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Blue Tit Cottage
Accessibility Guide

With our personal experience with dealing with disabilities, we take great pleasure in welcoming people who may be in a wheelchair or just less able to walk without help.

The access to the cottages is exceptionally good and the purpose-built footpaths make the farm accessible too so that everyone can enjoy the magnificent views. We have aimed to provide disabled holiday accommodation which has features to make visitors as comfortable as possible, from hoists to wet rooms and the welcoming of assistance dogs.

Contact for accessibility enquiries: Michael

01833 628181 / 07375 306 818

info@mellwatersbarn.co.uk

At a glance

Level access

Level access bedrooms

Bedrooms

General

Getting here and arrival

East Mellwaters Farm
Stainmore Road
Bowes
Barnard Castle
County Durham
DL12 9RH

Travel by public transport

We do recommend that you have your own vehicle whilst staying with us as we are in a rural location and not on a local transport route. The nearest town is Barnard Castle which is 7 miles away. Darlington which is 26 miles away has a main line train station and a bus station which are 0.3 miles apart. There are regular buses that travel to Barnard Castle. You can also get a bus from Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle.

Travel by Taxi

There is a local wheelchair accessible Taxi called Pitstop Taxi’s.

You can contact them on 07785738012.

Parking

There is a designated parking space by the front door of Blue Tit cottage. It is level from the parking space to the front door. Please let us know if you have more than one vehicle and we will let you know where you can park.

Arrival

The cottage will be available from 4pm onwards. If you require an earlier check in please contact us and we will do our very best to accommodate your requirements. Please note that due to guests departing and arriving the same day we are not always able to accommodate early check-ins.

Blue Tit entrance

The entrance has level access and we provide a wooden door stop to keep the door open. The door is side hung, manually operated and 810mm wide.

Getting around inside

Level access around in cottage.

Minimum door width 810mm.

All door handles are push pull.

All plug sockets are at 780mm from the floor.

All light switches are at 980mm from the floor.

All windows have safety catches but can be opened wide in case of emergency.

Blue Tit cottage has 1 lift.

The lift is 740mm wide and 1200mm deep.

The lift has a drop down seat.

Our Pollock through the floor lift takes the individual from the downstairs area, where the two bedrooms and roll in wet room are, to the upstairs open plan living, kitchen, dining area and cloakroom (W.C) are. Maximum weight 255kg (40st)

Accessible Pollock through floor lift

Pollock through the ceiling lift to the upstairs living, kitchen and dining area

Ground floor

Bedrooms

There is level access from the entrance to both bedrooms.

The route to both bedrooms is a minimum of 1120mm.

Both bedroom doors are 850mm wide.

Both bedrooms have windows.

Both Bedrooms have wall lights and natural daylight.

Light bulbs are LED.

Both bedrooms have fitted carpets.

We can move beds and bed side tables to suit the guest.

We have 3 & 6 inch elephant feet to raise the height of the bed (1 set of each).

We can provide a mobile hoist.

There is a minimum of 920mm at the side of at least one bed in each bedroom.

The bed is 570mm high, from the floor to the top of the mattress.

The clothes rail in the wardrobe can be lowered on request and is useable from a seated position.

All 4 beds are single and electric adjustable. This enables you to raise the head and foot of the bed. They can be pushed together to make a double.

Our profiling beds.

Each bed can be adjusted independently.

They have a wide range of adjustments.

Bed height can be adjusted.

We can provide a mobile hoist.

The clothes rail in the wardrobe can be lowered on request and is useable from a seated position.

We can move beds and bed side tables to suit the guest.

All 4 beds are single and electric adjustable.

Wet Room

The wet room is separate and not an en-suite.

The entry into the wet room is level.

The door is 870mm wide.

The wet room is all level with no steps to the shower.

The toilet has a drop down rail either side.

Facing the toilet there is 1600mm space to the left side to transfer.

The toilet seat is 470mm high and there is 1130mm space in front of the toilet.

The hand basin is 780mm high and there is space under the basin with no pedestal or boxing

The hand basin taps are lever operated.

