Accessibility Guide for Hall Hill Farm

Welcome

The farm has been in the Gibson family since 1925 and is over 700 acres in size.

Over the years the farm has won many awards including Outstanding Educational Experience in the Pride of Northumbria tourist board, a finalist in the North East England Tourism awards and attained a prestigious Silver award in 2018 from VisitEngland in the UK National awards.

See the animals, cuddle the rabbits and guinea pigs, tractor and trailer rides, Indoor Soft Play Barn, tearoom, giftshop, Crazy golf, Sheep Racing and puppet shows during school holidays.

We are currently the only Farm Attraction in the North-East of England to hold a Learning Outside the Classroom qualification for education visits (LOtC).

Watch the video: Come and visit our Award Winning Farm

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the car park to:

Play Area

Access with steps

There are steps from the main entrance to:

Playarea - Sandpit Tractor Ride

Hearing

Some staff have disability awareness training.

General

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Hall Hill Farm

Lanchester

DH7 0TA

Travel by public transport

N/A

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Stanley Taxis by calling Consett - 01207 591 000 / Stanley - 01207 230 000 / Durham - 0191 3 06 06 06. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

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 car park to the entrance, there is level access. The path is sloped.

The route is 3000mm wide, or more.

The car park is located at the front of the venue.

Blue Badge parking bay(s) are located either side of the entrance in the car park.

The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance, assistance may be required because there is / are uneven surfaces.

The car park surface is loose compacted chippings.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

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

The path is 3000mm wide, or more.

The path is sloped.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The door is 1250mm wide.

The main door is side hung and manual.

The main entrance is along a tarmac driveway to a purpose built entrance/gift shop.

Entrances / exits doors manually operated (1250mm width), which both open inward

Single Door Opening - 850mm

Double Door Opening - 1250mm

staff are available if assistance is required.

Motorised scooters are allowed.

Getting around inside

Ticket/ information desk

Entrance / Ticket Desk

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

The door is 1250mm wide, or more.

Main entrance is along a tarmac driveway

Entrances / exits doors manually operated (1250mm width), which both open inward

staff are available if assistance is required

Large print daily event leaflet is available

Two manual wheelchairs that can be hired free of charge, these can be booked in advance

One carer is admitted free with each disabled visitor, the normal admission price applies to the disabled person.

Group booking discounts are available for pre-booked groups only.

Entrance / Giftshop Counter heigh - 870mm

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

We have display information in: large print.

Chick Barn

There is a permanent ramp. The route is 3000mm wide, or more. The door is 1000mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Manually operated (1250mm width), which opens inward

No chairs are permanently fixed

There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre aound lower level, upper level is accessed by a step, but only seating in this area.

staff are available if assistance is required

Rabbit Barn

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

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

No chairs are permanently fixed

There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre

Puppet Show Barn

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

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Polytunnel 1 & 2

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more. The door is 3000mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Pathways consits of loose chippings.

Outdoor Play-Area

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more. The door is 1100mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

The play area is accessed via gravel paths and is situated on a large grassed area

access to the grassed areas may be difficult in wet weather

The surface under the play equipment is covered in bark for added protection

Picnic Tables

Single Gate - (W)1100mm

Double Gate - (W)1900mm

There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre

Pathways consits of loose chippings.

Playarea - Sandpit

From the main entrance to this area, there is 1 step. There is no lift and no ramp.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Entrance Step Height - 15cm

Access to the grassed areas may be difficult in wet weather

Indoor Soft-Play

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more. The door is 3000mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Accessed vis ia gravel paths and ramped access

The main doors opens by sliding (2 x 1500mm = (W)3000mm)

Coffee and Hot Chocolate are available from a self-service coffe machine located beside the counter, a small counter service is available most weekends and during school holidays, for the sale of crisps, biscuits and ice cream.

Toilets including a disabled toilet and Baby Changing facility

The Playbarn cafe is located immedialey to the right of the entrance

Full table service is not available

Food or drinks are ordered from the service counter (H)900mm)

Food or drinks can be brought to the table

No tables are permanently fixed

No chairs are permanently fixed

The standard height for tables is 750mm

Menus are wall only

Menus are clearly written

The type of food served here is snacks.

There are sinks to the left as you enter the Soft Play Barn

The height of the sinks are 690mm

10 x Highchairs

39 x Tables

156 x Chairs (Min)

Door to the toilet area is (W)800mm

Bouncy Pillows

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1600mm wide, or more. The door is 1200mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

External Attraction - Closed during Wet periods for Safety

Easy and medium slopes on the pathways

Pathways are mainly loose chippings at entrance then rubber chippings once inside, access to the bottom pillow is by loose rubber chippings.

Tractor Ride

From the main entrance to this area, there are 4 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Last approx 10 minutes

Four steep steps up into the back of the trailer with a metal upright rail on the left side of the entrance to act as a support (heights = Step 1 – 31cm (Ground), Step 2 – 23cm, Step 3 – 23cm, Step 4 - 22cm (Top).

