Accessibility Guide for Seabirds-and-Seals

Welcome

Seabirds-and-Seals offers you the ultimate wildlife experience on our 5-Star daily tours. We run daily trips around Bressay & Noss National Nature Reserve from April through to October. You will get to enjoy Shetland's abundant Seabirds & Seals and the views are spectacular, giving you fantastic photographic opportunities with the awesome Noss cliffs in the background.

We are partially accessible for wheelchair users and can cater for anyone with other specific access requirements.

Please get in touch if you require any further information about specific access or need advice on planning your tour with us.

Watch the video: Trip Around Bressay & Nos With 4-Star Seabirds-and-Seals

Seabird At Departure Location - Victoria Pier

Level access

The main entrance has level access. There is a portable ramp.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Tourist Information Centre Viewing Platform

There is level access from the car park to:

Picnic Area

We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Access with steps

There are steps from the main entrance to:

Indoor Heated Saloon Toilet onboard Seabird

Hearing

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

We have display information in braille.

There is audio descriptive commentary and headsets.

We have information in audio and braille.

General

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.

Victoria Pier

Lerwick

Shetland

ZE1 0EL

Travel by public transport

You can get to Seabirds-and-Seals by bus and boat or ferry.

Esplanade Lerwick The bus stop is 0.1 miles / 0.2 km from Seabirds-and-Seals.

The nearest port is Holmsgarth, Lerwick Shetland. The port is 2 miles / 3.2 km from Seabirds-and-Seals.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Allied Taxis by calling 01595 690069. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Parking

There is parking near the venue. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not 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. There is a permanent ramp.

The path is sloped.

The route is 3000mm wide, or more.

The parking is all on even level, but if you look at photo showing arrow to cark park and arrow to slipway where our tours depart from - you will see that there is a small slope, easily accessible for wheelchairs and we assist you if required.

Victoria Pier Carpark & Slipway to right of taxis where tours depart from - has small slope

Arrival

Path to main entrance

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

There is a portable ramp.

The path is 3000mm wide, or more.

The path is sloped.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

There is a portable ramp.

The ramp is on even level with Victoria Pier Slipway where our tours depart from.

Watch the video: Watch this video to give you an insight to Seabirds-and-Seals 3-hour daily trips around Bressay & Noss on-board their Catamaran

Getting around inside

Ticket/ information desk

Tourist Information Centre

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 800mm wide, or more.

The door is 1000mm wide, or more.

The desk has a low section.

Things to See and Do

We have display information in: braille.

Indoor Heated Saloon

There is a portable ramp. 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.

The passage leading to the inside heated saloon and door - not wide enough for wheelchairs, therefore wheelchair users must be able to get out of the wheelchair if planning to use the indoor heated saloon. There is not a step as such - a very small thresh-hold. The wheelchair can be parked not too far away from the door of the saloon, so the walking distance is minimal.

We trialled a hearing loop system but didn't work, too much background noise. I stead we have individual headsets/handsets so that everyone onboard can hearing what the guide is saying. This is an ideal system for anyone who is hard of hearing.

Spectator/ Audience viewing areas

There are stewards to help disabled visitors.

There are specific stewards to help disabled visitors.

There is audio descriptive commentary.

There are headsets if required.

You can listen to audio commentary in all of the venue.

We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Outside Viewing Area

From the main entrance to the viewing area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The route is 800 wide, or more. The wheelchair spaces are sheltered. Personal assistants and friends can sit with wheelchair users.

Stewards can bring food and drink to wheelchair users.

We provide hot drinks and a selection of biscuits on our tours and happy to bring this to anyone that requires assistance. We carry gluten-free options, but do let us know when booking if you have any other dietary requirements.

Public toilet

Toilet onboard Seabird

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

The passage leading to the toilet and door - not wide enough for wheelchairs, therefore wheelchair users must be able to get out of the wheelchair to use the toilet. There is not a step as such - a very small thresh-hold. The wheelchair can be parked not too far away from the door of the toilet, so the walking distance is minimal.

Getting around outside

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

Viewing Platform

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The route is 800mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1000mm wide.

There is only a ramp from pier to boat, there are no ramps on the viewing platform, all even level.

Customer care support

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

We work in collaboration with a local charity called 'Ability Shetland' - if you require access to a wheelchair or any other equipment, please let us know when making your booking.

We trialled a hearing loop system but it did not work due to background noise. Instead we have individual headsets/headsets for each individual passenger so that everyone can hear what their guide is saying. This system is ideal for anyone who is hard of hearing.

You can hire mobility equipment from Ability Shetland by calling +44 (0)1595 743922.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have information in audio and braille.

Identification charts in different languages

Our Seabird and Cetecean identification charts are available in braille format.

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

We work in collaboration with a lot val charity called Ability Shetland, who can provide wheelchairs or any other accessibility aids. We can communicate with them on your behalf and collect any items which is provided/delivered free of charge.