Our house dates form the late C16th and has many original features. It has been altered many times over the years, and is now on several levels. It may not be practicable to make wholesale changes to our access, as this would be detrimental to the character of the property. However, we do intend to make our house as accessible as we can, in order that as many people as possible can enjoy a stay in our wonderful home in the English Lake District.

General Information

• We allow one dog (with well behaved owner) in the veranda room. Dogs are not allowed in the main house, except assistance dogs.
• Breakfast is partially self-service, but by request this can be fully served.
• Mobile phone coverage in the area is patchy. The Orange or Vodaphone network provide the best coverage.
• Public transport provision in the area is limited – we keep copies of all public transport timetables. The nearest railway station is at Windermere, 12 miles away.
• Visitor attractions with disabled access can be found on www.golakes.co.uk. (click on ‘Find’ and then on ‘Access for All.’)

Emergency actions

• The property does currently not require a fire certificate.
• At present there are smoke detectors (audible only) on the staircase of the main house and the entrance of the veranda room.
• The system will be updated to a linked system by Spring 2006.
• The veranda bedroom is also to be fitted with and audible smoke detector and light.
• Emergency information can be communicated verbally on request.
• Please let us know if you have any concerns about procedures.

Mobility Access

1) Access to main house.

• This includes the (First floor) front and rear bedrooms, (Ground Floor) entrance hall, guest’s lounge and dining room/conservatory.
• We have a large car park at the front of the house surfaced with gravel. The surface is uneven in places. During the hours of darkness there are no nearby streetlights and the car park lighting is minimal.
• Customers can be dropped off within 2 metres of the front steps. Car parking is within 10 metres of the front steps.
• There are 5 steps leading into the house (height 17cm). with a handrail on both sides.
• Alternatively, access to the main house can be gained via the conservatory. This requires the ascent of 3 steps (height 17 cm). from the car park, (hand rail yet to be fitted) followed by a further two steps, with single handrail, into the conservatory via double doors. The area around the side and back of the conservatory - 15 metres- has a loose gravel surface. From here the main house can be accessed via the lounge. There is a small shallow ramp into the lounge.

2) Accessibility within main house

a) Conservatory

Breakfast is served in the conservatory during the high season.

• The floor surface is tiled.
• All table and chairs are of a universal height.

b) Dining Room

During the winter the house dining room is used for breakfast.

• This has a short pile carpet.
• Breakfast is served around a large refectory table.

Breakfast is a mixture of table service and self-service. Please let us know if you have any specific requirements for breakfast.

c) Lounge and Entrance Hall

• The floor surfaces are old polished oak floorboards.
• The lounge has a large short pile rug.
• There is a low five-piece suite in the lounge and one high seat chair.

d) The Front Bedroom

• From the hall a flight of 9 stairs (height 16cm) leads to a half landing.
• There are 7 stairs (height 16cm) to the right leading to the front bedroom.
• The stairs are carpeted with fitted short pile runner.
• The bedroom floor surface is old polished oak floorboards, with two large short pile rugs.
• There is a tea tray and cordless kettle in the room.
• The four-poster bed is slightly higher than the standard bed height.
• There are two steps down (height 16 cm) from the bedroom into the bathroom (Hand rail has yet to be fitted).
• The floor surface within bathroom is cushion floor.
• There is a stand-alone Victorian bath, and a separate shower with a tray height not exceeding 22cm.
• Bathroom fittings are standard and support/grab rails are fitted in the shower.

e) The Back Bedroom

• From the hall a flight of 9 stairs (height 16cm) leads to a half- landing.
• There are a further 5 stairs (height 20cm) to the left leading to the back bedroom.
• The bedroom is fitted short pile carpet.
• There is a tea tray and cordless kettle the room.
• The bed is of a standard height, and can be arranged either as a super king-size double or twin bed.
• There is a small step (height 10 cm) up into the bathroom.
• The floor surface within bathroom is cushion floor.
• There is a bath and a stand-alone shower with a tray height not exceeding 22cm.
• Bathroom fittings are standard and support/grab rails are fitted in the shower.

3) Access to Veranda bedroom.

The Veranda room is at the rear of the house and has its own entrance.

• There are 3 steps (height 16cm) from the car park leading to the gravel area around the conservatory. A vehicle can drive within 2 metres of these steps.
• From the gravelled area there is one step (height 12 cm) leading to a paved area.
• A further 8 steep steps (height 22cm) lead to the veranda. There is a handrail on one side. These steps are 20 metres from the car park; half this distance is gravel the remainder slate pathway.
• Alternatively there is access via the lawn to 4 steps (height 17 cm) at the opposite end of the veranda. (At present a handrail has to be fitted).
• The veranda itself has a wooden surface and there is one further step (height 16 cm) into the room.

4) Accessibility within the Veranda bedroom

• The bedroom is fitted with a short pile carpet.
• There is a tea tray and cordless kettle in the room.
• The bed is of a standard height, and can be arranged either as a super king-size double or twin bed.
• The floor surface in the bathroom is cushion floor.
• There is a shower over the bath.
• Bathroom fittings are standard. (support/grab rails are yet to be fitted in the bath/shower.)

Hearing Impairment

Accessibility for people with hearing impairment

• There is a TV and video in the lounge, and headphones are available on request.
• All rooms have a radio/CD, again headphones are also available on request.
• Guests are normally shown to their rooms, and everything about the room explained to them. However, all the information about the house is contained within a folder in the room

Sight Impairment

Accessibility for people with sight impairment

• A magnifying sheet and glass are available in the lounge.
• Additional lighting for all rooms is available on request.
• Guests are normally shown to their rooms, and everything about the room explained to them. All the information about the house is also contained within a folder in the room, and this can relayed to guests as required.