Accessibility Guide for Badwell Ash Holiday Lodges

Travel by public transport

You can get to Badwell Ash Holiday Lodges by bus and train.

The nearest bus stop is located in the village of Badwell Ash at the White Horse Inn, providing a regular bus service to and from Bury St Edmunds The bus stop is 0.5 miles / 0.8 km from Badwell Ash Holiday Lodges.

The nearest train station is Elmswell. The train station is 3 miles / 4.8 km from Badwell Ash Holiday Lodges.

Most bus drivers will stop outside our gates if requested.

The train station at Elmswell is a small station.  The main train stations are located at Bury St Edmunds, about 10 miles away, and Stowmarket, about 12 miles away.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Rob's Taxis / Fleetwood Cars / Getaway Cars by calling 07429 446036 / 01284 750336 / 01284 766766.

Parking

We have a car park. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point does not have a dropped kerb.

From the parking to the main entrance, there are 5 steps. There is no ramp and no lift.

On arrival at the site there is a large area to park off the road. Once you have received your keys there is a gate to the car park operated by a remote control on your key fob. 

There are parking bays in the car park and there is ample room for vehicles. The car park and the pathways to the lodges are gravel which some people may find difficult to walk or to use a wheelchair on. The site is mostly flat.

The car park and the paths to each of the lodges are lit at night in the winter with low level lights by the side of the pathways. Each lodge has an external floodlight near to the main door operated by a movement sensor.

You may drive to your lodge to unload and load and to drop off less able-bodied guests. Our planning consent does not allow vehicles to be left by any lodge, therefore you are requested to park your car in the car park.  It is between 50 and 200 meters from the car park to the various lodges. 

Manoeuvring vehicles is easier by some lodges than by others. Please discuss this with us before booking.

When you arrive at your lodge there are a number of steps up to the main entrance door of each lodge. The number varies according to which lodge you are staying in: Heron Lodge has 3 steps, Wagtail has 5 steps, Woodpecker has 3 steps, and Damsel which is much smaller has four steps. Kingfisher has 4 steps and a ramp up to the front door and is therefore more suited to those guests with mobility issues.

 

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there are 5 steps. There is no ramp and no lift.

Main entrance

The door is 762mm wide.

The main entrance has 5 steps.

The main door is side hung and manual.

Visual Impairment - General Information

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Reception and Shop

From the main entrance to reception, there is level access. The door is 1000mm wide.

From the main entrance to reception, there are 2 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

Our Reception area and Shop are located 25 metres from the main car park. The route from the car park to the Reception area is flat with two gates, and is mostly laid to gravel which some wheelchair users may find a bit tricky to navigate. We can come to your car and check you in there if that is more convenient.

Bedrooms

All bedrooms have windows.

Bedrooms have ceiling lights, bedside lamps and natural daylight.

Lights are LED and energy saving. All bedrooms are non-smoking.

We have non-allergic bedding.

All bedrooms have fitted carpets.

We do not accept pets in the lodges or on site

No bedrooms have level access. The bedroom nearest the main entrance has 1 steps.

We have bathrooms with a separate shower.

Self catering kitchen

Kitchen

We have an open plan kitchen.

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

The route is 1400mm wide, or more.

The kitchen in our larger lodges is L-shaped, open plan to the main communal sitting/dining space of each lodge, and has standard height worktops. There are no steps to the kitchen area.

There is an electric double oven/grill with ceramic hob above, microwave oven in a cupboard next to the worktop, a fridge/freezer, and all cutlery, utensils, crockery and glassware is provided.  

There are mixer taps with lever action at the kitchen sink. The dishwasher and washing machine are under the worktop.  Cordless kettles are provided in each kitchen. The floor is laid with wood floorboards; the lighting is by LED spotlights.

Please note that Damsel, our shepherds hut, has a compact kitchen with everything you need to prepare cook and serve a meal, and a foldaway two-person dining table and chairs are provided, however it does not have a large dining area.

Lounge

Lounge

From the main entrance to the lounge, there is level access. The route is 1400mm wide, or more.

The lounge area is open plan to the kitchen/dining area. The flooring is wooden with a rug in the communal area. Seating in the lounge area is on 2 sofas which are 450mm high.

Each lodge has audible smoke alarms in each room. There is no smoking allowed inside any lodge; smokers can use the verandah area and ashtrays provided.

Each lodge has a remote-controlled TV in the lounge. 

There is a wooden threshold at the main entrance door which opens straight into the lounge. The threshold is about 25mm high.

Shop

Reception area and Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The door is 1000mm wide.

Gardens

From the main entrance to the gardens, there are 5 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

To access the grounds from each lodge guests have to descend between 3 and 5 steps from the lodge main entrance down to the path outside each lodge.  Only Kingfisher Lodge has a ramp from the main entrance down to the path.

In the grounds the land is mostly flat; the pathways are gravel and/or grass which some people may find difficult to walk on or to use a wheel chair on.

There is a communal seating area around a “fire pit” which guests are welcome to use during their stay.

Each of the larger lodges has a table with 4 standard height chairs on the verandah and a swing seat adjacent. Damsel our shepherds hut has a smaller wooden deck with table and 2 chairs.

The pathway from the car park to each lodge is illuminated at night in the winter. Each lodge has an external floodlight near to the main door operated by a movement sensor.

Note we have five lakes and ponds on site some of which are used by guests for fishing. They are deep and cold, and none of these areas are fenced off, which may create a risk for those that are partially sighted. 

Terrace

Lodge verandah

A wooden decked verandah wraps around 2 sides of each of the larger lodges. There is a 25mm wooden threshold from the main front entrance door onto the verhandah and also from the side patio doors onto the verhandah. Damsel our shepherds hut has a wooden deck to the front which is accessed by 3 steps.

Hot Tubs

Each lodge has its own private outdoor hot tub situated on the wooden decking. Entering the hot tubs requies a fairly large step up and over the side of the tub which is around 650mm high. The hot tubs are around 900mm deep at the deepest point. The temperature is set at 37-38 degrees C. Please note that the wooden decking can get very slippery when wet or icy.

Our insurance recommends that pregnant women, the elderly, diabetics and people taking medication should consult their doctor before using the hot tub.

Fishing

There are fishing platforms and areas in various locations around the lakes, some of which are more easily accessible than others. Please check with us before use. There is a fishing platform located next to each lodge which may be useful for those who are less mobile/able-bodied and require some assistance with their fishing. 

Accessibility equipment

We are not able to accept pets on site, but we do accept assistance dogs. Assistance dogs will be able to enjoy the full extent of the grounds provided they are kept under control. There is no specific toilet area for assistance dogs, we simply ask that any mess is cleared up straightaway and placed in the appropriate black waste bin.

Emergency evacuation procedures

Our lodges are self-catering and we the owners cannot guarantee to be on site 24 hours a day. We do provide our emergency contact numbers to guests. We do live very close to the site and we check on the lodges, site, and the well-being of our guests at least once a day and in practice many more times than this. 

Each lodge has smoke detectors in every room, and a fire extinguisher. We have fire extinguishers, fire buckets and fire klaxons in 2 locations in the grounds. In addition, there is a fire bucket and fire klaxon close to the fire pit. Thee is a life bouy and throw-rope located next to each lodge in case someone gets into difficulty in the water. 

Customer care support

Our lodges are self-catering and we the owners cannot guarantee to be on site 24 hours a day. We do provide our emergency contact numbers to guests. We do live very close to the site and we check on the lodges, site, and the well-being of our guests at least once a day and in practice many more times than this.