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 0.2 miles / 0.3 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 M&M Cars by calling 01359231544. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

You can get a taxi with TKO Cars by calling 07739365555.

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.  Should your remote control fail there is a key pad on the gate post – we issue you with the code on arrival.

There are informally marked bays in the car park and there is ample room for all residents’ vehicles. The car park is gravel and the pathways to the lodges are wood bark chippings which some people may find difficult to walk on 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 with low level lights by the side of the pathways.  The lights are operated by dusk to dawn sensors.  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; Planning Permission does not allow vehicles to be left by any lodge, you are required to park in the car park.  It is between 65 and 140 meters from the car park to the various lodges. There are a few seating areas to rest at between the car park and the lodges.

Manoeuvring vehicles is easier by some lodges than by others.  Please discuss this with us before booking.  We will assist with transfer of luggage to some lodges in our electric golf buggy or our van if required.

When you arrive at your lodge there are a number of steps up to the main entrance door of each lodge; the number of steps varies according to which lodge you are staying in: Heron Lodge has 3 steps up to the front door, Wagtail has 5 steps up to the front door, Woodpecker has 3 steps and 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 main door is side hung and manual.

The main entrance has 5 steps.

When you arrive, we can help carry your luggage.

You may drive to your lodge to unload and load; Planning Permission does not allow vehicles to be kept by any lodge; you are required to park in the designated ar park.  It is between 65 and 140 meters from the car park to the various lodges. There are a few seating areas en route.

Manoeuvring vehicles is easier by some lodges than by others.  Please discuss this with us before booking.  We will assist with transfer of luggage to some lodges in our electric golf buggy or our van if required.

Only Kingfisher Lodge has a ramped access to the main entrance.  The other lodges (Heron, Wagtail and Woodpecker) all have steps up to the main entrance, the number of which varies depending on the lodge; Heron and Woodpecker Lodges have 3 steps up to their main entrances, Wagtail Lodge has 5 steps up to its main entrance, Kingfisher Lodge has 4 steps and a ramp up to its main entrance.

 

Reception

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

You can sit down at reception.

The Reception/office area is signposted from the car park and has 2 steps up into it.  The floor is laid with wood floorboards.  There is a low beam/lintel over the door into the office.  

As all visitors will have reserved and paid for their holiday prior to arrival, there is no paperwork to complete.  Most people do not need to come into the Reception and there is no check-in desk.  We usually meet guests outside when them pull up in the car park and direct them straight to their lodge.

We do have many useful maps, booklets, leaflets and tourist guides and much more information in the Reception and Office.  We also have many books and DVDs which our guests are welcome to borrow during their stay free of charge.  Guests are welcome to come to the Reception to browse through this information and the DVDs/books during their stay.

The Reception/office door is usually locked as it is part of our private house.  The Reception door is our primary door to our house. There is a door bell.

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 guests’ pets in the lodges or on site at all. and We can give details of our cleaning products on request if necessary.

We can move the bedroom furniture, to improve accessibility.

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

We have bathrooms with a separate shower.

Some showers have a seat.

There is one bathroom in each two bedroom lodge.  Each bathroom has a standard height toilet, a vanity wash basin and a shower.  There are no baths in any of the bathrooms.  Each shower cubicle has a 200mm step up into it; we do not have level access showers.  The shower and wash basin have mixer taps.  The flooring is vinyl.

Each lodge has 2 bedrooms; all beds are 710mm high.  All bedrooms have double beds except Kingfisher Lodge which has a double bed in the master bedroom and twin single beds in the second bedroom.  Bedroom furniture can be moved to a limited extent on request to allow easier access.  There is about 560mm width either side of the double beds, between the bedsides and the walls.  There is a bedside table and table lamp by the side of each bed. 

Short pile carpet is laid in each bedroom.  There is a 25mm wooden threshold into each bedroom and bathroom.

The corridor giving access to both bedrooms and bathroom is 1000mm wide at the narrowest point.  The door to the masterbedroom is 700mm wide at its narrowest point of opening, the door to the second bedroom is 660mm wide, the door to the bathroom is 720mm wide at its narrowest point of opening.

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 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.