The tractor & trailer ride is not accessible for wheelchair users

The tractor driver will be available to assist any visitors if required

Water Wars

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2000mm wide, or more. The door is 1100mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

A gravel path runs for approximately (L)7000mm from the entrance slightly upwards to the main entrance

Please note that this area can be extremely boggy due to the nature of the weather and the activity itself, contact a member of staff for assistance if required

Crazy Golf

There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more. The door is 2200mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

A gravel path runs for approximately 2000mm from the entrance down a slight decline into the main arena which is covered in loose bark chippings

The crazy golf course is not accessible for wheelchair user due to the barkchip surface around the equipment

The Arc

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more. The door is 950mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

The pathways are mainly loose chippings

Animal Paddocks

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

There are easy and medium slopes on the pathways around the farm

The pathways are mainly loose chippings

There is onlay a grass path to access the larger animals paddocks

Highland Cow viewing platform is only accessible by steps (x8)

Barrel Train Ride - Cost £

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more. The door is 1300mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

There is a grass path on route to the larger animals enclosure & ride location

Sledge Activity

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more.

A gravel path runs for approximately (L)3000mm from the entrance slightly upwards to the activity, a wooden ramp is use to acces the starting area.

The finish area is predominantly bark chip for safety with straw bales as extra barriers for this activity, exit path is gravel.

Cliff Face Challenge - Traversing Wall

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 2200mm wide, or more.

A gravel path runs for approximately (L)10000mm from the entrance slightly upwards to the activity starting area.

The activity area is predominantly bark chip for activity safety, 1st exit is via a bridge over the sledging area back to a gravel path, this Exit it not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility - please use the 2nd entrance path as alternative exit if required.

There are six steep steps from the exit bridge (heights = Step 1 (Top) – approx 250mm, Step 2 – 270mm, Step 3 – 240mm, Step 4 – 240mm, Step 5 – 270mm, Step 6 (Bottom) – 160mm / Step width is 300mm).

Jeep Ride - Cost £

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1200mm wide, or more.

Entance to Jeep ride along a gravel path.

Note: Children under 6yrs are required to be accompanied by an adult driver, Minimum Age 3yrs.

Public toilet

Farmyard Toilets / Baby Changing

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The toilet door is 850mm wide.

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

There is 600mm at the side of the toilet. There is 750mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 520mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Baby Change area (L)2200mm x (W)1700mm)

Baby Changing counter (H)930mm

Sink

No Toilet in Baby Change

Public toilet

Playbarn Toilets / Disabled Toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 1500mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 850mm wide.

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

There is 600mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1500mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 520mm high. The toilets have handrails.

External Door entrance - (W)800mm

Internal entrance from playbarn - (W)850mm

Public toilet

Toilet Block - Farmyard

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a portable ramp.

The route is 950mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 850mm wide.

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

There is 600mm at the side of the toilet. There is 2100mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 470mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Shop

Gift Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The door is 1250mm wide.

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

Built on a level surface with entrances / exits doors manually operated (W)1250wm, which both open inward

Staff are available if assistance is required

Place to eat and drink

Tea Room (Farmyard)

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The door is 1150mm 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) and nut free specific diets.

There are two manual doors into the teashop (front & rear), the rear entrance also has 1 manual internal door to gain access into the seating area.

Front and rear entrances have permanent access ramps and are accompanied by handrails, the edges of the steps are highlighted with yellow markings to make the identifiable.

Tables and chairs (no arms) are moveable so wheelchairs users can use the tables, we currently have 5 highchairs that are available for public use.

The teashop provides a range of light lunches (hot & cold), snacks, cakes and various beverages, staff can assist carrying purchases to tables.

We are able to cater for special dietary requirements, please ensure staff are aware of this prior to ordering your food along with any allergies.

Getting around outside

Play Area

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

The play area is accessed by gravel paths and is situated on a large grassed area in between the farmyard and the paddocks, access to the grassed areas may be difficult in wet weather. The surface under the play equipment is covered in cushion bark for added protection. Located around the outside of the play area are the picnic tables which during hot weather may be fitted with parasols, although not all tables have this facility.

Walkways

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

Large parts of the attraction are outdoors. Grounds are mainly on a flat level surface, however in places there are slight slopes. The surface in the main farmyard is tarmac, gravel paths lead to the other areas of the farm, except the outdoor animal paddocks which are grass and maybe difficult to access in wet and muddy conditions. Benches and seats can be found in various locations around the site.

Gravel Path to the Sheep Race/Tractor Ride & The Ark

Gravel Path to The Paddocks/Crazy Golf & Bouncy Pillows

Customer care support

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

Area below the carpark at the entrance to the attraction.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have information in large print.

10.30am - 5.00pm (March / April / May / June / July / August / September / October)

10.30am - 4.00pm (December / February / March)

Registered Assistance Dogs

If you'd like to bring your Registered Assistance Dog, that is no problem at all, Please make sure your dog is on the lead and under control at all times and that doesn't foul the pathways. If any of our animals' behaviour is affected by the presence of your dog, we may have to ask you to move away from that animal, this is just to make sure your dog and the farm animals alike are safe and happy.