Tag Archives: mobility scooters

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Barcelona

One of the most famous cities in the world, Barcelona is also one of the most accessible. Its historic areas are surprisingly easy to get around. It is also a very modern city that has thought carefully about every visitor’s needs.

Incredible architecture, great beaches and wonderful food and drink: Barcelona has something for everyone. So, with that in mind, here is our guide to some of the best that Barcelona has to offer.

Explore the Gothic Quarter

It is one of the oldest parts of the city – but don’t worry about cobbles and uneven steps here. In Barcelona’s stunning Gothic Quarter, you will find it is actually largely flat and generally accessible. Most areas of the quarter are paved rather than cobbled, and are often pedestrian-only, making them a joy to explore on your scooter.


Head down the broad, bustling boulevard of La Rambla and then turn left into the Gothic Quarter. Most tours of the area begin in Plaça Sant Jaume. It has been the city’s political centre for millennia, and it is flat and completely accessible for scooter users.

Visit the Cathedral

Barcelona’s main cathedral is in the hilliest part of the Gothic Quarter, but don’t let that put you off. It is still a more than manageable slope for a scooter user, and it is well worth the effort once you get there. While this building is often overshadowed by Gaudi’s remarkable Sagrada Familia cathedral, we think it’s also well worth exploring.

The cathedral was built over six centuries (they don’t rush cathedrals here – the Sagrada Familia is still being built!) and is a stunning example of Gothic architecture.

You won’t be able to use the main entrance, although there is an accessible way in via the cloister entrance on Carrer del Bisbe. There is an adapted toilet in the cloister, and most of the interior (except for the crypt and the chapels) are accessible.

Take in some sea views

With all its spectacular buildings, we sometimes forget that Barcelona is also a city with a seafront. Miles and miles of it in fact, with most of it accessible via a level promenade that’s perfect for scooters.

All the city’s beaches are barrier-free, but we recommend heading to Barceloneta, the city’s ‘fishing quarter’. It is the perfect place to do as the locals do, and eat, drink and just enjoy the sunshine. It’s a great place to get tapas, or if you’re veggie, then try out ‘The Green Spot’. It’s fully accessible, and the food is gorgeous.

As for Barceloneta beach itself, it’s completely accessible, with dedicated areas for bathers with reduced mobility. There is also an adapted toilet and changing rooms, and a wooden path out onto the beach.

Explore Gaudi’s genius

In many ways, Barcelona belongs to the great architect Antoni Gaudí, and no visit is complete without seeing some of his remarkable creations. The Sagrada Familia cathedral is his most famous creation. This is also accessible just head to the Groups Services Centre on Carrer de la Marina or the Visitors Services Centre on Carrer de Sardenya to gain entry.

But it is also possible to explore his other buildings too. Casa Batlló is a beautiful (if slightly bonkers) building, which is almost completely accessible. Meanwhile la Pedrera, with its curved balconies, is also unmissable. Both buildings have accessible lifts to take you up to their rooftop terraces, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the city.

A great place to go for general accessibility information about many of Barcelona’s key attractions is the city’s official site, here.

Did you know?

We’ve been raving about how wonderful the beaches in Barcelona are – but there’s one thing you should know: they aren’t real. We don’t mean they don’t exist (they do, and they’re lovely), just that before the 1992 Olympics, there were no beaches. Now that’s what we call a legacy.

Getting to Barcelona

Barcelona is one of Europe’s premier city break destinations. So, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of options when it comes to flying to the city. From the UK, you can choose from regular, direct flights out of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Humberside, Belfast, Nottingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Cardiff and Liverpool.

At Barcelona airport there is a special assistance service – just give them a call on (+34) 902 404 704 or  (+34) 91 321 10 00 to book. As is the case in most European airports, you’ll need to give them 48 hours’ notice to arrange the service.

Getting into Barcelona itself is also straightforward. There is an accessible metro (L9 Sud) that takes you directly into the city. There are also regular trains and excellent buses with ramped access.

For more general information about getting around Barcelona on public transport (much of which is accessible), head to the city’s official transport site here.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

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 30847

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: Norwich

Stuck for ideas for your next scooter-friendly getaway? At Quingo Scooters, we’re bringing great ideas for city-breaks and adventures to you. This time we head east to Norwich, the county town of Norfolk.

Visiting Norwich

Norwich is a beautiful mix of the historic and contemporary, with a river at its centre. It’s the most complete medieval city in the country and has a fantastic music, cultural and arts scene as well as fascinating heritage, great shopping and a wide range of bars and restaurants. Norwich is also a city with lots of easily accessible attractions and a compact street layout, which means plenty of the good stuff is close together.

When you’re there, be ready for some stellar sightseeing. Here’s just some of the easily accessible attractions to help you plan your getaway.

