Day Trips

National Coal Mining Museum

On the 17th January 2007 a group from Access Glossop visited the National Coal Mining Museum as part of our plan to visit local tourist attractions and report on the facilities offered to the disabled visitor.

The museum is situated on the A642 about halfway between Huddersfield and Wakefield. We travelled from Glossop via Holmfirth and the journey took just over an hour, a distance of 31 miles.The museum is located at Caphouse Colliery which was a working pit from the late 18th century until1985 when production ceased. The museum opened in 1988 as the Yorkshire Mining Museum and was granted National status in1995. Funding has been provided by the Government and Heritage Lottery Fund which has enabled restoration work and the building of new visitor services.

We arrived just after mid-day. There is a large car park with eleven spaces designated for disabled visitors. The visitor centre has ramped access, automatic doors and a spacious toilet for the disabled. Those wishing to go on the underground tour must book in at reception and we were given a time at 12.40. This gave us sufficient time to look around the centre which is on two floors, with ramped access to the upper floor. There is a hearing loop system at reception which worked well as long as you remained close to the desk. This was mentioned to the receptionist who immediately called the Centre Manager to discuss the possibilities of improving the system. He stressed how keen they were to make the museum as accessible as possible and that efforts would be made to see if the system could be improved.

We then went on the underground tour where we were introduced to our guide, Bob, who (as are all the guides) is an ex-miner with an excellent knowledge of the pit and its workings. Batteries are not permitted underground as they may trigger an explosion so we had to hand in our watches, cameras, mobile phones, etc. Thankfully, people with hearing aids and pacemakers are allowed in. Wheelchair users can go underground by prior arrangement but no more than two at any time. The floor is uneven and wheelchair users need some assistance and will find a very small part of the tour inaccessible. There is some seating underground and two lightweight wheelchairs are available to use. Guide dogs are allowed underground but visitors must be aware that dogs are likely to become disturbed by the unusual environment. The tour lasts just over an hour and involves a descent of about 150m in a lift cage.

After the tour we went to the cafeteria. All areas are level and there is a toilet for the disabled visitor here which is spacious and includes an adapted shower and the usual baby changing facilities. After some refreshments we visited other parts of the site, most of which were easily accessible.

We spent about three hours at the museum and all agreed it was an interesting and excellent place to visit with the underground tour providing the highlight of the afternoon. Facilities for the disabled were considered to be very good. If you have any special needs it is important to contact the museum a few days before your visit. ( Tel: 01924 848806).

Etherow Country Park

On 31st August  Access Glossop enjoyed another trip out, this time to Etherow Country Park, a little  closer to home. The park is situated on Compstall Road (B6104), Compstall, and the journey from Glossop took about twenty minutes.

Etherow Country Park is owned and managed by Stockport Council and was established in 1968 as one of Britain’s first country parks and is visited by over 250,000 people annually.

We parked in a large car park off Compstall Road. Parking is free for Blue Badge holders and there are nine designated spaces for disabled visitors, six close to the visitor’s centre and three at the other end of the car park. Entry to the visitor’s centre for wheelchair users is to the rear of the building. There are two good and modern toilets adapted for the disabled visitor, one in both the male and female toilets. We noticed that both toilets included baby changing facilities. There is a café adjacent to the visitor’s centre and both these venues are accessible though the ‘ramps’ are little more than lumps of concrete outside the entrances. Both ‘ramps’ were virtually impossible to access without assistance. There are two electric scooters and one wheelchair available for the use of visitors. We had pre-booked two scooters the previous day but on arrival found that only one of them had been fully charged. This could have led to a very disappointing day but fortunately we had in our group somebody capable of pushing a wheelchair.

There are around two miles of paths suitable for wheelchair and scooter users which are fairly flat, save for the occasional ‘ramp’. These paths circuit the lake and go as far as the weir which can be quite spectacular after heavy rain. The path passes through mature woodland which has a main canopy and shrub species including oak, sycamore, hazel and hawthorn. Part of the pathways include an area of special scientific interest and is host to some rare plants and animals of national importance and there are also traces of the park’s previous industrial heritage.

