Tag Archives: travel

Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Getaways: The Old Farmhouse, Hexham

Here at Quingo Scooters we love browsing for getaways, somewhere to sneak off to for the weekend or maybe spend a whole week if you fancy! In our accessible series we’ve been discovering some of the best accessible holidays and getaways around, at home and abroad.

This week we’re taking a trip to Northumberland in the East of England to The Old Farmhouse.

QUINGO ACCESSIBLE GETAWAYS: THE OLD FARMHOUSE, HEXHAM 2

The Old Farmhouse

Set within 600 acres of open farmland, The Old Farmhouse isn’t short of fantastic views of the countryside. It’s a former 18th century farmhouse, skilfully restored and now offering fantastic luxury accommodation. Being all on one level, The Old Farmhouse prides itself on being completely accessible to mobility scooter and wheelchair users.

The property has two bedrooms and two modern wet rooms, so it’s perfect for 2-4 guests. However, if there’s more of you that isn’t a problem – The Old Farmhouse sits close to Grindon Cartshed which can be booked for additional people. With plenty to see and do in the surrounding areas, a break here would be perfect for a weekend, a few days or a whole week away! The property is close to Hayden Bridge train station, giving you access to Newcastle or Carlisle if you fancy a day in the city. Alternatively, if you fancy something slightly different there is easy access to the Lake District or Hadrian’s Wall.

Accommodation

The accessible bedroom has a transfer space of 900mm to the left or right of the bed, which can be moved to one side if more space is required. The wet room in the bathroom has a vertical hand rail and level controls, whilst on the floor there is a non-slip bath mat. If required, there can be a self-propelled shower wheel chair made available to you.

The well equipped kitchen has level access with a full sized oven and fridge freezer. The worktops are also at a more accessible height of 86cm.

In the living area, you’ll find that it is all open plan with tiled flooring and moveable furniture. Underfloor heating ensures that you are comfy and relaxed at all times, and the drying room ensures you can dry out anything that may have been caught in an unfortunate rain shower!

More information can be found on The Old Farmhouse’s Accessibility Statement which is available on request. Alternatively, there is a great video to watch online.

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What is there to do?

There are a number of attractions and things to do around Hexham, including:

  • Alnwick Castle
  • Alnwick Gardens
  • Beamish – the North of England open air museum
  • Hadrian’s Wall
  • Hadrian’s Wall Country
  • Hareshaw Lynn
  • Historic market town of Hexham
  • Killhope – The North of England lead mining museum
  • Lake District National Park
  • Langley Castle
  • Lindisfarne Holy Island
  • MetroCentre – Gateshead – Europe’s largest shopping and leisure destination
  • Northumberland National Park

Share your accessible getaway with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible getaway, 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.

Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Disabled Holidays Announce First Fully Accessible Coach Trip!

Quingo Scooters are always discovering brand new places to visit, and we understand just how important is to find somewhere fully accessible where you can be completely comfortable. You might also want to discover new ways of travelling that you always thought weren’t accessible enough.  This week Disabled Holidays announced that their first fully accessible coach trip is now on sale, and it’s definitely an exciting one!

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Fully Accessible Adventure

Now on sale for an April 2017 departure, the trips use specialist adapted coaches that are purpose built with all the facilities needed for comfortable travel over long distances. Disabled Holidays teamed up with accessible travel charity Jumbulance to provide the coaches, which are part coach and part ambulance.

The first trip will be travelling to Holland and The Netherlands next April, and the trip itself is a complete package that includes travel, half-board hotel accommodation and excursions – including entry into the Keukenhof Gardens. Overall you will be away for 9 days, with 7 of those spent visiting different places and 2 spent travelling.