Norwich Playhouse

If you’re in the mood to see a show, then Norwich Playhouse is the place to go. This offbeat, quirky venue is in the centre of the city and attracts major comedians, Fringe productions, drama, family shows, music and more. All public areas are accessible and there are both Blue Badge parking and discounted tickets available.

Norwich Cathedral

This magnificent cathedral is one of the largest in Europe and houses more than 1,000 medieval roof sculptures. Take a free guided tour and learn about how this beautiful building has survived through the ages and enjoy the refectory beside the cloisters. You’ll find Blue Badge parking spaces in The Close nearby.

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

The Norman castle is now an art gallery and museum and it’s packed with inspirational treasures, exhibits, history and art to enjoy. There is ramped access and lots of space inside the building for mobility scooters and wheelchair users.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: Norwich - Norwich Castle

Shopping in Norwich

There are two major shopping centres in Norwich, offering a mix of high street, premium and independent retail experiences. Both Intu-Chapelfield and Castle Mall offer Blue Badge parking, and the former is also home to a dedicated shop mobility centre.

Get back to nature

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden offers a beautiful outdoor space to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Boats are available for hire for cruises and are accessible for scooter and wheelchair users. There is also an accessible tea room, garden and gift shop making it a lovely day out.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: Norwich - Fairhaven Woodland

Where to stay

For a chic city stay, try the Assembly House right in the centre. Some say it’s the most beautiful place to stay in Norwich, with 11 rooms and two suites set in this Georgian mansion. There are ground floor rooms with private courtyard gardens.

Eating out

For Mexican try the Chiquito Restaurant Bar and Mexican Grill for a fully accessible restaurant, with Blue Badge parking. Or for somewhere off the beaten track, visit Artorio’s Mediterranean Taverna.

Getting there

Norwich is in the centre of Norfolk with easy access to transport hubs and major routes. Greater Anglia runs a fast train service to and from London every half an hour from London Liverpool Street and there are also direct services from Nottingham, Cambridge and Manchester. Have a look at the city council’s planning pages for full information on travelling to Norwich.

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.

 

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: Cardiff

Right across the UK there’s a huge range of different places that are accessible and easy to explore on your scooter. At Quingo Scooters we’re doing our bit to help you choose where to have your next adventure by bringing you our favourite getaways across the country. This time around we’re heading to the Welsh capital, Cardiff.

Visiting Cardiff

One of the things that strikes you most when you first arrive in Cardiff is the diverse range of things to see and do. It is an historic city of course, with settlers first coming here around 2,000 years ago, but it is also a modern, cutting edge city that is home to some stunning contemporary architecture. Here’s our pick of just a few of the things you need to see.

The Senedd

If you like fascinating buildings, then you are going to love the Senedd. It is the home of the Welsh Assembly, and as the seat of government in Wales it is a building that is hugely significant to this city. We recommend you get a guided tour once you’re there and the team are helpful and friendly. The building itself, as you’d expect, is well-designed with accessibility in mind. There are lifts, ramps and automated doors throughout and it is even possible to hire wheelchairs there if required. You can also park opposite the building in designated Blue Badge spaces. Clearly, this is a working parliament building with its own particular access and security requirements, so we recommend finding out more here on their dedicated access page.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: Cardiff - The Senedd
Editorial credit: steved_np3 / Shutterstock.com

The Firing Line Museum

From a very modern centre of power to an ancient one: the Firing Line Museum is located inside the walls of Cardiff Castle and is well worth a visit. It’s dedicated to Welsh soldiers, many of whom have played a significant role in some of the most important battles of the last 300 years. The whole building is fully accessible via a lift and level floors, and there are also accessible toilets available. Unfortunately there is no dedicated Blue Badge parking at the museum itself, but it is located close to the city centre and you can easily reach it from the car park at Westgate Street where there are four accessible bays.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: Cardiff - Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Bay

No visit to Cardiff is complete without a visit to its waterfront. Cardiff Bay was once known as Tiger Bay and has certainly had a colourful past. But today it is one of the largest stretches of redeveloped waterfront in the UK and is well worth a visit. It is packed with bars and restaurants and there are plenty of sights to take in, from the spectacular Wales Millennium Centre which hosts regular shows to the waterfront itself. The Bay is straightforward to get to via public transport: just take the connecting train from Queen’s Street to Cardiff Bay (there are lifts on the platform for wheelchair users), or you can park at the nearby Mermaid Quay car park, which has 380 spaces and 16 designated Blue Badge bays.

Where to stay

If you fall in love with the Cardiff Bay area (and a lot of people do) then you’ll want to stay at the Future Inn Cardiff Hotel. We were really impressed with the accessibility of the hotel, with its free parking right outside the hotel and its accessible rooms with wet floor showers. Read a full review here.

