Accessibility Guide for Fineshade Wood

Welcome

Fineshade has a car park and blue badge parking in front of the visitor centre. The café, disabled toilet and meeting room are accessible. There is a courtyard, with a walkway, picnic benches and accesible pet shop.

There are three walking trails, a cycle trail and horse trail, as well as two play areas and a wildlife hide. The site has membership of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme. The wood has a number of paths, some of which are un-surfaced, but there is a 2 mile long all-ability trail, which also gives access to a wildlife hide. The hide has wheelchair and pushchair access.

The Visitor Centre is open everyday except Christmas Day.

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Atrium Atrium Welcome Desk Visitor Centre Toilets Gentlemens toilet Ladies toilet Grounds Cafe Fineshade Grounds Cycling Oak Leaf play area Tree House play area Family Cycle trail

There is level access from the car park to:

Picnic Area and Sensory Garden Tree House play picnic area Courtyard

The hide entrance has level access.

Hearing

We have a hearing loop in Visitor Centre Atrium.

All staff have disability awareness training. Some staff have BSL training.

Visual

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

General

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

All staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

For a map and directions of how to get to Fineshade please see the ‘location’ section on the website, which has a link for satellite navigation. Alternatively, you can plan your journey by public transport or car using 'get direction'; simply enter your postcode and select your mode of transport. An easy to read map is also available on site.

Fineshade Wood

Fineshade

Corby

NN17 3BB

Travel by public transport

The nearest railway station is at Stamford, which is 7.6 miles/12.2km away. Taxis are not available at this station. There is step-free access on only one side of the station (platform 1, from Leicester towards Peterborough). Alternatively there is Corby station, which has step-free access throughout and is 9.8 miles/15.7km away from the site. Taxis are readily available at Corby station. If you require an accessible taxi you can book this in advance - see Contact Information for details.

There are no regular buses to Fineshade Wood, but there is a Call Connect service from Stamford. This needs to be booked two hours in advance of travel, which can be done by phoning 0845 263 8153.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Premier Cabs - Stamford by calling 01780 757575. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

You can get a taxi with White Knight Cars - Peterborough by calling 01733 555584. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

You can get a taxi with Sky - Corby by calling 01536 202020.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. Parking is not 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.

There are 5 clearly-signed blue badge parking spaces situated 60m from the Visitor Centre entrance.

The main car park, with 100 spaces, is adjacent to the Visitor Centre and a short walk to the entrance. There is a charge (£2.00 for 1 hours, £4.00 for 2 hours or £6.00all day) for parking, and blue badges must also be displayed when using those spaces.

The car park surface is compressed stone. Pedestrian access to the visitor centre is all on one level.

There are two entrances leading to the Visitor Centre. The main entrance is closest to the blue badge parking and has step-free, level access.

The other entrance is at the courtyard side of the Visitor Centre with step-free, level entry. (This is the closest access point from the overflow car park or the Caravan Club site).

Arrival

Path to main entrance

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

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The door is 1670mm wide.

The main door is side hung and manual.

There are double doors at the visitor centre main entrance; one door is usually secured open, except during extreme weather. When the door is closed it is a light, easy-to-use glass door, which is 820mm/32.3 inches wide, with a lever handle. The second door can also be opened, creating an opening of 1670mm/65.7 inches.

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk

Atrium Welcome Desk

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 1670mm wide, or more.

The door is 1670mm wide, or more.

The desk has a low section.

Atrium

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1670mm wide, or more. The door is 1670mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There is a hearing loop.

Public toilet

Visitor Centre Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

You need a RADAR key to open the public toilet.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1670mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.

There is 800mm at the side of the toilet. There is 2200mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 480mm high. The toilets have handrails.

The door opens out to the right. Handle height is 800mm/31.5 inches, with an easy lever handle that pushes up.

There is 800mm/31.5 inches transfer space to the right of the toilet, when facing the toilet.

The toilet is flushed with a simple button.

Vertical rails to the right of the basin and toilet, when facing the toilet.

An additional vertical rail to the right of the toilet, when facing toilet, which can be easily be lowered and locked into the horizontal position.

Handrails, toilet and washbasin are white.

There is an easy to operate lever tap on the sink.

A loud siren when the fire alarm sounds.

There is an emergency alarm pull cord, which is accessible from ground level. This emits a loud noise, and a light comes on outside the toilet.

Well lit with a pull-cord-operated light, which is located just inside the toilet to the left.

Non-slip tile flooring.