Itinerary

This is a great trip if you’re a real explorer who loves visiting plenty of different places! The suggested itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Travel to Hull and go on an overnight ferry to Rotterdam

Day 2: Arrive at hotel and explore De Rijp – a small traditional Dutch town

Day 3: Explore Amsterdam – including the ‘Blue Boat’ accessible cruise

Day 4: Explore Volendam and Marken – they’re neighbours on the Ijsselmeer and both quaint villages

Day 5: Visit Keukenhof Gardens – the world renowned flower gardens at Lisse

Day 6: A trip to Alkmaar cheese market – a small town near to De Rijp

Day 7: A half day trip to Monnickendam – including a visit to the Cheese & Clogs factory

Day 8: Free day

Day 9: Return from Hull and drop offs

Any other information you want to know including how to book this exciting holiday can be found on the Disabled Holidays website, or alternatively you can give their friendly team a call on 01457 833 444.

DISABLED HOLIDAYS ANNOUNCE FIRST FULLY ACCESSIBLE COACH TRIP! 3

Share your accessible holiday with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible holiday, 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.

Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Holidays: Brickhouse Cottages

Here at Quingo Scooters we love browsing for holidays and getaways, and then having something to look forward to when you eventually book! In our accessible holidays series we’ve been discovering some of the best accessible holidays around, at home and abroad. This week we’re in Lancashire, at a little town called Poulton-Le-Fylde, with some homely holiday cottages.

Commonly abbreviated to Poulton, the market town is situated on a coastal plain called the Fylde. The town is immersed in history, as several archaeological finds from Roman settlement have been found there over the years. Nearby coastal towns of Fleetwood and Blackpool also make these cottages perfectly placed for a day out at the seaside.

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Brickhouse Cottages

Brickhouse Cottages were built by the Rainford family in 2012, inspired by the family’s youngest daughter who became disabled after being involved in an accident. They received such amazing support from their community during that difficult time that they wanted to give something back. After finding that many families like themselves were struggling to find holiday accommodation with adequate adaptations, they decided to try and make a difference. After 6 months of incredibly hard work, Brickhouse cottages opened their doors.

The family wanted the cottages to have a ‘home from home’ feel about them, in which they definitely succeeded. Aiming to accommodate all abilities, the family are always on hand to make your stay as comfortable as possible in any way they can.

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Accommodation

There are 8 luxurious cottages to choose from, depending on your requirements and group size. All of the cottages have these accessible features as standard:

  • Level access ground floor and patio garden area
  • 80cm doorways
  • Ground floor bedroom – complete with accessible dressing table, sliding wardrobe doors, appropriately positioned hanging rails and shelves, lowered light switches, raised sockets, touch lamps and a wall mounted TV with Freeview
  • In the bathroom – open-plan shower with grab rail, wash basin with mobility scooter clearance and toilet. Also available upon request are a self-propelled shower commode chair and an adjustable toilet surround
  • Modern kitchen – has side opening electric oven with a touch control electric hob, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, ample kitchenware and a lowered breakfast bar

Other facilities are available upon request, such as:

  • Ceiling hoists
  • Profile beds
  • Air-flow mattress
  • Night bed rails

A fantastic location for a short break away in the Lancashire countryside, the cottages provide a break that is as relaxing or as lively as you like. Simply sit back and enjoy the scenery, or take a trip to the next town of Blackpool for some seaside fun. 

Share your accessible holiday with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible getaway, 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.

Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Holidays: Celebrity Cruises

There’s nothing better than having a nice holiday to look forward to! If you’re not sure what type of holiday you fancy – whether it be it a staycation, a beach holiday or a cruise – Quingo Scooters have been sharing some holiday ideas!

This week we have a bit of modern luxury to share with you, another cruise courtesy of Celebrity Cruises.  Consistently voted one of the top cruise lines in the world, you’re guaranteed to feel like a celebrity with accessible accommodation, award-winning gourmet dining and an impressive choice of destinations.

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Cruises

There are a number of different cruise ships and destinations, with many departing from the UK. You can travel to the historic Mediterranean, the picturesque Norwegian Fjords or the relaxing beaches of the Canary Islands. Whatever kind of destination and holiday you’re after, there’s definitely something to suit you.

Aboard the cruise ships you’ll be treated to first-class accommodation, live entertainment and most importantly a warm customer experience. All Solstice Class ships feature a real grass lawn, where you can enjoy picnics, open air concerts or simply relax with a drink.

