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Accessibility Guide for Cottage by the Pond

Contact for accessibility enquiries: Alex Gray

email addressstay@beechenhill.co.uk phone number01335310274 websitebeechenhill.co.uk
Logo of Beechenhill Farm with stylised stone wall

Guide last updated: 26 September 2022

  • At a glance
  • Getting here
  • Arrival
  • Getting around inside
  • Getting around outside
  • Customer care support
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Welcome

Our self catering cottage is a specially converted barn with level access in a level south facing courtyard with close parking. The 3 bedroom accommodation has two bedrooms and one large accessible bathroom on the ground level. The second little ensuite bathroom takes pressure off the main bathroom and is also located on the ground floor. The third bedroom is acessed via a small staircase.

The cottage is rated NAS M3a accessible for full time wheelchair users who need the help of a carer and maybe a hoist when transferring from the wheelchair.  Our bath has clear under space for a hoist, just let us know if you need it so we can remove the panel. We also have a wheel-in wet room with shower chair.

Watch the video: 360 Virtual Tour of cottage
Photograph of the outside of the Cottage by the Pond, showing a patio window and door and a wide entrance door plus level access
  • Level access icon Level Access
  • Access with steps icon Access with steps
  • Bedrooms icon Bedrooms
  • Level access bedrooms icon Level access bedrooms
  • Hearing icon Hearing
  • Visual icon Visual
  • General icon General

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Bedroom: Bedroom 1 Bedroom: Bedroom 2 Lounge & Dining RoomKitchenFarm Gardens

Access with steps

There are steps from the main entrance to:

Hot Tub Sauna Area

Bedrooms

We have non-allergic bedding.
We have a portable hoist.

Level access bedrooms

From the main entrance to the bedroom, there is level access.
The route to the bedroom is 750mm wide, or more.
The bedroom door is 750mm wide, or more.
There is unobstructed floor space 1200mm by 900mm, or more.
The bathroom has a level access shower.

Hearing

Some staff have Next Generation Text and disability awareness training.

Visual

Glass doors and full-height windows have contrast markings.
The walls and the doors have high colour contrast.
We have information in large print.

General

The accommodation is rated by the National Accessible Scheme as suitable for:
  • Assisted wheelchair users
Staff are available 24 hours a day.
Some staff have disability awareness training.
We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Beechenhill Farm
Ilam
Ashbourne
DE6 2BD

Travel by public transport

You can get to Cottage by the Pond by bus and train.
Ashbourne is the nearest bus station and we are happy to collect using our own car or guests can book accessible local taxis The bus stop is 6 miles / 9.7 km from Cottage by the Pond.
The nearest train station is Derby. The train station is 14 miles / 22.5 km from Cottage by the Pond.

Some guests travel by train to the nearest station Derby or by Bus to Ashbourne and we can offer to collect by car and drive to the farm.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Ashbourne Taxis by calling 01335 345198. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

We are happy to collect people form the nearest station using our own car, so any mobility equipment would need to fit in our boot.

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 has a dropped kerb.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 3000mm wide, or more.

The car park is immediately outside the cottage.

Parking next to entrance of cottage

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 3000mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.
The door is 900mm wide.
The main door is side hung and manual.
When you arrive, we can help carry your luggage.

Main door opens outwards, area around parking has automatic lighting. There is a grab rail just insde the door on the left hand side. Colour contrast between handle and door is very good

Getting around inside

We have contrast markings on all glass doors, contrast markings on all full-height windows and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.
Birds eye view of cottage

Bedrooms

All bedrooms have windows.
Bedrooms have wall lights, bedside lamps, desk or table lamps and natural daylight.
Lights are LED and energy saving. All bedrooms are non-smoking.
We have non-allergic bedding.
Some bedrooms have fitted carpets.
We have wi-fi free bedrooms, for visitors with electro-sensitivity.
No pets are allowed in the accommodation only assistance dogs
We can move the bedroom furniture, to improve accessibility.
We have bed blocks.
We have a portable hoist.
From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

Accessible bedrooms

Accessible bedroom Bedroom 1

The route to the bedroom is 850mm wide, or more. The bedroom door is 850mm wide. There is 1400mm at the side of the bed. The bed is 600mm high. There is 230mm under the bed.
There is a low clothes rail. You can use the rail sitting down.
The bedroom is twin. The bathroom is separate. It is not an ensuite.
The bathroom door is 830mm wide.
The bathroom has a separate shower. The shower has a seat. The shower has a handrail.
The bathroom has a bath.
The bath has a handrail.
The bathroom has a level access shower. The level access shower has a seat. There is a shower chair available. The level access shower has handrails.
The toilets have handrails. The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left. There is 850mm at the side of the toilet.
There is 1000mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 460mm high.
The basin is 760mm high. The taps are lever operated. There is space under the basin, with no pedestal or boxing.
The walls and the bathroom fittings have high colour contrast.

We have a Closomat automatic wash and dry toilet, extra helpful for people with mobility problems.

There is space under the bath for a hoist if needed.

This is the Accessible family bathroom. There is also a small ensuite room that can be accessed direct from both the ground floor bedrooms but is not wheelchair accessible.

Bedroom 1 with twin electric profile beds Plenty of space Hoist available profile bed with side rails Accessible family bathroom/ wet room with non slip shallow bath Closomat wash & dry toilet, grab rails around toilet, shower seat, wheel in wet room, sink next to toilet. Low bath with high slip resistant tiles on floor and space under bath for hoist if needed.

