When we started out designing Castle Chase Cottages we were determined that we would meet the needs of as many of our visitors as we could within the bounds of an old building, which wasn’t without its limitations as you can see from the photos. Our baseline for design where it worked with the building has been the National Access Scheme Access Exceptional Level.

Starting outside the site has over 1m of slope, so we have worked with the levels to ensure we meet the standards of the national accessibility scheme, we have tarmac parking and fully level access for one car at each cottage. The Old Stables has a further 2 private parking spaces which are surfaced in granite chip.

All of our thresholds are level and offer roll in access for mobility aids through 30 inch doors. Once inside both entrance halls have space for chairs, coats, boots, and dogs, but also electric sockets in case equipment requires charging overnight. The hallway to the bedrooms in The Stables is 1.25m wide to offer ample space for manoeuvre.

The cottages have nonslip luxury vinyl floors throughout and are entirely level with no door thresholds, the internal doors are also all 30 inches wide. We have placed 4 sockets at each side of each bed to ensure ample capacity to plug in feeding pumps or other machines. Our bedside tables are handmade, sturdy and easily moveable. We can supply an extra table if required. All light switches, thermostats and sockets are positioned to meet Doc M standards at between 900 and 1200mm from floor level.

All of our beds can facilitate a mobile hoist and have a minimum of 25cm clearance underneath, due to the varied nature of our guests we don’t supply a hoist but are very happy to accommodate the delivery and collection of hired equipment if you speak to us about it after booking. The Blue Bedroom in the stables has a powered adjustable bed with a cut away side. All bedroom wardrobes have accessible half height hanging rails and clothes shelves.

Our bathrooms have thermostatic showers which are lever operated. We have used AKW shower trays 900 x 1200mm which are roll in and nonslip, and AKW split screens in the main bathrooms, to help with assisted washing. In the En suite in The Stables we have a Roman tray and screen which is in an alcove 900 x 1800mm. The bathrooms all have space to turn a wheelchair around in them, and heated towel rails with one open side open for ease. Our towel rails run at the same temperature as the underfloor heating to minimise risk of burns.

All the showers have horizontal and vertical grab rails, and we can supply a static shower chair. Should you have special requirements for a wheeled shower chair please speak to us, our showers vary in size and do not accommodate most independently wheeled shower chairs due to the sizes and screens available when we did the conversions (during lockdown in 2020).

All of the bathrooms have adjustable HEWI sinks, with built in grab rails and thermostatic mixer taps, if you have specific sink height requirements please let us know when you book and we will ensure they are set correctly – they are too heavy for one person to adjust.

Our toilets all have paddle flushes and are comfort height with an 800mm wheelchair transfer space next to them and grab rails both sides.

Each bathroom has a trolley for your essentials which is easily moved to meet your specific needs.

The kitchens have roll under shallow sinks and roll under ceramic hobs, moveable heat proof mats, hide and slide ovens, a hand blender, a microwave, Oxo good grips utensils and a fridge and freezer at an accessible height.

We understand that with health needs comes extra personal care and hand washing requirements, should you require extra hand towels or floor towels do let us know, we supply a bottle of antibacterial hand wash in each kitchen and bathroom.

We have helped guests with all sorts of challenges, as farmers and carers ourselves we are unshockable, so please do let us know if you have concerns or questions ahead of (or during) your stay and we will do our best to help.