With a little bit of effort and not much expense the entrance to the café and visitor’s centre could be improved. Given that we had pre-booked the scooters and had informed the centre of our arrival time one would have thought that the staff would have checked that they were working correctly. Stockport Council has been informed of these problems.

However, despite these problems and the fact that it rained constantly during our visit we all agreed that the park is a superb place to visit and well worth a trip out.

Chatsworth House

On the 28th July members of Access Glossop visited Chatsworth House as one of our day trips to local tourist attractions. Chatsworth House is the family home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and is situated 8 miles north of Matlock off the B6012. The journey from Glossop can be done comfortably in about one hour.

Car parking is free for Blue Badge holders and there are plenty of designated spaces for disabled visitors although it is not well signed and the surrounding area is on rough ground. (Apparently, because the house is in the Peak District National Park there are planning problems with the car park). It is therefore advisable that those with mobility problems should be dropped off at the house entrance where possible.

We were met at the entrance by Kirstie Law who spent over 20 minutes with us discussing Chatsworth’s facilities for the disabled visitor. There are three electric scooters which can be borrowed for use in the garden and eight manual wheelchairs for use in both the garden and part of the house. Scooter users can opt to transfer to a wheelchair when visiting the house. Those wishing to use a scooter are shown how it works and then asked to show a level of competence in driving it and there is a short form to fill in for insurance purposes. Also at the main entrance there is an electric buggy which runs up to the restaurant and stables; it can take three passengers, and there is a platform on the rear for a wheelchair.

Entrance to the gardens is normally £6 for adults and £4.50 for senior citizens. Wheelchair and scooter users and the visually impaired are allowed in free of charge and carers pay only £3. There were five of us including one scooter user and one wheelchair user and we paid £10 to enter the garden which we thought was very reasonable. All assistance dogs are welcome indoors and out. There are a number of accessible toilets near the house and garden entrances, in the restaurant and at the farmyard. The shops, restaurant and bar are all accessible but there are restrictions for scooter users.

The garden is extensive and visitors are given a map showing which paths are accessible. It is quite easy to spend two or three hours here though manual wheelchair users and carers should be warned that there are several steep slopes which can be hard work. Therefore it is advisable to transfer to a scooter if possible.  There is a sensory garden for the visually impaired which was a little difficult to access in a wheelchair or scooter, but full of scented plants and quite delightful.

Three of us, including a wheelchair user, visited the house which cost £10.50. There are three floors and we were taken to the top floor via a goods lift. When we had viewed this area a member of staff took us down to the second floor, again using the lift. The lift does not stop at the first floor so we had to descend using the stairs. A conventional stair lift is not suitable so Chatsworth have spent £4,000 on a machine that enables wheelchair users to use the stairs. The machine has to be operated by a trained member of staff. We were met here by Kirstie who discussed with us our views on the facilities available. She said that they were hoping to introduce a loop system for use in the house as soon as they found one that was suitable.

We also visited the farm shop which is about two miles from the house. The shop is fully accessible and there are toilets adapted for the disabled visitor. We had a very enjoyable day at Chatsworth and we all remarked on how welcoming and helpful the staff were. If anybody is planning a visit to Chatsworth and need to use the facilities for the disabled then it is strongly advisable to inform them in advance of your visit. (Telephone Kirstie Law on 01246 565314 )

Hollingworth Lake

On 27th June 2006 a group from Access Glossop visited Hollingworth Lake as part of our plan to visit local tourist attractions to report on the facilities available for the disabled. Hollingworth Lake is in Littleborough and was built in 1801 to supply water to the Rochdale Canal. It was the traditional destination for the local mill workers to enjoy their limited leisure time. Today it is a thriving centre for water based activities, including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and rowing.

