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Accessible Cornwall
Cornwall is fantastic place to visit whatever your age, background or abilities and being less able doesn't mean you'll enjoy it any less!
Use the information below to help you make the most of your visit to Cornwall - take your pick from accessible places to visit and chose from a range of accommodation options suitable for visitors with disabilities.
In all cases we advise that you check with owners/ managers that your particular requirements can be met before making a reservation or visit. VisitCornwall is unable to inspect all aspects of accommodation and visitor attraction establishments included on our listings. If you cannot find the information you require on this page please email VisitCornwall for further assistance.
Accommodation - with an NAS Grading
We have self catering, hotels and guest houses with the National Accessible Scheme grading that can provide adapted accommodation for visitors. This link will give a list of suitable properties.
Places to Visit
Cornwall has some of the most diverse and interesting places to visit, many with facilities for visitors with disabilities. Most attractions will provide access and facilities for our less mobile visitors, but it is best to check specific requirements with the attraction before your visit.
A number of Cornwall's beaches have sand chairs available for hire for visitors with disabilities.
Easily Acccessible Routes to Scenic Walks in Cornwall There are many scenic routes in Cornwall suitable for disabled visitors where you can get out and enjoy the beautiful coast and countryside. You may also like to look at the accessible routes page of the South West Coast Path site. The Walks with Wheelchairs site gives 20 routes in Cornwall that are accessible to those in wheelchairs or pushing buggies.
Transport
Click here for more information on transport for people with disabilities.
Mobility Equipment Hire and Services
Download an information sheet about mobility equipment hire and services for people with disabilities in Cornwall.
Beaches with Disabled Access
Many of the major resort beaches in Cornwall have access and facilities for our less mobile or agile visitors. Visit our beaches page, and check the facilities listed next to beaches in the area you wish to visit for more details.
Details of beaches with sand chairs available for hire.
National Accessible Scheme
The national tourist boards for England, Scotland and Wales operate this scheme to identify and acknowledge those places to stay that meet the needs of wheelchair users and those people with hearing and sight impairment.
Typically suitable for a person with sufficient mobility to climb a flight of steps but would benefit from points of fixtures and fittings to aid balance.
Typically suitable for a person with restricted walking ability and for those that may need to use a wheelchair some of the time.
Typically suitable for a person who depends on the use of a wheelchair and transfers unaided to and from the wheelchair in a seated position.
Typically suitable for a person who depends on the use of a wheelchair and transfers to and from the wheelchair in a seated position. They also require personal/mechanical assistance to aid transfer, (e.g. carer/hoist).
Minimum entry requirement to meet the National Accessible Standards for guests with hearing impairment, from mild hearing to profoundly deaf.
Recommended (Best practise) additional requirements to meet the National Accessible Standards for guests with hearing impairment, from mild hearing loss to profoundly deaf.
Minimum entry requirement to meet the National Accessible Standards for visually impaired guests.
Recommended (Best practise) additional requirements to meet the National Accessible Standards for visually impaired guests.
NOTES
Ramps, where present, should not have a gradient at any point of more than 1:12, reasonable ramps, unless permanently in situ, are not acceptable for Category 1.
Single steps: for Category 2 there can be a succession of single steps, provided there is sufficient space after each step for a wheelchair to sit comfortably and safely, with all four wheels on the ground.
Steps to be used by a disabled guest should have risers no more than 19cm, treads no less than 25cm deep and 75cm wide.
For Category 1, thresholds to rooms to which the wheelchair user requires access must be no higher than 2cm.
Useful Contacts - Local
British Red Cross, Cornwall Branch, 1 Upper Lemon Villas, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2PD. Tel: 01872 272471.
Cornwall Disabled Association provides holidays in conjunction with Social Services for disabled residents of the County. The Association also has two specially adapted caravans for rent.
Cornwall Disabled Association, Riverside House, Heron Way, Newham, Truro. Tel: 01872 273518.
The Scope Inclusion Team is a community based team of multi-disciplinary professionals and support workers. The team provides a range of tailor made outreach services to enable children and young people with specific, and often complex, special needs to access all areas of life - whether in their local community or on their holiday.
The Scope Inclusion Team can:
- Carry out risk assessments on accommodation and visitor attractions.
- Provide a child/young person sitting service during the day and evening.
- Provide alternative activities whilst looking after the child/young person thus allowing the rest of the family to visit other places of interest that may not be suitable for the disabled.
- Provide therapy and/or nursing support to maintain continuity of programmes.
- Provide suggestions for suitable sensory based activities using local attractions and places to visit.
For help and specifics of local services please contact Andrew Mullen, Head of Service, Scope Inclusion Team.
Tel: (01752) 840059
Accessible South West is an online directory designed to assist visitors with disabilities travelling to the South West of England find suitable places to stay and visit.
Useful Contacts - National
RADAR is a national organisation run by and working for disabled people which campaigns for disabled people's rights. It also monitors legislation and prepares guidance and briefings on it for disabled people, and also offers information and advice on all issues relating to disability. Anyone is welcome to contact RADAR with an enquiry, whether they are a member of the association or not.
RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London EC1V 8AF Tel: 020 7250 3222 Email: radar@radar.org.uk
Tourism for All UK (formerly Holiday Care) is a national charity that provides holiday and travel information to older and disabled people. Thousands of people seek their advice about accessible products and services every year. Tourism for All also provide advice and support to the tourism industry when they are trying to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act or when they wish to become more accessible to disabled visitors, by providing consultancy advice about information, training, inspections and assessments, and other options.
Tourism for All UK, c/o Vitalise, Shap Road Industrial Estate, Shap Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6NZ
Public enquiries and information: 0845 124 9971 (9-5, Mon-Fri)
Hotel Booking Service: 0845 124 9973 Fax: 01539 735567
Tourism Industry and Admin Enquiries: 0845 124 9974
Email: info@tourismforall.org.uk
Useful Publications
The National Trust - Information for Visitors with Disabilities.
This free annual booklet, giving information on the Trust's most accessible properties, should be read in conjunction with the yearly Handbook for Members and Visitors (free to Trust members or can be purchased from any National Trust properties or from the National Trust Membership Department), which gives details of opening times, etc. For further information click here to visit the National Trust website which has a specific area with information for visitors with disabilities. Free admission is available at all National Trust properties to the necessary companion of a disabled visitor.
National Trust Membership Department, Freepost MB1438, Bromley, Kent BR1 3BR Tel: 0870 458 4000
The National Trust 'Access for All' Office, 36 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AS Tel: 020 7447 6742.
Email: accessforall@ntrust.org.uk
English Heritage - Guide for Disabled Visitors
An annual booklet giving information on accessibility and facilities for disabled people at about one hundred historic buildings and sites owned by English Heritage. Braille, tape and large print versions are also available. For further information click here to visit the English Heritage website which has a specific area with information for visitors with disabilities.
The free booklet can be obtained at many English Heritage sites or by contacting: Tel: 0870 3331181 Fax: 01793 414926 Minicom: 01793 414878
Email: customers@english-heritage.org.uk
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