Accessibility Guide for Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

Travel by public transport

The bus stop is approx 650m from the main entrance to the park. It is then approx 1 mile / 1.6km from the entrance to the Visitor Centre.

Travel by taxi

There is a 15min drop off time for all cars without charge (excludes coaches and minibuses).

Parking

There are 13 accessible parking spaces.

If your vehicle is exempt from road tax due to disability reasons, that vehicle may park for free. To have your parking validated simply come to the Information Point in the Visitor Centre with your registration number and blue badge along with one of the following: V5 vehicle registration document,  Enhanced PIP certificate, Certificate of entitlement (in the form of Certificate of Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance, An Annual Certificate of Entitlement or a DLA 404 Certificate). You must be visiting in the car that the tax exemption applies to, for the free parking to apply. 

Path to main entrance

Main entrance

Ticket/ information desk

Information Point in Visitor Centre

Lower desk area is 830mm high.
Building is an 18th century barn with flagstone flooring.

Things to See and Do

Moors Valley Railway

Enjoy a ride on an authentic steam train at the Moors Valley Railway along the banks of the Moors Lake, around the play area. A return journey covers one mile and will take about 20 minutes.

At Kingsmere station you can visit the model railway shop and the railway buffet for drinks and snacks.

Seats on the railway carriages must be straddled. Staff are on hand to assist someone in and out of a railway carriage. Please speak to the railway direct to find out about the suitability of the carriages (01425 471415) but unfortunately the railway cannot accommodate a wheelchair. Steam locomotives emit smoke, steam and ash and also have loud whistles.

Public toilet

Changing Places toilet at Visitor Centre

The Changing Places toilet has a tracking hoist system (Safe Working Load is 200kg / 440lbs maximum) and height adjustable changing bed. A RADAR key is required for the Changing Places standard toilet, please ask staff at the Information Point for a loan key if you do not have your own.
At the Visitor Centre there is also an Ambulant Disabled toilet and a large family toilet.
Additional accessible toilets can be found at Kingsmere Station.

Shop

Visitor Centre Gift Shop

Place to eat and drink

Seasons Restaurant

Nut free dishes available but prepared in a kitchen which handles nuts.

Dogs, other than assistance dogs, are not permitted in the main restaurant area, however there are a few tables nearer the front doors where visitors may sit with well-behaved dogs. Alternatively, a gated dog park is located just outside the restaurant doors at the front of the Visitor Centre.
Picnic tables are also provided for restaurant customers on the patio behind the Visitor Centre and dogs on leads are welcome in this area; water bowls are provided.

Play Trail

Clearly waymarked by fingerposts and with 10 unique wooden play sculptures along the route, the Play Trail is a favourite with families. The trail follows unsurfaced forest tracks so there can be uneven sections and exposed tree roots in places, so if you have anything other than an all-terrain mobility scooter please ask a Ranger for suitability. The optional extra route takes you to the Tree Top Trail which is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters, however these can follow the connecting path on the ground. Picnic tables are provided along the route.

Designated Walking Trail

Lake and Riverside Walk

A fairly flat tarmac path around Moors Lake with plenty of resting places along the route. There is however one short steep rise and fall over the railway (1:4 and 1:5 gradient) which might be difficult in a low powered mobility scooter or manual wheelchair. A handrail is provided on this section. Toilets at the Kingsmere Railway Station can be found half way along the route. Waymarked with round posts with brown bands. A more detailed accessibility map is available for this route.

Picnic Area

Lakeside Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Forest picnic area

Adventure Play Areas

Entrance to the Junior play area is down a farily steep slope. The surface in the play area is entirely loose woodchip. Access to the Infants play area is either through the Junior play area and underneath the railway bridge (down and up a slope) or via a step footbridge over the railway line from the lakeside picnic area. The surface in the Infants play area is loose sand with a smooth rubber wetpore footpath and seating around the edge.

A conventional wheelchair is available to borrow (£10 deposit required).  It can be booked in advance to avoid disappointment, using our online booking system or by phoning the Rangers on 01425 470721.

A Crossfire all-terrain manual wheelchair is also available (pre-booking recommended and £10 deposit required). This wheelchair is suitable for the dirt and gravel tracks around the park. It can be used by one person or with an assistant. If you are used to a more conventional wheelchair you will find it more likely to tip over (forwards or backwards) if your weight is in the wrong place.

Please contact the Rangers before booking if you would like advice on which would be most suitable for your use. Maximum weight 113kg / 17 stone.

Two ‘Tramper’ mobility scooters are also available to hire as part of the South West Countryside Mobility Scheme. Information about the Countryside Mobility Scheme including details of how to join and membership fees can be found on the Moors Valley website.

Emergency evacuation procedures

Customer care support

A Visual Story designed as a guide for visitors with autism is available from the Moors Valley website.

A fleet of adaptive bikes, including hand powered bikes are available to use at Moors Valley during Accessible Cycling sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Please enquire for details.