Menu
Are you interested to go on a wheelchair accessible road trip through Southern England? Look no further! In this article, I’ll be sharing my personal experiences and valuable tips to make your journey easier. I understand the frustration of spending excessive time and effort searching for accessible places, so let me guide you with my tips and tricks. With this information, you can skip the tedious “is it accessible?” research and dive straight into the enjoyable aspects of planning your adventure.
“I want to make memories all over the world.” – Unknown
When embarking on our wheelchair accessible road trip in May, we used our own wheelchair accessible van (WAV) for transportation. Our first step was driving to Calais to catch the Eurotunnel train. This car train took us from Calais to Folkestone in about 45 minutes. The best part? You can remain comfortably seated in your own vehicle throughout the journey. For those holding a blue badge, you’ll get boarding priority.
Starting in Folkestone, we drove to Brighton. Due to the bad road surface, it took us about 3 hours. Along the way, we stopped to admire the famous chalk cliffs. We did this at Seven sisters and Beachy Head. From our spot, it was not wheelchair accessible, but there may be other accessible spots to visit. In Brighton, we stayed at the YHA Hostel, it was my first time in a hostel, so this was quite an achievement.
In Brighton, we visited the Brighton i360, which is an observation tower in Brighton. You can go up in a glass pod that goes up and down and rotates, so you can see all around and beautiful views of the city and the ocean. The wheelchair accessibility was outstanding, barrier-free access and the accompanying person can join for free. Watch this video to see the full experience as a wheelchair user, on Facebook or Instagram.
From Brighton, we continued our journey to the next destination, Bournemouth. Here we stayed 3 nights at the accessible Marsham Court Hotel. From Bournemouth, we have been able to visit various activities and places.
Within walking distance of the hotel, you will find the Bournemouth Oceanarium. Here you can explore the underwater world. The Oceanarium features different exhibits, like tropical fish, sharks, turtles, penguins, and other fascinating sea creatures. And it is fully wheelchair accessible, including toilet facilities.
On the next day, we went on a mission to see the world-famous Stonehenge. It was quite an adventure to get here because we didn’t know about the closing time. I know that was a matter of better preparation. Because the regular entrance was closed, we decided to put it to the test and try the famous ‘tire popping road’ with our WAV.
Another fun thing to do in Bournemouth is a wheelchair accessible boat tour. Let me introduce you to the Friends of Dolphin in Poole, Dorset. From May to September, they offer free boat tours for people with a disability. The boat is fully wheelchair accessible and can accommodate up to six wheelchairs. And the best part? It’s all made possible by dedicated volunteers! Watch the full adventure here.
During our journey to the last stop, the Premier Inn Sidcot A38 hotel, Bristol, we drove through the Cheddar Gorge. With the highest inland cliffs in Great Britain. It’s a must-visit destination where you can take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking beauty of our planet.
Crossing the renowned Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol was one of the highlights we had set for this road trip. We parked our WAV at the visitor’s center and went on a walk/roll adventure across the bridge. The visitors center also provides a wheelchair accessible toilet. After our bridge exploration, we went for lunch at the White Lion restaurant, providing an amazing view of the bridge.
If you have a fascination for sunsets and the sea, a visit to Weston-Super-Mare at sunset is a must. You can stroll along the boulevard, enjoy the waves of the sea, and watch the sunset. For those seeking a more adventurous experience, a trek uphill to the Brean Down fort is worth considering. The path is not entirely wheelchair accessible and can be quite steep, but I conquered it with my wheelchair. The effort was truly rewarding, making every drop of sweat worthwhile.
