Accessibility Guide for The Pig Shed

Welcome

The Pig Shed is a stylish eco-friendly self catering studio for two people carrying the Gold award from Green Tourism. It is attached to Burnside Cottage B&B (the b&b has two suites which can accommodate up to 6 people).

It is situated 800m off the North Coast 500 route, a 10 minute drive to John O'Groats & a couple of minutes from the Gills Bay Orkney ferry. It has views out over our gardens, with open countryside & Orkney beyond.

The property & car park are all on one level & is dog friendly.

We welcome any enquires from guests with disabilities so we can discuss their needs and make all reasonable attempts will be made to meet these.

Image is of the exterior of The Pig Shed. It shows the entrance, along with the b&b entrance and shared driveway & car park.

Level access

The main entrance has level access. The ramp is permanent.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

The Pig Shed self catering studio lounge area The Pig Shed self catering kitchen (within studio flat)The Pig Shed Self Catering Bathroom Smoking area & picnic bench

Access with steps

There are steps from the main entrance to:

Burnside Cottage & The Pig Shed communal gardens & car park

Bedrooms

We have non-allergic bedding.

Level access bedrooms

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

Hearing

The (bedroom) TVs have subtitles.

Some staff have disability awareness training.

General

Staff are available 24 hours a day.

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.

Burnside Cottage, Gills,

Canisbay

Wick

KW1 4YB

Travel by public transport

You can get to The Pig Shed by bus, train and boat or ferry.

There is a bus stop 800m from the property on the a836. There is however, no footpath to The Pig Shed. The road is uneven and can be difficult for those with disabilities. The Gills Bay / Pentland ferry terminal is 1.25 miles away. There are train stations in Thurso (15miles) & Wick (17.6 miles). Bus &/or taxi service available. The bus stop is 0.5 miles / 0.8 km from The Pig Shed.

The nearest train station is Thurso. The train station is 15 miles / 24.2 km from The Pig Shed.

The nearest port is Gills Bay / Pentland Ferries. The port is 1 miles / 1.6 km from The Pig Shed.

Pentland Ferries travels between Gills Bay & St Margarets Hope on Orkney. It is a short 1.25mile drive or a 25 minute walk from The Pig Shed (although there is no footpath and so can be difficult for those with mobility issues).

The bus service from Thurso & Wick can be irregular however taxi's are always available from both towns.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Triple S Taxi by calling 01955 611749. You can get a taxi with Caithness Cabs by calling 01847 895677. You can get a taxi with Meiklejohn Taxis Ltd by calling 01847 892827.

Due to being just a husband & wife team we do not have the capacity to offer a transfer service to visitors

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. 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 1050mm wide, or more.

The Pig Shed shares a car park with Burnside Cottage B&B but it has its own allocated parking space right next to the entrance.

Image is of the exterior of The Pig Shed & shows the shared car park and the allocated parking space next to the entrance

Image is of The Pig Shed doorway, with door opening onto hall way with bathroom beyond

Image is of the exterior rubber door mat and threshold ramp leading into The Pig Shed hallway

Arrival

Path to main entrance

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

The path is 1050mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

There is a permanent ramp.

The door is 710mm wide.

The main door is side hung and manual.

When you arrive, we can help carry your luggage.

The road to Burnside Cottage B&B + The Pig Shed does not have a path. The car park & path, from allocated parking space, to the entrance door way is all level. The threshold plate fitted to the doorframe has a small ramp. There is a very small drop between this small access ramp and the path which is filled with a rubber mat.

Burnside Cottage B&B + The Pig Shed is run by a husband & wife team (Stephen & Kacey George). They live on site and can help with luggage unless they are otherwise engaged (this is rare). If help is needed with baggage, this can be arranged before arrival.

Getting around inside

Bedrooms

All bedrooms have windows.

Bedrooms have ceiling lights, bedside lamps, desk or table lamps and natural daylight.

Lights are LED. TVs have subtitles.

All bedrooms are non-smoking.

We have non-allergic bedding.

No bedrooms have fitted carpets.

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

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

Image is a partial view of the lounge & kitchen looking towards the internal door to the accommodation

Image is of the lounge & dining area leading onto the sleeping area (taken from the sink)

Image is of a partial view of the dining and kitchen area (taken from one of the comfy chairs)

Image is of a partial view of the comfy seating and kitchen areas taken from the bed

Image is a partial view of the bed and walkway to living area of the studio flat

Image is of a partial view of the bedroom and bed and shows the dressing table and wardrobe

Image is of the bed and space around it with large window looking out onto the garden beyond

Image is of the inside of the bathroom, taken from the toilet/shower end and looking to doorway

Image is ok the bathroom showing shower cubicle, toilet and sink (taken from doorway)

Self catering kitchen

The Pig Shed self catering kitchen (within studio flat)

We have an open plan kitchen.

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

The route is 710mm wide, or more.

The door is 710mm 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.

All worktops, hob, microwave/combi oven & sink is at 900mm. There is no seperate oven within the studio. There are 3 doors to/within The Pig Shed; a main entrance door leading to a hallway, off the hallway are 2 further doors. One to the bathroom and one to the studio living/sleeping space.

Lounge

The Pig Shed self catering studio lounge area

From the main entrance to the lounge, there is level access. The route is 710mm wide, or more. The door is 710mm wide.

The living & sleeping space are all within one large 'studio' space. The hallway is spacious with all doors being 710mm.

The Pig Shed Self Catering Bathroom

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 710mm wide, or more.

The door is 710mm wide.

The bathroom is off the hallway - the doorways are all 710mm

Getting around outside

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

The property, carpark and gardens are all on the same level expcept there is a 65mm lip/step onto the grassed area

Terrace

Smoking area & picnic bench

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 710mm wide, or more.

The entrance is 2000mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The Pig Shed entrance / exit leads out onto the communal car park. to the left is the entrance to the b&b and beyond that there is a picnic bench near a wall mounted ashtray. To the right is the gravelled driveway and grassed area with pampas grass, a carved owl and views out over open farmland and Orkney beyond. Straight ahead is a graveled area with tractor tyre planters.

There are 3 parking spaces, one next to The Pig Shed is allocated to it, with two others for the b&b.

The exterior and door to The Pig Shed with driveway and part of carpark. Bench sits between the 2 planters but not pictured

Partial view of car park looking towards The Pig Shed door

The lawned area surrounded by wild borders, with 2 pampas grasses and owl carving

View of the graveled area with tractor tyre planters, with partial carpark to right and entrance gates and lawn beyond

Customer care support

Burnside Cottage B&B + The Pig Shed are fully dog friendly. There is a red dog waste bin located between the entrance to the self catering studio and the b&b. All dogs are able to use both the lawn or graveled area to toilet.

We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.

We have an external electricity point between the b&b entrance and the bench/smoking area that can be used weather permitting. We also have 4 private garages with power where we are happy to charge equipment if needed.

Image is of the graveled area, with a partial view of the car par and lawned area beyond

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

We only have 2 b&b suites and the self catering studio (which is attached to the b&b via a connecting locked door). Our fire safety plan is designed to ensure that all guests can be safely evacuated in the event of a fire.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Staff are available 24 hours a day.

Burnside Cottage B&B + The Pig Shed is operated by a husband & wife team (Kacey & Stephen) who live on site. Kacey's proffessional history before purchasing the business was in Adult Mental Health, Childrens Homes, Childrens Social Care & Secondary Schools. Within all of these areas she has undertaken disability awareness training.