The pleasant journey from Glossop passed through Uppermill, Delph and Milnrow, and took about 40 minutes. We parked at the Visitor’s Centre where there are five spaces designated for the disabled. There is a charge of £1 for a stay of 2-4 hours. There is a ramped entrance to the Visitor’s Centre and refreshments are available. There is a toilet for the disabled and a hearing loop and an upper floor area with a lift available with space for a wheelchair. There are three modern motorised scooters and a wheelchair for the use of visitors, which are free of charge. Proof of identity is needed to use them and it is advisable to telephone the Centre ( 01706 373421 ) in advance to reserve them and so ensure that they are fully charged.

The path around the lake is around 1½ miles and there is a wide variety of birdlife and wildflowers to view in the nature reserve. The path is flat but there is an area that has a large number of potholes that could provide problems especially for wheelchair users. About halfway round there is a snack bar with seating inside and a picnic area outside. There is a portable ramp available on request to access the snack bar and a toilet for the disabled on site ( access by RADAR key ).

At one point the path comes out in a pub car park and there is a lack of signage here. The path can be rejoined after passing the pub and marina. On the opposite side of the road are craft shops, cafes and entertainments. However, scooter and wheelchair users in particular should note that after a short distance there is a lack of dropped kerbs so it is advisable to return to the lakeside path straight after visiting the shops ( as we found out ! ) The journey can be done comfortably in less than two hours and with the weather keeping fine we all agreed that it was an enjoyable day out and that the facilities overall were good.

Stockport

Access Glossop is planning a new venture – we’re off out on day trips to places within approximately one hour of Glossop to check out the facilities for people with disabilities.  To get myself in the mood for this, I went shopping in Stockport and tested their Shopmobility scheme.  I’ve been shopping there many times, but have to admit it’s been a hard slog without my mobility scooter, and I’ve spent more time sitting than shopping.  This time it was different. 

Finding Shopmobility Stockport was actually the hardest part, being less than familiar with the traffic system.  They are based at the top of a multi-storey car park at the back of Debenhams, Merseyway, but there is very little signage to help you find it, and what’s there is confusing, even within the car park.  However, perseverance paid off, and eventually we parked in a dedicated disabled bay close to the concrete bunker they hole up in, and I went to pick up the scooter I’d booked for the afternoon.  It wasn’t as simple as that!  First, I had to take a driving test. 

As a new member ( I paid £10 for life membership, which entitles me to use a scooter anytime, if one is available)  I was required to fill in a number of forms, provide two proofs of identity, and then prove that I was a competent scooter user.  Three traffic cones were placed in a line, and I had to weave in and out then back along the line to the start.  Too easy! – so the cones were put closer together, and off we go again.  Then I had to do a three point turn, an emergency stop, and show that I could park within six inches of a wall, in reverse, without hitting anything.  Needless to say, some people do fail at this, and the unlucky ones don’t get out of the car park until the staff are satisfied with the test results (in my opinion, this is a good idea). 

So, having passed with flying colours, I paid my £2 refundable deposit, and off I went to shop.  First hurdle, the lift down to the ground floor – very narrow, just room for a scooter, and backing out could be difficult if there was a queue to get in!  The rest of the afternoon was great, though, and I’m looking forward to my next shopping trip now that I’ve discovered Shopmobility Stockport.

Stockport Shopmobility also provides an escort service for visually impaired people, which is available from Monday to Saturday.  Escorts are trained by Eyeline or Henshaw’s Society for Blind People.  They will meet you at the location of your choice within the Borough of Stockport and escort you to the agreed destination, be it shopping or just taking a walk in the park. To use this service you must join Shopmobility Stockport at the usual membership fee of £10 for life, and provide proof of identity.  To enquire about joining or to make a booking ring 0160 666 1100, and allow at least 48 hours notice, as they have to contact an escort then get back to you.

Shopmobility Stockport web