Shropshire
IN AND AROUND WHITCHURCH IN A WHEELCHAIR
Whitchurch Town Centre
Whitchurch is one of the main towns in North Shropshire and has an interesting selection of old buildings. In Roman times it was called Mediolanum and the High Street is built over part of Watling Street the main roman road connecting London and Chester. There is a good variety of shops but unfortunately not all of them are accessible. The Heritage Centre that contains the Tourist Information Office houses an exhibition about the local area and its former inhabitants. It is fully accessible via a ramp and there are several adjoining craft shops.
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.
A fine example of a stained glass window at St.Alkmunds
The tower of St.Alkmunds church dominates the town and houses a public clock that is a good example of work by J.B.Joyce. This firm was established in 1690 and they are the oldest clock makers in the world. There are many other examples of their work throughout the town. The church has some beautiful stained glass windows and is an unusual design. It can be accessed by a ramp if this is not in place please ask in the church for assistance. Opposite the church is a small scented garden with a seat.
The staircase locks at Grindley Brook
Grindley Brook is a mile north of Whitchurch on the A41. There are three locks in the staircase and it is fascinating to watch canal boats negotiating this feat of engineering. There is a small cafe/shop with indoor and outdoor seating alongside the canal. There is a fairly steep incline to the top of the locks but having negotiated it, you can wheel along the towpath.
Candle making at The Cheshire Workshops
If you leave Grindley Brook and travel up the A41 towards Chester, turn right at the roundabout onto the A534, there are brown signs to follow to the candle workshops at Burwardsley. It is possible to watch the ancient art of candle making here or even have a go yourself. There are also other crafts such as glass making on show. There is a restaurant and tea rooms on site and disabled toilet facilities.
Hodnet Hall gardens
Taking the A41 south of Whitchurch and then turning onto the A442, Hodnet Hall is situated at the village of Hodnet by the junction with the A53. There are many suitable paths for wheelchair users throughout the beautiful gardens, which extend to over sixty acres. There is a tearoom, a gift shop and plants for sale in the kitchen garden. There is also a disabled toilet. The gardens are now only open for a few days a year please telephone 01630 685786 for opening times.
The Wheelyboat at Dearnford
Dearnford Trout Lake is situated on the outskirts of Whitchurch on the B5476 Wem road. The lake which covers a total of 15 acres is stocked with Rainbow and Brown trout. Access to the lakes edge is excellent and an especially adapted boat from The Wheelyboat Trust is available for wheelchair users. There is an accessible lodge with disabled toilet and showering facilities on site. The lake is no longer open for day tickets but is a private members club please use the contact details on their website for further information. There is an organisation for disabled anglers called The British Disabled Angling Association which offers advice and information and also the Disabled Fly Fishers organisation.
Whixall Moss
Whixall Moss National Nature Reserve is situated near Whixall signposted off of the A495 Whitchurch to Ellesmere road. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty, an SSSI and is home to some rare wildlife including 27 species of dragonfly. There is a track (rough and stony in places) that follows the route of an old disused railway line that runs for approximately 2 miles across the Mosses, it is gated at both ends. It is possible to drive along this, if you park to one side of the track, parts of it are suitable to wheel along to see this beautiful countryside in more detail. Disabled visitors may borrow a key from the NNR site manager at The Manor House Office tel. 01948 880362.
The Tudor House Hotel at Market Drayton
Market Drayton lies approximately 10 miles southeast of Whitchurch. Originally called Drayton Magna it is an interesting mainly level market town with many fine buildings and a good selection of small shops. There is a car park near the bus station with disabled spaces and a disabled toilet. There is the Festival Drayton Centre that has a theatre/cinema and excellent access for wheelchairs. It also has a tearoom and disabled toilets. The Tudor House Hotel pictured above has good access and serves meals and light snacks all day. You can purchase a discovery trail leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre that explains the history of some of the towns buildings. It is necessary to bypass some of the route that is unsuitable for wheelchairs.
St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church is featured in the town trail and is well worth a visit. It dates back to 1150 and features some beautiful carved screens. Access to the church is good with internal ramps.
The 'hot' bed at Wollerton Old Hall
Wollerton Old Hall Gardens are in the village of Wollerton 4 miles west of Market Drayton on the A53. It is a three acre plantsman's garden, divided into garden rooms. Most of the site is accessible to wheelchairs and there is a cafe, plant sales and a disabled toilet. It is open on Fridays and Sundays throughout the season, tel 01630 685760 for opening times.
PLACES TO STAY
We have only found two places to stay that most wheelchair users can access easily in this part of Shropshire.
Mile Bank Farm
Firstly there is Milebank Farm Tel: 01948 662042:- They offer pleasant bed and breakfast accommodation set in farmland on the edge of Whitchurch in the north of Shropshire. There is level access across a concreted yard into the reception area. The bedroom has twin beds with sufficient underneath access for a portable hoist and the furniture can be arranged to allow transfer to either side of the bed. There is a spacious en-suite shower room with a shower stool, a separate support frame and room to side transfer to the toilet.
The pleasant dining room at Mile Bank
In addition there is a separate comfortable sitting room for guests use and an accessible toilet in the reception area. Breakfast is served in the adjoining dining room with views across the surrounding countryside. This could be suitable for both unaccompanied and accompanied wheelchair users.
For further details of accessible features please click here.
Newton Meadows
Secondly there is Newton Meadows approximately 15 miles south of Whitchurch at Harmer Hill on the A528:- There are three pleasant level access self catering cottages, one sleeping up to 4 people and two sleeping up to 7 people. Each has a wheel-in shower room with turning space and room to side transfer to the toilet. They all have an easily accessed open plan kitchen/dining/lounge area and a sun room leading to an outside patio.
The twin bedroom
The smaller of the cottages has one ground floor bedroom with twin beds with sufficient underneath clearance to allow use of a portable hoist. It also has an upstairs bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The other cottages (one only available for 2008) have one twin and one single ground floor bedroom (beds allowing use of a portable hoist) and one twin and one double bedroom upstairs with a separate bathroom. Guest may also access the grounds that include a pond. A portable hoist can be arranged with prior notice. This could be suitable for accompanied wheelchair users. Tel: 01939 290346
For further details of accessible features please click here
The Lion Quays and Moreton Park featured on our Oswestry page are about 20 miles from Whitchurch and therefore not too far away to use as a base to explore this area.
North East Shropshire is not as well known as other parts of the county but it has some beautiful countryside and interesting places to visit.