Welcome
Coombes Valley is situated near to the village of Bradnop, Leek, Staffordshire. It is a woodland site within a steep sided valley home to pied flycatchers, redstart, wood warblers, argent & sable moth and much more.

Level access
There is level access from the car park to:
Picnic AreaHearing
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
The nearest railway station, Stoke on Trent, is 12 miles (19 km) away and has a taxi rank
Travel by taxi
Parking
accessible spaces are avaialable closer to the visitor centre, however the main portion of the car park is down a slight slope.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
Entrance to the reserve brings you into the car park. The car park is on a slight gradient, is level and has a gravel surface.
You may wish to visit the information centre.
The entrance to the information centre is flat and level with no steps to negotiate.
The entrance door is left open during opening times and is 5'3" (1600mm) wide, with a small threshold of 45mm.

Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Visitor Centre
The visitor information centre has a 45mm threshold. Entreing the centre is not essential for using the reserve.
The information centre is situated on the left of the main entrance and at the top of the main car park.
The information centre is a well lit small room on the ground floor with one flat and level entrance and a level tiled floor
1 coffee table with 4 wooden seats is located within the information centre and one large bench on a level viewing area is available immediately outside the information centre
Within the information centre is a viewing window onto a collection of bird feeders, two steps lead up to the viewing window for children to access them. Binoculars are available for the viewing window and available to hire for £1.
A nest box camera operates during spring time.
Events posters, recent sightings and a map of the reserve are displayed in the information centre
A sensory board with feely boxes and audio of birds is mounted on the wall of the visitor centre
Trails are described on the information board outside the information centre and in trail guides

Public toilet
Coombes Valley Reserve Toilets
Two ladies toilets are available with a sanitary bin in each.
Two hand washing basins and hand dryer are available in the ladies toilets
One gentleman's toilet is available with 2 additional urinals
Two hand washing basins and hand dryer are available in the gentleman's toilets
A step for children to use the hand washing basin is available in each toilet
To access the main toilet block there is one short step
An accessible toilet with ramp and handrail is 10m from the information centre, this toilet is locked but is accessed via a radar key which can be obtained from a staff member
The accessible toilet door is 3ft (910mm) wide and has horizontal and vertical handrails. The space next to the accessible toilet is 2ft (610mm wide) and is on the right hand side of the toilet. The accessible toilet is 19" (470mm) from the floor. The handrail to the side of the toilet lifts.
Vertical handrails are on either side of the hand washing basin with a lever tap
A red alarm cord is situated in the accessible toilet in case of emergencies
Baby changing facilities are available in the accessible toilet
All toilets are well lit


Getting around outside
Designated Walking Trail
Family Nature Play Trail
The family natural play trail (0.8km long), accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs, has lots of activities for families along the way including a canopy walkway, den building, fairy house village, mud kitchen and much more.
Designated Walking Trail
Valley Woodland Loop
The Valley Woodland loop (2.6km long) takes you through meadows and woodland past Clough Meadow Cottage. There are a small number of gates and stiles on this route.
the path can be uneven, steep and muddy in places

Designated Walking Trail
Woodcock Trail
The longest loop, the woodcock trail, (5.2km long) takes you into the heart of the reserve into the wilder woodland habitat. There are a small number of gates and stiles on this route.
This route is steep, uneven, and muddy in places.

Picnic Area
Picnic Area
A picnic area is available next to the main car park
It contains 3 benches, 2 of which can be used by wheelchair users
It also contains a mud kitchen
Visitors can bring their own food and drink to site

Viewing Platform
There is a level and even viewing platform immediately outside the information centre with a bench and good view of the valley and bird feeders
Customer care support
Accessibility equipment
Emergency evacuation procedures
disabled visitors should follow the site's standard emergency evacuation procedures.
Customer care support