It's Northumberland Day and I am so blessed to live in such a gorgeous part of the UK. One of the many challenges I face as a wheelchair user however is that the rather hilly countryside isn't always the most accessible. Thankfully, many locations are making adaptations to accommodate people with disabilities so here are my Top 3 accessible days out in the region.
Calvert Trust Kielder
Calvert Trust is an award-winning activity centre which caters for people with disabilities. Whether you're able bodied or not, anyone can join in the activities which range from canoeing to their brand new zipcoaster! The paths around Kielder Water are also accessible and there are lots of nice cafe's which cater for many dietary requirements. One of my favourite trips out!
Alnwick Gardens
I absolutely love Alnwick Gardens, especially in Spring, with my favourite part being able to visit the famous tree house! Although on a steep hill (so I would recommend a powered wheelchair for this trip) most parts are accessible and their new children's playground which is also getting built I've been told will have an accessible section too. Being able to weave in and out of water fountains, get nose to nose with flowers grown at heights to suit all abilities and even go through their maze shows they put a lot of work into making the venue as accessible as possible.
Wallington Hall
Owned by the National Trust, Wallington Hall is somewhere we used to visit regularly when I was younger. With a mansion, walled garden and lots of walks there's plenty to see. You can hire scooters from the National Trust including a very sturdy off-road scooter which can tackle the woods & surrounding paths with ease. Not all of Wallington is accessible, but it is so big that you can still make a good day out from it!
So, there you have it. I'd be really interested if anyone has any other recommendations for accessible days out in Northumberland, as I still think it's quite hard to find (and hear about!) them.
Happy Northumberland Day!
Kate x
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