Eating out

For a meal with a view, then you can’t do much better than the Look Out Cafe. As the name suggests, this is just a cafe, so the menu is fairly limited, but it’s well worth a visit, if only for the view itself. Again, you can park at the nearby Mermaid Quay car park. If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, then head to the Society Standard. It’s a quirky bar and kitchen, that’s fully accessible and has plenty of local beers and a hearty menu to choose from.

Getting there

Cardiff, as you’d expect from Wales’ largest city, is easily accessible from right across the UK. It has its own international airport, and there are regular trains that will take you into the city centre every hour. Find out more here. If you’re driving then the M4 will bring you to the city from the east, while the M6, M5 and M50/M4 connect it to the north. If you’re coming from the southwest, then take the M4 and M5. It’s only a couple of hours by train from London Paddington, and there are services to Cardiff Central from right across the rail network. Visit Arriva Trains to find out more

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.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: 5 of The Best British Beaches

As an island nation, the UK has had a long love affair with the seaside. A trip to the beach is as British as, well, fish and chips. But it’s also something that those of us who use a mobility scooter may have avoided in the past. The perception was that many beaches might not be all that accessible, and that sand or pebbles aren’t best suited to four wheels. Happily, things are changing, and here, as part of our Accessible Attractions series, Quingo Scooters is heading to the beach. Don’t forget your bucket and spade!

What’s On

With over 10,000 miles of coastline in the British Isles, it’s fair to say there’s plenty of choice out there. But here are just five of the best and most accessible beaches in the UK.

  1. Broadhaven Beach. Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is breathtakingly picturesque. In fact, many of Wales’ beaches are stunning, with the kind of wild beauty that you’d usually expect to have to fly to the south of France to see. Broadhaven is one of our favourites, not least because it is so accessible. When the tide is out, it’s big and flat, with plenty of room for you to explore on your scooter. The sand is lovely and firm, but if you’re feeling nervous about taking your scooter out onto the beach itself you can also hire all-terrain beach wheelchairs to get around in. We recommend you give Haven Sports Surf shop a call on 01437 781354 or visit their website here to book your all-terrain chair. There’s a car park with 200 spaces (although no dedicated ones for Blue Badge holders, unfortunately). If you’re travelling by car just follow the B4341 west of Haverfordwest, or you can also take a train to the nearest station at Milford Haven.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: 5 of The Best British Beaches Stunning sunrise landsdcape of idyllic Broadhaven Bay beach on Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales

  1. Gyllyngvase Beach, Cornwall

Another gorgeous stretch of sand as well as rock pools that are perfect for exploring. There’s plenty of parking nearby (around 100m from the beach) with Blue Badge spaces, as well as straightforward level access onto the beach itself. Again, if you’re not too keen on taking the scooter out onto the sand then you can hire Sand Chairs from the cafe Gylly Beach Cafe. Just incidentally, they also have fantastic cakes and bread (fresh from their bakery on the beach) as well as some delicious dishes for later, after a hard day out on the sand. Gyllyngvase Beach is simple to get to: the M4, M5 and M6 will all bring you into Cornwall, and then follow the A30 to Truro, following signs for Falmouth. Once you get to Falmouth just follow the signs directing you to the beach. There are also plenty of regular rail services into Falmouth Town train station.

  1. North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Of course, one of the biggest draws for any visitor to North Berwick is that’s it’s only 25 miles or so from the beautiful city of Edinburgh. But North Berwick itself is well worth a visit, not least for its accessible beach. The town itself is very historic and was once a fashionable resort for the wealthy inhabitants of the Scottish capital up the road. Today, its harbour is still a lovely place to take in the magnificent Firth of Forth, which features some spectacular islands such as Fidra, The Lamb, Craigleith, and of course Bass Rock which is home to thousands of puffins and gannets. But you’ll also fall in love with the beach here. We recommend heading to the Beach Hut on the Harbour that belongs to Beach Wheelchairs where the team will be happy to hire you one of their all-terrain chairs for the sand. There is free parking right on the harbour (although there’s only five spaces, there are designated Blue Badge spots). Find out more here. North Berwick is easy to reach from Edinburgh, which has its own international airport and there are extensive rail connections from Edinburgh Waverley station to North Berwick. There’s an hourly train service run by Abellio Scotrail, or if you’re looking to drive then just follow the A1 east.

  1. Langland Bay, Gower Peninsula, Wales

Another beautiful Welsh beach, this time on the Gower Peninsula. This one is lined with colourful beach huts for that classic seaside feel, and the best thing about Langland is that is completely accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy it. The nearest parking is at Langland Bay Road, where you’ll find 265 spaces. Blue Badge holders have designated bays and a concessionary price: you can park for four hours for £1.50 or all day for £3.00, and if you want to venture out on the sand then you can also reserve an all terrain wheelchair by calling 01792 655 844 to find out more.

