Shropshire
IN AND AROUND IRONBRIDGE WITH A WHEELCHAIR
The Ironbridge
Ironbridge is a world heritage site in Shropshire and offers a variety of attractions. It is set in the Severn Valley near Telford. As well as having ten museums in the Ironbridge Gorge and the famous Iron Bridge, there are a variety of small shops and cafes some of which are accessible. The majority of the museums are wheelchair friendly but because certain areas are not accessible, the entrance fee to them is halved for wheelchair users and attendants. A passport ticket is available allowing you to visit each museum at your leisure and is cheaper than individual ticket prices.
For accessible places to stay in the area please scroll to the bottom of the page and for a wider accommodation search for other areas of Shropshire and the UK click here.
The Grocers shop in Blists Hill Victorian Town
Blists Hill museum is not completely accessible but there is plenty for wheelchair users to see and do. It is a fascinating insight into the Victorian age, some places such as the bank (where you can change modern currency into old money) have wheelchair access at the side. There is a disabled toilet on site and also a cafe which is accessible.
Another museum to feature on the passport is Coalport China, there is a special disabled entrance to part of it through gates pictured at the side of the main entrance. There is a 'hands on' workshop where you can make and paint with clay.
An attractive iron sculpture in the museum
I can also recommend visiting the Museum of Iron. It is housed in the Great Warehouse opposite the old furnace that produced cheap cast iron products. It displays a huge range of iron products that were made locally by the Darby family. There is a small cafe, shop and disabled toilets on site.
One of the many exhibits at Enginuity
Also on the site is the Enginuity experience which is an interactive centre for children and the young at heart. It would take at least a couple of days to visit all the museums on the passport.
Ropewalk Meadow
There are several wheelchair suitable paths in Ironbridge , firstly Dale End Park situated next door to the Merrythought museum and factory. If you take the path at the river end of the car park, the path is level and easy to negotiate. It goes along beside the River Severn through pleasant parkland. Near the Museum of Iron is Coalbrookdale Pool, there is a newly laid accessible path around the pool. At the end of which the path leads on to a boardwalk that follows the stream that feeds the pool. Further up the hill from here is the Ropewalk Meadow, a site managed by the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust. To access this you will need to obtain a key to the gate from their office in Ironbridge tel: 01952 433880. Once through the gate the path goes along beside a meadow overlooking a wooded valley. You may need assistance, as the path is grassed over in places and goes up a long gradient.
The Maxwell Cherry Garden in Telford Town Park
Nearby is Telford Town Centre which has easy access to its shopping complex, disabled toilets and the adjacent town park. The park has several lakes and many of its pathways are suitable for wheelchairs, it covers a very large area. As some of the inclines on the paths are quite steep you may need a strong assistant to help push. The garden shown above has steps in the middle section but wheelchair users can see each half by using both entrances ( NB. The one near the bandstand has a shallow step). There are two wheelchair accessible picnic tables adjacent to the garden entrance near the lake.
Apley Castle Park
Apley Castle Park is situated to the north of the town centre just off the A5223. Take the turning signposted to Garden Centre and the car park is at the far end of the lane. If you take the right hand path there is a good circular route around the woodland. It maybe muddy during wet weather but the path is level with a reasonable surface. There is another path through a different opening on the left hand side of the car park entrance, this leads down to Apley Pool. Although the path narrows, it is negotiable by wheelchair with an able assistant to help push.
Hoo Farm
Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom is on the outskirts of Telford at Preston-on-the-Weald Moors, signposted off the A442. The site has level access throughout although some of the paths are gravelled and you might need assistance from someone pushing. There is a lot to see and do, with events such as sheep racing and animals to pet and feed. There are a lot of paths some going through woodland in part of which is 'Hoollee Town', a magical kingdom inhabited by small furry creatures. Hand washing facilities at various locations around the site (essential after petting the animals) are at a suitable height for wheelchair users. There is a gift shop, a cafe that is open weekends and school holidays and a disabled toilet.
Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
Approximately ten miles east from Ironbridge is the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford and there is excellent access throughout and disabled toilets. There is a restaurant serving meals as well as light snacks. Some of the staff have worked with aircraft all their lives including service in World War Two and are only too willing to share their knowledge with you. It's advisable to allow at least half a day for your visit as there is plenty to see. There are wheelchairs and scooters for hire near the entrance.
A view from the galleried landing in the new Cold War exhibit.
New for 2007 is a large purpose built hangar displaying the Cold War exhibition. This has good access throughout including the lift that gives access down to the lower floor and up to the viewing platform.
Springtime at Albrighton Moat
Albrighton Moat and Gardens is about a couple of miles further along the A41 towards Wolverhampton from Cosford. There is a brown sign pointing to a left hand turn on a bend, which is easily missed if you are not looking out for it. It is a centre set around an ancient scheduled moat and has especially been designed for disabled visitors. There are fishing and leisure facilities as well as picnic areas. The gardens are divided into thirty five themes including a sensory garden for the visually impaired. There are refreshment facilities, disabled toilets and it has excellent access throughout the site. The moat is stocked with Carp, Roach and Rudd and if you wish to fish, it is necessary to book in advance, tel: 01902 372441. The centre has several wheelchairs to loan please state if you wish to use one when booking.
About ten miles south of Ironbridge is the town of Bridgnorth which has an interesting selection of shops and on certain days a street market. In East Castle street there are the Castle Tea Rooms which has good access for a wheelchair and serves full meals as well as light snacks.
Boarding the train at Bridgnorth
Also in the town is the Severn Valley Railway which has specially adapted carriages for wheelchairs and a disabled toilet on the train. The staff are on hand to offer assistance if required. There is a tearoom with a steeply ramped entrance and a shop at Bridgnorth station.
