Wales
These pages which are being updated during 2010 are now almost complete. However until they are also reviewed we strongly advise you to check with the following attraction providers included for more current information :- Boddelwyddan Castle, RSPB Conwy and the Electric Mountain.
IN AND AROUND LLANDUDNO WITH A WHEELCHAIR
A view from the promenade looking towards the pier and the Great Orme
LLandudno is situated on the North Wales Coast between Colwyn Bay and Conwy, the bustling town has many accessible shops, a pier and a very long promenade, all of which are on level ground.
The Pier at Llandudno
The present pier was built in 1877 and extended along the shoreline over the following six years until it reached 2,295 feet in length, making it the longest pier in Wales.
A view looking across at the Happy Valley Pleasure Gardens from the pier
The pier has good accessibility and there is plenty to see and do including a variety of small shops, fairground stalls, an amusement arcade and a cafe.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here.
Venue Cymru Theatre
The theatre which has a packed programme of plays and concerts throughout the year is located a little further along the promenade. It has its own car park and easy access entrance located off of Adelphi Street.
A display in the main foyer
There 8 designated spaces for wheelchair users within the theatre with a good view of the stage and adjacent seating for carers/companions.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
The Home Front Experience Exhibition
The Home Front Experience is located within wheeling distance of the promenade and is well worth a visit. It is housed in a building that has level access throughout and it holds a large and very comprehensive collection of World War Two memorabilia.
Just one of the many displays of artefacts
The exhibition gves visitors a unique insight into life for people living in Britain during the war years through a variety of displays including replica shops and rooms in peoples homes.
For more detailed accessibility info and a link to their website please click here
The Great Orme
The towns main attraction is that it nestles beneath The Great Orme, a large rocky headland, that can be accessed from a scenic toll road adjacent to the pier. The Great Orme is a country park with its own unique flora and fauna and the views from the summit car park are spectacular.
One of the displays in the exhibition
The visitor centre has good access throughout an a visual/audio commentary about the park, a gift shop and designated toilet facilities.
Also located at the summit is a complex with a shop, restaurant and bar however please note that the access up to these is quite steep and manual wheelchair users might require some able assistance.
For more detailed accessibility info and a link to their website please click here
Rhos-on-Sea harbour
There are other seaside resorts within easy reach eg Rhyl and Caernarfon. One which is nearby is Rhos-on-Sea, that has a small harbour, shops and a variety of accessible cafes and restaurants. Access to the small visitor information centre which also contains a shop is via a ramp.
Part of the promenade
There is an excellent and accessible promenade that runs approximately 3 miles from the old pier in Rhos-on-Sea as far as Penrhyn Bay.
St Trillos Church
Located on the promenade trail is St Trillo's Church reputedly the smallest church in Britain. St Trillo is a 6th Century Saint who settled in the area of Rhos on Sea.
Seating for only 6 people
The exact age of the building is unknown as it has been rebuilt over the years but the altar is built directly over a pre-Christian well. The church features on Rhos-on-Sea heritage trail.
For more detailed accessibility information about the trail and facilities in Rhos-on-Sea please click here.
A view from the visitor centre at RSPB Conwy
About fifteen minutes from Llandudno is the RSPB nature reserve at Conwy. Leave the A55 at the exit signed to Conwy and the reserve entrance is on the roundabout above the expressway. There are disabled parking spaces in the car park and a level path to the visitor centre. All the hides are wheelchair accessible and there is a disabled toilet on site.
Bodelwyddan Castle
Thirty minutes away by car is Bodelwyddan Castle (an excellent day out) which is home to a large collection of Victorian paintings from The National Portrait Gallery. The castle has rooms furnished and decorated in Victorian elegance and has extensive gardens and grounds. It is possible to reach the second floor by lift and plans are in progress to allow disabled access to the top floor. There is a tea room providing light lunches, as well as a gift shop and a drop off point at the entrance avoiding the steep path from the car park.
St. Margarets Bodelwyddan
Just across the other side of the A55 from the castle is the 19th century marble church of St. Margarets, it contains some of the finest examples of Victorian wood carving in Britain.
This ornate pulpit is just one of the excellent carvings
Interestingly there is a military section in the graveyard where Canadian soldiers, who were camped nearby in the grounds of Kinmel Hall during the first world war, are buried. Sadly they succombed to a serious outbreak of 'Spanish flu' that ravaged the camp.
For more detailed accessibility information, places to stay in the area and a link to their website please click here.
Dyserth Waterfall
Approximately 15 minutes from the church located off the is the village of Dyserth where the waterfall has been a visitor attraction since the 19th century.
For more detailed accessibility info and a link to their website please click here
Marchlyn Mawr the reservoir that feeds the Dinorwig Power Station
Approximately 25 miles from Llandudno in Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon is The Electric Mountain Visitor Centre. There is disabled car parking in the adjacent car park. The centre is fully wheelchair accessible with disabled toilet and a lift to the first floor. There is a shop and a cafe on site. There is a charge for wheelchair users to go on the tour but their carers go free. It is advisable to book the tour beforehand ( 01286 870636 ) as there are limited wheelchair spaces and during times of maintenance checks the accessible bus may not be available. There are two wheelchairs on site available to loan and there is limited on access the bus so electric wheelchair users who can transfer will need to do so in order to be able to take the tour.
The tour starts with a film and then continues with a bus trip ( hydraulic lift ) deep inside Elidir Mountain to view the hydro electric Dinorwig power station. N.B. The tour commentary can be hard to follow if you have a hearing impairment so please advise the guide if you are having difficulty. To download their access statement which has been compiled by a member of staff who is also a wheelchair user click here .
Llandudno would be ideal to use as a base for viewing the picturesque North Wales coastline and the breathtaking mountain scenery of Snowdonia.