Accessible Cabins In Lake District

Accessible Holidays in the Lake District: Guide to a Memorable Break

Glacial ribbon lakes, 214 Wainwright fells, England's largest lake and its highest mountain. A lot of that is available on a smooth surface. Beatrix Potter left almost all her property to the National Trust, so much of the district is Trust land. Its Essential Companion pass brings one or two carers in free.

Miles Without Stiles: Accessible Walking Routes

The 'For All' routes have smooth surfaces at least a metre wide with passing places, and no scrambling or steep gradients. Bowness to Cockshott Point is a gentle 2km circular around the waterfront. Grasmere Riverside follows the River Rothay into the village, 1.75km, or 2.25km from the A591 lay-by. White Moss Common is 1.25km of woodland and meadow. Further afield there are Buttermere Lakeshore, Ennerdale Views, the 4km Loweswater circuit, Dubwath Silver Meadows and the 10km Keswick to Threlkeld route through the River Greta gorge. A second tier needs a class 2 or 3 all-terrain scooter: Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge, New Dungeon Ghyll to Elterwater, Tilberthwaite to Slater's Bridge, Wray Castle and Coniston.

On the Water: Accessible Cruises and Railways

Windermere Lake Cruises operate Swift, a purpose-built accessible vessel; access varies on their other boats, so check with the booking office. Ullswater Steamers have accessible parking and toilets, and restricted access on some craft. Coniston Boating Centre runs an adapted motorboat taking up to three wheelchairs via a ramp. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has ramped carriages you can stay in your own wheelchair for, large-print guides, audio description, hearing loops, accessible toilets and free carer entry.

Top Accessible Lake District Attractions

Brockhole on Windermere has accessible parking and toilets and a Miles Without Stiles lakeside route. Grizedale and Whinlatter forests both hire all-terrain mobility vehicles. Windermere Jetty Museum and its Lakeshore Café have level access, and you can use the café without entering the museum. Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum in Grasmere have level access throughout the visitor buildings and the ground floor of the cottage, though the sensory garden and daffodil trail are uneven. Lowther Castle hires mobility scooters. Holker Hall's grounds are accessible but its first floor is not. Blackwell Arts and Crafts House has a lift to the first floor, though some upstairs rooms remain inaccessible. Abbot Hall has staff-operated lifts to all floors. Rheged is indoors. The Derwent Pencil Museum is accessible. At Hill Top, upstairs isn't accessible, but there are all-terrain wheelchairs, touch tours, Braille guides, ear defenders and a tablet video of the upper floor.

National Trust Estates with Mobility Equipment

Fell Foot at Newby Bridge has a Changing Places toilet, a Space to Change facility, free hire of wheelchairs, two all-terrain chairs and a mountain trike, plus a sensory story on its website. Sizergh Castle has a 1.5km accessible route and powered vehicles to hire. Wray Castle has a mapped accessible route and all-terrain scooters. Aira Force has an accessible route map and a virtual reality tour of the waterfall. Acorn Bank has a Changing Places toilet and Trampers, though parts of the site are hard going. Tarn Hows near Coniston has free Tramper hire.

Getting Around: Transport and Mobility Hire

Stagecoach buses are wheelchair accessible with fares capped at £3. Northern, Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express all run accessible carriages, Oxenholme is step-free, and assistance is available at Windermere station. Lake District Mobility hires Trampers at Holker Hall, Ravenglass, Grizedale, Whinlatter, Lowther Castle, Wray Castle and Talkin Tarn.

Essential Facilities: Changing Places Toilets

Useful locations include Rayrigg Road in Bowness-on-Windermere, National Trust Fell Foot, Outside-In Cumbria in Kendal, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway station, Barrow Park Leisure Centre, the Lanes Shopping Centre in Carlisle, and the Tebay, Killington Lake, Southwaite and Todhills motorway services. Call ahead where you can: provision changes.