Tag Archives: Accessible Route

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, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Routes: The Monsal Trail

Do you want to explore the great outdoors? At Quingo Scooters we’re constantly bringing you our top picks of the most breath-taking accessible routes the UK has to offer.

In today’s article we head to Derbyshire, one of England’s most scenic counties. Here you’ll find the Monsal Trail in the picturesque Peak District – one of the nation’s most mobility scooter-friendly routes.

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Monsal Trail

The Monsal Trail is a former railway line that was transformed into a track and opened up for the public to enjoy in 1981. This route begins just north of the small Derbyshire market town of Bakewell. Although 8.5 miles in total, you can pick and choose parts of the route you wish to see, and there are many amenities along the way, such as cafes, pubs and shops. Your Quingo is well within range of this, however we do recommend you charge it up fully before venturing out.

The route, which is free to travel, will take you all the way to the head of Chee Dale, allowing you a glimpse of the region’s glorious limestone valleys as you pass. The Trail is great for nature spotters. You’ll get the chance to see lots of birds, trees, cows, sheep and more as you travel. Monsal Trail includes six tunnels for you to journey through as well, giving you the chance to really experience what this railway line used to be like. There are two short tunnels, Chee Tor No.2 and Rusher Cutting and four longer tunnels – Headstone, Cressbrook, Litton and Chee Tor No1. The bigger tunnels are fully lit in daylight hours, so you’ll have no problem finding your way.

You can also make several stops as you go along the Monsal Trail, giving you a unique glimpse into local Derbyshire life. Not far from Bakewell, you’ll encounter Hassop Train Station, which opens daily from 9am to 5pm and is definitely worth a visit. It has a café, which serves a great selection of tasty, home-made snacks and is known for its delicious breakfasts, which they begin serving from 9am. The station also has a book store where you can pick up some great literature before going on further.

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Traveling the trail

If the Monsal Trail sounds like your cup of tea, you can get there easily enough. Visit the ‘how to find’ page on the Monsal Trail section of the Peak District’s website to find information on your travel options, so you can plan your journey. The Trail is easily reachable by car and there are a number of pay and display car parks along the way. If you want to do the whole route, it’s a good idea to use the car park at Bakewell Station, which is right next to the Trail’s starting point.

The Monsal Trail itself is perfect for mobility scooter users, as it’s fully accessible. You’ll find several access points along the way, where you can join the Trail via ramps. These points are at Bakewell Station, Hassop Station, Great Longstone Station and Millers Dale Station. The route itself is mostly flat and very well-maintained, so you’ll have no trouble getting around.

There are also various facilities throughout the Monsal Trail. You can find accessible parking spaces at Bakewell Station. Meanwhile, Hassop Station has an accessible toilet, while its book shop and café are also fully accessible. The café also has free Wi-Fi, so you can get online and find out more about the Monsal Trail before you carry on!

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: Barnett Demesne

Quingo Scooters encourages users to get out and see the world, from the comfort of their mobility scooters. In our series of articles, we’re drawing your attention to the accessible routes throughout the UK which are fully accessible, helping you discover the nation’s natural beauty.

Heading to the other side of the Irish Sea, we’re stopping in County Antrim in Northern Ireland today. Here you’ll find Barnett Demesne, a former estate which is now a public park with accessible routes.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE ROUTES: BARNETT DEMESNE 2

Barnett Demesne

In County Antrim (South Belfast) you’ll find Barnett Demesne, which first opened to the public in 1951. It has since become a popular natural attraction, due to its closeness to the scenic River Lagan, Shaw’s Bridge and Clement Wilson Park. On the former estate’s grounds, you’ll find an arboretum, a daffodil garden, and trails. The Lagan Towpath is a particularly popular trail, as it takes you along the beautiful riverside.

Barnett Demesne boasts stunning natural beauty. It is home to various tree and plant collections, as well as woodlands and wildflower meadows. Over 70 species of wildflower grow in Barnett Demesne in the summer months. The estate also features various fascinating creatures, including grey and red squirrels, badgers, rabbits, rooks, jays and a plethora of songbirds. April in particular is a great time to visit, as Barnett Demesne holds its annual Spring Fair, with entertainment, wildlife and music.

On the grounds, you’ll also find Malone House. This provides everything from information on the park to refreshments in its popular café and restaurant. Barnett Demesne is free to enter and open all year round. However, it is worth noting that Malone House opens from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Mondays to Saturdays, with an earlier start time of 9am on Sundays. Barnett Restaurant opens from 12 noon to 3pm every day.

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Accessibility

Barnett Demesne is one of the Belfast area’s most accessible attractions. You can reach the park by public transport from Belfast City Centre. It is also accessible by car, with entrances through Dub Lane, Milltown Road and Shaw’s Bridge. There is a car park at Barnett Demesne based just outside Malone House which provides free accessible parking.

You can take a level path from the car park around to the front of Malone House. The café and restaurant in Malone House are accessible to mobility scooter users. The complex also features fully accessible toilets. You can contact Malone House on 028 9068 1246 to speak to staff and find out more.

The Lagan Towpath is perfect for mobility scooter users, with two options available. You can take the short, circular Lagan Towpath, which carries you on a one mile circular route along the edge of the River Lagan from Shaw’ Bridge to Lock Keeper’s Cottage, allowing you to view some stunning historical attractions. You can also take the 11 mile linear Lagan Towpath route down a tarmac path.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.