Tag Archives: country park

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.

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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.

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…

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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.

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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, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Days Out: Trosley Country Park

Here at Quingo Scooters we know how much fun it can be to spend a day out doing something different, or visiting a place you thought maybe wasn’t accessible enough. Now that summer is well and truly upon us, you’d probably much rather be spending time outdoors on a lovely sunny day instead of being inside.

There’s no better place you can be in the nice weather than a beautiful park, so today we’re heading down to Kent to share Trosley Country Park with you.

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Trosley Country Park

You’ll find Trosley Country Park in Trottiscliffe, near Vigo in Kent. Covering 170 acres of beautiful woodland, there are some spectacular views to see, so make sure you bring your camera! The land was once part of the Trosley Towers Estate, but it is now home to a variety of wildlife and chalk grassland slopes after the removal of scrubland and re-introduction of grazing to the area.

This will especially be a great day out for those interested in plants and wildlife, as you’ll find some important plants and animals at Trosley Country Park including the Chalkhill Blue Butterfly and the rare Musk Orchid. The chalk grassland at Trosley is even classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. If you have time afterwards, the park is also a great base to visit the Coldrum Stones – an ancient listed monument of 15 sarsen stones.

The Trails

There are three waymarked trails in the park if you fancy an adventure. One of them, the yellow route, is specifically designed for mobility scooters, wheelchairs and buggies. The trail provides spectacular views over the downs, and guides visitors past a variety of natural habitats, churches, oast houses, Neolithic remains and other historic features.

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Café

After you’ve seen the sights of the trail, you can refuel at the Bluebell café and try the local produce. The menu includes homemade snacks, light meals and cakes, and even homemade dog biscuits for your furry friends! You can also grab an ice cream to cool down, some soft drinks and fair trade tea and coffee.

Accessibility

On arrival you’ll find 2 disabled parking spaces. These are hard standing spaces and are the closest spaces to the visitor centre, which is approximately 10 metres away with an easily accessible entrance. There are an additional 55 hard standing spaces and 25 grass parking spaces.

There is a fully accessible toilet adjacent to the main visitor centre which is open at all times, and the facilities can be reached by an easy access pathway. The café is situated on the ground floor of the visitor centre and is accessible through automatic double doors. There is accessible seating inside the café, or alternatively there are accessible picnic benches in the café garden.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any interesting attractions 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 Scooters 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.