Inside one of the three accessible carriages the railway now operates
It takes about an hour and a quarter to travel the line from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. There is a three quarter of an hour turn around at Kidderminster during which you can visit the small museum and have a cup of tea in the tea room there, before travelling back to Bridgnorth. It is necessary to contact the railway beforehand to check what time the adapted carriages are running, in order to avoid a long wait. There is disabled parking immediately outside the station ticket office.
The simulation of the trains 'steaming up'
The latest addition to the Severn Valley Railway is the new Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley. This can be reached from Highley station but please note until 2009 access for wheelchair users is via a very steep ramp at the end of the platform and across a crossing point on the line. The station staff will be pleased to assist you to negotiate this if requested.
I always wanted to be an engine driver
The new facility is excellent and access to the exhibits is really good for those with limited mobility. Unlike many similar exhibitions visitors are encouraged to indulge in touching the trains which makes it excellent for those with visual impairment. Access to the cafe which serves meals and light snacks and also has an outside viewing area is via a lift to the first floor. There are several video shows in the centre but please note that the one at the far end of the centre has a display of fast moving images between showings and for those who might have a problem with this it would be best to wait away from the area until the commentary starts. The designated toilet is on the ground floor and there is also a small shop on site. Please check out their website for opening times.
Stanmore Country Park
Stanmore Country Park is reached by taking the A458 out of Bridgnorth towards Stourbridge and turning left at the 3rd roundabout, where it is signposted off to the right. It is sited on an disused RAF airfield and is level throughout and particularly suitable for wheelchairs. The paths have hard surfaces with benches at regular intervals and there is a good circular route past an RAF memorial garden.
Wroxeter Roman Baths
North of Ironbridge along the Severn Valley lies Wroxeter Roman City the site of ancient Viriconium. Although there is only partial access (at present ) to the site it is well worth a visit. It is essential to have a strong pusher with you. Information about the site is given via hand held audio units and it is possible to see all the site mentioned on the units although sometimes from a different angle. There is a shop and small museum and a disabled toilet. For those with visual impairment it is possible to arrange to access tactile exhibits in the education centre if prior notice is given. There are also braille guides available.
Wroxeter Vineyard
About half a mile further along the same road is Wroxeter Vineyard . It is possible to take a tour of the vineyard with lunch and wine included. Whilst the site is mainly level you may need the assistance of a pusher around parts of it. There is a disabled toilet, a cafe and a shop on site selling their produce.
PLACES TO STAY
Four places to stay in the area that we have found are:-
The Old Rectory
Firstly the Old Rectory, Stirchley, near Telford :- This pleasant and comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation is situated in Stirchley village on the outskirts of Telford close to Ironbridge. The twin bedded room has ample wheelchair turning space and sufficient underneath clearance to allow use of a portable hoist. The furniture can be rearranged to allow right or left hand transfer to the bed. The well proportioned ensuite has a wheel-in shower, good access to the basin and room to side transfer to the toilet. There is ramped access to the property from the adjacent hard surfaced car parking area. Breakfast is served in the rectory dining room. This could be suitable for both accompanied and unaccompanied wheelchair users. contact: Tel: 01952 596308 e.mail Hazelmiller@waitrose.com
The Bulls Head Inn Cottages
Secondly The Bulls Head Inn, Chelmarsh :- This offers one attractive self catering cottage and two comfortable bed and breakfast rooms set in the grounds of a village inn in the peaceful South Shropshire countryside. All three have ramped access and level pathways from the carpark. The self catering cottage has a lounge with wheelchair turning space and a compact kitchen. The double bedroom has right hand transfer to the bed and sufficient underneath clearance for a portable hoist. The en-suite wheel-in shower room allows side transfer to toilet. This could be suitable for an accompanied wheelchair user.
The twin bed and breakfast room has both right and left hand transfer to the divan beds. It has an en-suite wheel-in shower room with room to side transfer to the shower chair and toilet. This could be suitable for both accompanied and unaccompanied wheelchair users.
The double bed and breakfast room has right hand transfer to the bed with sufficient underneath clearance for a portable hoist. It has a compact en-suite wheel-in shower room with turning space in the shower area that allows side transfer to the toilet. Self propelled wheelchair users might need to remove their footrests to access the en-suite facilities. This could be suitable for accompanied wheelchair users.
Breakfast is served in the pleasant conservatory in the inn where guests can also enjoy homemade lunches and evening meals. more info
Tel : 01746 861469
Owl House
Next is The Owl House, Moreton Nr Newport :- This attractive self catering cottage is set in the peaceful countryside of east Shropshire close to the Staffordshire border. Entrance to the property is across slabs from a gravelled drive. There is a well equipped kitchen and a good sized lounge with french doors leading on to a paved patio with a barbecue, table and chairs. There is a shower room with wheel-in shower and toilet (with grab rails and room to side transfer). The twin bedroom has ample turning space and access for either right or left hand transfer. Guests also have use of the heated outdoor swimming pool and extensive gardens. This could be suitable for accompanied wheelchair users.
Tel: 01952 691305
Lastly The Days Inn Motel, junction 4 of the M54 at Shifnal. Contact: e.mail Telford.hotel@welcomebreak.co.uk or Tel: 01952 238400. This motel has several rooms suitable for disabled guests with a wheelchair accessible bathroom that has a low level specially adapted bath with a wide side that some people may be able to transfer to from a wheelchair.
This area of southeast Shropshire offers a variety of attractions that would make a holiday here both varied and interesting.