In terms of food, the Lawn Club Grill (on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection) serves a great range of meats, as well as baking their own speciality breads. However there is much choice, with up to 12 eateries and cafes on each ship. There’s something to cater for whatever you’re fancying – from Tuscan Grille with their Italian flavours to modern French cuisine at Murano. There’s plenty to do at night aboard the ship with the ice-frosted Martini Bar, the casino and some chic nightclubs.

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Accessible accommodation

Every ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet has accessible staterooms with full mobility scooter access, which are designed to help accommodate your needs and ensure your comfort throughout your cruise. Wide, spacious corridors are designed to allow 180° turns for mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Additionally there is step-free access and automatic doors on most decks.

All accessible stateroom doors are wider than standard and include ramped thresholds, lowered sinks, roll-in showers and bathroom grab bars. Showers include a fold-down stool and hand-held showerhead, with a raised toilet seat available if required. Some staterooms also include a fully accessible balcony.

When requesting an accessible stateroom, simply complete Celebrity Cruise’s Guest Special Services Form so that they can accommodate any other requirements you may have.

Share your accessible holiday with Quingo!

If you’ve been on a cruise on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! Share your experience with us 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.

Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Accessible Holidays: Homelands Trust, Fife

Here at Quingo Scooters we love discovering new places for holidays and getaways, it gives you something exciting to look forward to when you eventually book! In our accessible holidays series we’ve been discovering some of the best accessible holidays around, at home and abroad.

This week we’re heading to Fife, Scotland, for an accessible holiday that’s definitely home away from home! In Fife you’ll find the historic town of St. Andrews, located on the northeast coast. It is also well known for the University of St. Andrews, one of the most ancient universities in the world, and it is also renowned as the home of golf.  There are numerous historical buildings to take note of in Fife, including Dunfermline Abbey, Ravenscraig Castle in Kirkcaldy and St. Andrews Cathedral.

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Homelands Trust

The Homelands Trust is an independent, Fife-based charity which works to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by disability through the provision of luxury holiday accommodation. The area around Homelands is a great mix of breath-taking scenery, quaint fishing villages, and places of historic interest. There’s also numerous attractions and activities all within easy reach, so you’ll have a jam packed break away if you wish!

If you fancy a more quiet retreat however, the 2 or 4 bedroom luxury lodges are the perfect place to relax. You’re guaranteed comfort and well thought-out accessibility features, and if you wish you can bring your pets along to holiday with you.

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Accessible Accommodation

There are a range of different accommodation options at Homelands Trust:

Drummochy – A lodge that sleeps up to 8 people and is pet friendly. It has three twin bedrooms and a single room with a pull out bed. It has a spacious kitchen, dining and living area. Large patio doors open on to the south facing garden, providing beautiful views over the Lundin golf course and across Largo Bay to the Lothians. One of the twin bedrooms has an Invacare Medley Ergo electric profiling bed and Invacare Softform pressure relief mattress. The other twin has the same mattress with an active air pump. Both bedrooms have a Guldmann H-frame ceiling tracking hoist. There is also a utility room, wet room with Guldmann H-frame ceiling tracking hoist and a ‘Clos-o-mat’ toilet. There is also a separate toilet with a hand wash basin on the ground floor. Hoists are not provided for the slings, so it is advised you bring your own when staying at Homelands.

Massney – This lodge sleeps up to 6 and isn’t pet friendly. The ground floor of the lodge is predominantly open plan with a spacious kitchen, dining and living room area. Patio doors open off the living area on to the south facing garden with the same stunning views as the Drummochy lodge. In this lodge there is a twin bedroom that has an Invacare Medley Ergo electric profiling bed with a Softform pressure relief mattress. A Guldmann H-Frame ceiling tracking hoist is located on the ground floor. There is a utility room and wet room in this lodge, complete with hoist.

You can find more information on accommodation at Homelands on their website.

Share your accessible holiday with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible getaway, 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.