Accessible bedrooms

Accessible bedroom Bedroom 2

The route to the bedroom is 850mm wide, or more. The bedroom door is 850mm wide. There is 1000mm at the side of the bed. The bed is 700mm high. There is 120mm under the bed.
There is a low clothes rail. You can use the rail sitting down.
The bedroom is flexible (either double or twin). The bathroom is ensuite. The bathroom door is 650mm wide.
The bathroom has a separate shower. The shower has a handrail.
The toilets have handrails. The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only. There is 660mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 400mm high.
The basin is 800mm high. There is no space under the basin.

This small ensuite is accessible from both bedrooms on the ground floor, unfortunately it is not wheel chair accessible. It has grab rails but a narrow entrance

Bedroom 2 raised super king bed can be split into 2 singles Bedroom 2 Small ensuite bathroom, access via either ground floor bedroom

Self catering kitchen

Kitchen

We have a separate kitchen and dining room. From the main entrance to the kitchen, there is level access.
The route is 850mm wide, or more.
The door is 850mm wide.
The work surface is available with clear underspace and available at a height between 650mm and 900mm.
The hob is available at a height between 650mm and 900mm.
The sink is available at a height between 650mm and 900mm.
The oven is available at a height between 650mm and 900mm.
The table and plates have high colour contrast.
From the main entrance to the dining room, there is level access. The route is 850mm wide, or more. The door is 850mm wide.

All light switches all approx 950mm from floor

All sockets all approx 950mm from floor

Cooker controls 1200mm from floor, we can provide a portable hob on a lower work surface 800mm with clear underspace. We also have a microwave combi oven on the same work surface.

View from Kitchen to Hall way Kitchen

Lounge

Lounge & Dining Room

From the main entrance to the lounge, there is level access. The route is 850mm wide, or more. The door is 850mm wide.

We have a electric recliner chair available in the sitting room

We have a 850mm wide door that leads directly outtside to seating area

The dinning chairs are stackable and have no sides

The large screen TV in the Lounge has subtitles

Sitting/Dining Room Sitting/Dining Room Electric raising & reclining chair

Getting around outside

From the main entrance to the gardens, there is level access.
The route is 900mm wide, or more.

• Immediately outside the Cottage by the Pond is a hard, flat surfaced courtyard with moveable garden furniture • The farmyard beyond is level concrete • The nearby garden (20 metres away) is gently sloping grass, with some steeper areas. • There is an outside chess set accessible across a further 10 m grass • A patio area, with moveable garden furniture is approximately 30m away from the Cottage by the Pond down a gentle grass slope 

Farmyard outside the cottage Farmhouse garden, access via grass slope or gate with short gravel path Birds eye view of farm Farm lower garden Access to farm gardens

Hot Tub

From the main entrance to the area, there is 1 step.

Acess to the hot tub area is via the garden. The hot tub is located on a section of decking one step high. Acess to the hot tub is made via a 3 step ladder.

Hot tub

Sauna Area

From the main entrance to the area, there are 3 steps.

The Sauna area is located in another area of the gardens, it can be accessed via 3 steps onto decking. Entrance to the sauna is via a 1 small step.

Sauna Area

Customer care support

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

Oxford Major 190 hoist  Fully adjustable mobile electric hoist. Please bring your own sling.  Please request the hoist on booking the Cottage by the Pond and we will make sure it is ready and waiting for you.

Mobile Shower Chair .It has detachable soft seat and foot rests and drop down arm rests.

Tubular Commode Chair. The tubular commode chair has adjustable height and detachable arms.

Raised Toilet Seat. This is also stored in the Cottage so always available.The Derby Raised Toilet Seat increases height by 10 cm at the front and 12cm at the back.

Bath Boards and Seat. These are always available in the Cottage by the Pond.  The Derby Bath Board fits across top of bath. and the Derby Bath Seat, with rubber stickers fixes to the bottom of the bath

Boma 7 Off-Road Wheelchair. The most exciting extra thing is, we have to say, the Boma off-road wheelchair.  What a brilliant thing!  And it can be delivered to you here at Beechenhill. Hire for half or full day, Powerful electric drive with light twist grip control, Incredible fun - join the family on tracks and trails, Safe and simple to operate....twist to go...let go to stop, Left or right hand control, Rugged off-road tyres, Very stable with low centre of gravilty, Suitable for 16+, Up to 15 miles range, Call David or Felicity on 01629 540262 to arrange hire and delivery

For a list of more items, please go to http://www.beechenhill.co.uk/content2.asp?pageId=2&SubID=3&SubSubID=33&sub=yes.
Assistance dogs have a large garden area to use, the nearest toilet is 20M
We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.

We have a large barn, with level access lighting and power, so is ideal for storing and charging extra equipment

Boma off road wheelchair
You can hire mobility equipment from Clark and Partners by calling 0114 229 3366.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.
Some staff have Next Generation Text training.
We have information in large print.
Staff are available 24 hours a day.

Staff are available 24 hours a day. We live onsite in the main farmhouse so are always available to help or offer assistance. The farmhouse has a door bell or we can be contacted by telephone 01335 310274

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

Moorlands connect bus service. A local bus service that is wheelchair friendly and will collect form cottage door if pre booked. A great way to travel around the local area.

We can provide and deliver a cooked local farmhouse breakfast for guests.

We can provide localy made ready meals

Moorlands Connect Yummy delivered breakfast platter
Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.
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