If you tire of the stunning beaches at Langland, we also recommend taking time to check out the gorgeous Clyne Gardens. They’re free, open all hours and contain several National Collections of plants (including the tallest Magnolia in Britain!), all within some lovely parkland. Langland Bay beach is easily accessible from Mumbles. There are hourly trains from Cardiff to Swansea and then Mumbles is a short taxi ride away. If you’re coming by car, then Langland Bay is a five-minute drive from Mumbles. Take the M4 and then junction 42 for the road to Swansea Bay.

  1. Bournemouth Beach

Bournemouth’s sea front is one of the most famous and most popular beaches in the UK and with good reason. One of the most accessible beaches we’ve come across, Bournemouth council have made a real effort to open the beach up for the enjoyment of all. A great place to start for more information is the dedicated accessibility page here. One of the best features of the beach is the accessible Beach Huts.

Each one has enough room for four wheelchair users, as well as an electric scooter charging point, designated Blue Badge parking bays, level wooden pathways to the beach and a Changing Places facility with a bed, toilet, sink, shower and tracking hoist. If you’d like to book one, or just find out more, give them a call on 01202 451781.

The cliff tops above the beach are also accessible to scooter users via cliff lifts. The views are spectacular and the lifts themselves are also quite an experience: the first ones were built in 1908! It’s £1.50 for an adult and any carers go free. Once you’re at the top, we really recommend you pop in to the Russell Cotes Gallery and Museum. It’s one of the last Victorian homes built in Britain and it is a fascinating time capsule.

Bournemouth is easily accessible by car. From London, take M25, M3, M27 and then the A31 and the A338 to Bournemouth. Bournemouth’s train station has regular services from London (see here for more details) and the town also has its own international airport. For more information on getting from the airport into town, read about the shuttle service here.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: 5 of The Best British Beaches sea at Bournemouth

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.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: Glenmore Forest

One of the most wonderful things about having a mobility scooter is the freedom it gives you to explore. And here, we’ve picked a truly beautiful part of the world to spend time in. In this latest Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes series, we find out more about the stunning Glenmore Forest in the Scottish Cairngorms.

Glenmore Forest

This is a truly spectacular part of the British Isles. The Cairngorm Mountains themselves are wild and breathtakingly beautiful. The national park made the National Geographic’s top 20 places to visit in the world. And we certainly suggest you set aside plenty of time to explore this incredible wilderness. We’ve picked just one part of it, Glenmore Forest, due to its accessibility and the variety of the landscape there.

It has a little bit of everything, from the forest itself to the mountains and of course the picturesque Loch Morlich. It’s somewhere where you can have an adventure in the woods in the morning, and then relax on the beach in the afternoon.

Glenmore Visitor Centre is the best place for you to start your journey. You’ll find plenty of helpful local information there to help you plan your stay, as well as a thoroughly excellent Cobbs Café if you’re in need of refreshment. It’s open from 9.30am to 5pm every day (serving hot food until 4.30pm), and it’s all fully accessible. There’s a car park there too, although it doesn’t have dedicated Blue Badge spaces unfortunately.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes_ Glenmore Forest - Loch Morlich

Accessibility

Once you’re fed, watered and ready to go, there are a few great options for heading out onto the trails on your scooter. We particularly love the trail to the Green Loch, which is a flat, well-marked and even path all the way. Just follow the blue markers through the pines and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding hills, until you reach the loch itself.

We also recommend taking the trail down to Loch Morlich. This beautiful route through the pine forests is easily accessible on your mobility scooter. Once you’re there you’ll be able to enjoy what is billed as the ‘highest beach in Britain’. The sand is golden, the views are breathtaking and on a sunny day it is just a wonderful place to be.

The trail itself is circular, and around 2.4 kilometres long. Start from the Glenmore Forest Visitor Centre and follow the yellow markers. Just remember that the toilet at the beach is closed during the winter months. For more accessibility information on the Beach Trail, have a look here. The Glenmore Forest Park’s dedicated page here is also a great place to find out more.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes Trees and River Nethy at the Glenmore Forest Park

Getting there

For an area that feels so wild and remote, the Cairngorms are remarkably easy to get to. You can reach Glenmore Forest Park easily from Aviemore, which is only six miles away. If you’re coming by car then follow signs for Rothiemurchus, Glenmore and the Cairngorm Mountain Railway.

Carry on through Rothiemurchus Estate and then on to Glenmore village itself – you’ll see the visitor centre your left, right in the heart of the village. The whole area is also easily accessible from Glasgow, Edinburgh or Inverness, which each have their own international airports and regular train links into the Cairngorms National Park.

Share your accessible route with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible routes on your Quingo Scooter 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.