The cooker is electric and the hob is at the same height as the worktops.  There is a double oven with grill below.  There is a microwave oven in a cupboard next to the worktop.  There is a fridge under the worktop with a freezer in a cupboard above, next to the worktop.  

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.

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 which only sound in the lodge; they are not linked to a central alarm.  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.  The TVs have subtitles.

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

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 wood bark chippings which some people may find difficult to walk on or to use a wheel chair on.

There are seating areas to rest at, to and from the car park.

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

Each lodge has a table with 4 standard height chairs on the verandah and a swing seat adjacent. There is a gas BBQ on the verandah of each lodge.

Each lodge has a name sign carved in wood; there is no Braille signage.

The pathway from the car park to each lodge is illuminated at night.  The lights are operated by dusk to dawn sensors and are at low level by the side of the pathways.  Each lodge has an external floodlight near to the main door operated by a movement sensor.

None of our 3 fishing lakes are fenced off; guests and visitors with a visual impairement will require a sighted person to accompany them at all times.

 

Terrace

Lodge verandah

A wooden decked verandah wraps around 2 sides of each lodge.  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.  There is a table with 4 standard height chairs and a gas BBQ on each verandah.

Hot Tubs

Each lodge has its own private outdoor hot tub situated on the wooden decking which wraps around 2 sides of each lodge. 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. 

Our insurance recommends that pregnant women, the elderly, diabetics and people taking medication should consult their doctor before using the hot tub.  There are more detailed instructions for the safe use of the hot tubs in each lodge in the Information Folder.  A copy can be provided prior to booking if requested.

The hot tub is situated on the wooden decking and you need to climb over the edge, which is about 610mm high, into the water, which is about 910mm deep at the deepest point.  The hot tubs are tamper-proof and the water temperature is set at 37-38 degrees Centigrade.

The wooden decking can get slippery when wet; we provide old bath mats to place on the floor at the entry/exit point to the hot tub.  We also provide plastic glasses to use for drinks whilst in the hot tub to avoid the risk of glass breaking in the hot tub.

Fishing

There are fishing platforms (swims) in various locations around the lakesides; some are more easily accessible than others.  Please check with us before use.  There is a swim located close by to each lodge which may be useful for those who are less mobile/able-bodied and require some assistance with their fishing. 

Owing to the height of the lodges above the water, fishing directly from the verandah of a lodge is strictly prohibited as it would be difficult to land a large fish and this could be harmful to the fish. 

Accessibility equipment

We do not have any accessibility equipment.

Our lodges are set in a rural area with the grounds comprising approximately 4.5 acres of gardens, woodland, lakes and flower borders. There are no individual fences marking out sections of the grounds for each individual lodge; all the lodges are able to enjoy the benefit of the full extent of the grounds (subject of course to respecting the privacy of each lodge). 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.

You can hire mobility equipment from Mobility Equipment Hire Direct Ltd by calling 08006446062.

Emergency evacuation procedures

Our lodges are fully self-catering. Whilst we, as the proprietors, cannot guarantee to be on site 24 hours a day, when guests check in we provide them with emergency contact details for us with a landline and mobile telephone number. Our family house is on site and only a 2 minute walk from the lodges. Although we are not in the main house all the time, we are always available by telephone in the case of an emergency. We never leave the site unattended during the night and carry out regular checks around the site during the day.

As well as fire extinguishers inside each lodge we also have external water fire extinguishers in 2 locations in the grounds between Heron and Wagtail Lodges and between Woodpecker and Kingfisher Lodges. These are clearly visible and if opened in the event of a fire they sound an audible alarm which will be heard throughout the site.

There are also a number of life buoys positioned around the site next to the lakes in case of any accidents at the water's edge. These are clearly visible and accessible.

Customer care support

Our lodges are fully self-catering. Whilst we, as the proprietors, cannot guarantee to be on site 24 hours a day, when guests check in we provide them with emergency contact details for us with a landline and mobile telephone number. Our family house is on site and only a 2 minute walk from the lodges. Although we are not in the main house all the time, we are always available by telephone in the case of an emergency. We never leave the site unattended during the night and carry out regular checks around the site during the day.