Trail is Itchen Valley Park’s most famous accessible route, having ramps and handrails for ease of access.

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.