Public toilet

Gentlemens toilet

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 890mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 890mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

There is a gentlemen’s toilet, which includes urinals, a cubicle, two sinks, a hand drier and baby changing.

Public toilet

Ladies toilet

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 890mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 890mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

The ladies toilet has two cubicles, two sinks, a hand drier and baby changing facilities.

Shop

Grounds Cycling

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 3000mm wide, or more. The door is 1770mm wide.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

There is a cycle shop on site, where bicycles can be hired and bike accessories purchased. Although there are two entrances into the shop, the entrance from the courtyard has the best accessibility, as the other entrance is via a loose gravel section. Please check their website for opening hours.

Place to eat and drink

Grounds Cafe Fineshade

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 1670mm wide, or more. The door is 890mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The dining area is self-service. If you need table service, staff can help you.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

We cater for sugar free (diabetic), vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free), nut free and vegan specific diets.

Getting around outside

Designated Walking Trail

Smelters Trail

The trail is 3000metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

All trails begin at the trail header at the top of the Main car park.

The Smelters trail covers 2 miles and can take 30 to 50 minutes to complete. It has gradual slopes with compact fine surface at the start of the walk. Then a smooth, flat forest road which gradually slopes downwards back to the visitor centre. On this walk there is an optional detour to the wildlife hide, which is a very gentle downhill smooth route.

Information boards giving details of the history of the area are available along the trails. The text varies in size but all have some larger print and illustrations. All information boards can be read from a child’s eye/seated position.

Some seating is available at points.

Designated Walking Trail

The Dales Wood Trail

The trail is 5000metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats. There are bird hides along the trail.

All Trails start at the top of the main car park.

The Dales Wood walk covers 3 miles and can take 50 to 70 minutes approx. to complete. It is undulating in places. Some seating is available in places.

There are viewing windows in the Wildlife hide that open. These are fairly heavy to lift and are held open using a latch.

There is one low window viewing position between the bench seats, which has a recess for wheelchairs.

There is provision to enable access to the hide via vehicle, but this is an arrangement that needs to be sought in advance, please contact the office for further details.

Designated Walking Trail

Mill Wood Trail

The trail is 8500metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. Unsurfaced areas The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

All Trails start at the top of the main car park.

The Mill Wood trail covers 5 miles and can take 2hrs to 2.5 hours approx. to complete. It starts with a firm surface which changes to grass/mud in sections and is undulating. Some seating is available at points.

Wildlife Hide

At the hide entrance, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The door is 900.00mm wide.

There are low windows in the hide, so wheelchair users can see outside.

Picnic Area

Picnic Area and Sensory Garden

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 3000mm wide, or more.

Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

Next to the Visitor Centre is a sensory garden with four raised wooden planters. One has plants that smell, another has plants that are good to taste, another good to look at and the last is for touch and hearing. There are four benches with back support in this area.

The gates to the sensory garden use a latch system and are easy to use for all abilities.

Picnic Area

Tree House play picnic area

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 3000mm wide, or more.

You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

This is approximately a 15 min walk from the visitor centre.

Picnic Area

Courtyard

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 3000mm wide, or more.

The entrance is 870mm wide.

Some tables have space for wheelchair users.

Water bowls for dogs are available in the Visitor Centre courtyard, and these picnic tables also have carabiner clasps to attach dog leads to.

The Courtyard has a gravelled centre circled by a wide block-paved walkway and picnic benches.

Oak Leaf play area

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 3000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1230mm wide.

The Oak Leaf play area is suitable for toddlers upwards and has an accessible, flat, hard-stoned path through it. The equipment comprises of mainly wooden structures, with rope elements in a contrasting blue rope. This area has numerous benches, with good visibility of the equipment.

Tree House play area

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 3000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 3000mm wide.

The Tree House play area is based out in the wood and is suitable for children aged 6 upwards. This site is not particularly accessible due to being towards the bottom of a fairly steep hill. It is a multi piece of equipment with many elements being quite high off the ground. There are picnic benches around the edge of the play equipment, with loose wood chip underneath them.

Family Cycle trail

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 3000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 3000mm wide.

The family cycle trail is 5 miles long and is a green grade, wide, smooth ride with a few steep hills. There are 7 blue grade taster loops along it, to help advance cyclists’ technical skills.

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We have a hearing loop in Visitor Centre Atrium.

The nearest toilet area for assistance dogs is whatever the nearest green area is.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

All staff have disability awareness training.

Some staff have BSL training.