The wet room mirror is above the hand basin and has a built in lights. The lights are operated by a touch sensitive button at the bottom of the mirror.

We can provide moveable adjustable suction grab rails which can be placed to suit the guest.

We have 3 different shower wheelchairs available on request.

The wet room is all level with no steps to the shower.

The hand basin taps are lever operated.

The toilet has a drop down rail either side.

Upper Floor

The upper floor is open plan and consists of the living, kitchen and dining area. It is all level with no steps or thresholds.

Living Area

The living area has a large settee, arm chair and rise and recline arm chair.

From the main entrance to the lounge, there is level access.

There is a lift. From the lift to the lounge, the route is 1120mm wide, or more.

There is a wall hung 32” Tv with freesat.

There is an option to have subtitles on.

Spacious Living and Dining Area

Spacious Living Area

Living Area

Rise and recline arm chair

Dining Area

The dining room table has seating and crockery for up to 6 people.

There is a dining room chair that has arms.

The table height is 685mm from the ground.

The table and plates have high colour contrast.

The Table is varnished wood.

The crockery is white with poppy flower design.

Blue Tit Accessible Living, kitchen and dining area.

Table height is 685mm from the ground.

Dining room chair with arms.

The table and plates have high colour contrast.

Self catering kitchen

It is level access from the lift to the kitchen.

The hob has clear space under for wheelchair users at a height of 720mm .The hob is an induction hob for safety.

The sink has space under for wheelchair users at a height of 720mm.

The work surface height is

The oven is at a height of 850mm from the floor to the base of the handle and has slide out racks for ease of use.

There is a pullout draw work surface next to the oven at a height of 720mm

There is an under counter fridge with small freezer compartment.

The freezer is located downstairs in a cupboard in the hall.

The sink has space under for wheelchair users at a height of 720mm.

The hob has clear space under for wheelchair users at a height of 720mm

The oven is at a height of 850mm from the floor to the base of the handle and has slide out racks for ease of use.

There is a pullout draw work surface next to the oven at a height of 720mm

Blue Tit cottage is located next door to Wren cottage (sleeps 2) and these cottages can be connected via an internal door next to the upstairs cloakroom in Blue Tit cottage. This interconnecting door leads to the upstairs area of Wren cottage where the bedroom and en-suite bathroom are located. This a great option for larger families. Please see Wren cottage’s page and accessibility guide for more information.

Accessibility Furniture & Equipment

Rise and recline chair

Rollator

Self propelled shower wheelchair

Chiltern Heavy duty Shower chair commode

Tilt in space shower chair commode

Toilet seat riser.

Mobile hoist

Moveable adjustable Grab rails

View Our Full List of Accessibility Equipment

Getting around outside

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

On the farm we do have some purpose built footpaths for our guests to enjoy the beautiful scenery. They are useable by a standard wheelchair but would recommend that someone strong was pushing the individual, if you are able to bring your mobility scooter then great they are perfect for the paths. Please bare in mind we are a working farm and the paths run through the fields our sheep are in so our paths can tend to have sheep excriment on them but we do have a hose and brush availble to clean your wheels down afterwards.

Our Dog Policy

We understand that your dog is a close part of your family and you should all be able to come on holiday together but we do have certain rules that MUST be adhered to.

We only accept Dog/s that have been booked and paid for at the time of booking.

We allow up to 2 Dog’s in Blue Tit cottage but only 1 Dog in Wren cottage.

No Dogs permitted in Kingfisher or Robin cottages.

Do not leave your Dog/s in the cottage unattended.

Do not allow your Dog/s on the furniture or beds.

Please vacuum any Dog hairs in the cottage before you leave.

Please remember to bring your Dog’s bed, bedding and home comforts with you.

Always keep your Dog on a lead outside the cottages and around the farm to avoid scaring the sheep or the local wildlife population.

All Dog poo should be bagged and placed in the bin provided opposite Robin Cottage.

No Dog poo to be left outside your cottage.

The cost for your Dog/s to come and stay with you is £15 per Dog per stay.