The simple joy of the beautiful outdoors is a delight that should be appreciated by, and accessible to, all. That said, it can sometimes be difficult to discover great places to go as a wheelchair user heading out into nature, because of a lack of suitable access information. 

Nicknamed “God’s Own Country” The historic County of York is the largest in the United Kingdom and is home to large stretches of unspoiled countryside such as the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Peak District national parks. Halfway between London and Edinburgh, Yorkshire is home to the city of York, where contemporary independent shops are surrounded by ancient walls. The Roman city of York is home to 30 museums and a thriving cultural scene and Yorkshire itself has a rich pastoral and industrial history.  

Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire

1. Moorlands Nature Reserve, Moor Lane, York, YO32 2RE

Moorlands Nature Reserve, York, North Yorkshire.

Disabled Access ✓

Getting here…

Moorlands Nature reserve is accessible by bus from the A19 stop in Skelton. By car, the nature reserve lies roughly 5.5 miles north of York on the A19. Parking is permitted on the verge near the entrance gate, where there is room for about 8-10 cars on either side of the reserve entrance in a narrow layby beside Moor Lane. There are no disabled parking spaces. 

Part of the ancient Forest of Galtres, this small Edwardian woodland garden was part of Moorlands House and estate, purchased in 1909 by Mr Edward Grosvenor Tew. Mr Tew planted many of the unusual rhododendrons and azaleas in the reserve before it was eventually bought in 1955 to become Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s second nature reserve. 

The rhododendrons and azaleas provide a succession of flowers from March to the end of June, accompanied by snowdrops, bluebell, primrose and wood sorrel. The blossoming flora and fauna attract many species of birds and mammals. There are a number of bat boxes, a treehouse, several ponds and wooden sculptures with a nature trail. 

A single footpath from the reserve entrance goes into the reserve and splits to form a 1km round circuit. A pedestrian kissing gate at the entrance is accessible to wheelchairs and some small mobility scooters. There are no barriers or steps that might form obstacles. There are numerous benches on the reserve, and the park is largely compacted and flat earth. The nearest facilities are at Haxby Shopping Centre which is located 2 miles away, where pubs, cafes and shops can also be found. 

2. River Ouse, Lendal Bridge, York, YO1 7DP ( Lendal Bridge to Water End Walk)

 

River Ouse, York, Yorkshire.

Assistance Dogs Welcome✓

Disabled Parking ✓

DIsabled Access ✓

Getting here…

The car park at Marygate is located near the Museum Gardens and St Mary’s Abbey in York. There are disabled spaces available and the car park itself is close to many attractions in the city. 

This is one of the best wheelchair walks, adjacent to the River Ouse. There is a safe, wide and flat pathway that begins at Lendal Bridge and finishes at Water End, near the Youth Hostel. The ground is predominantly flat, however sometimes the river floods – which can make the ground slippery and muddy.

For wheelchair users, the best way to access the route is via The Museum Gardens or Marygate. Along the way, you will find picnic benches, seated benches, picturesque river banks and a wonderful array of boats to observe on the river. During the summer months, there are also often ice cream vans dotted along the walking route for a refreshing snack. The route does go on for miles further, but note that beyond Water End the way is not wheelchair accessible, with cattle grids, brooks, hills, and cycle routes. 

3. Malham Tarn, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24

Boardwalk at Malham Tarn National Nature Reserve, Settle, North Yorkshire

Assistance Dogs Welcome✓

DIsabled Access ✓

Getting here… 

Malham Tarn upland farm circular walk begins at Watersink car park which is accessible via the A65 and Settle which is 4 miles north-west of Malham. There are also several buses that stop close by and the nearest train station is Settle (7 miles). For more information about getting here, see here on the National Trust website.

Parking is available at Watersink car park, however it is small and there are no blue badge spaces available. The surface of the car park is uneven, made up of gravel, therefore it is advisable to find a good spot to transition to the path from the car park. The grassy route from the car park requires some effort, and rugged wheels are recommended to negotiate this. Pushed wheelchairs and off road scooters are able to cope with the terrain. 

This stunning walk stretches across fields and unmade tracks with a short stretch of road walking. Malham Tarn is a dramatic, open area of limestone and grassland that features rock outcrops and high peaks. The Tarn itself is a beautiful expanse of open water and is of international importance for the variety of flowers and other wildlife found there. The best route to take is the Pennine Way, which runs through the area from Malham village, past Malham Cove and the Tarn. For a full breakdown of the route, click here. 

The scenery changes from sheltered valley fields to woodlands and to the wild and desolate moorlands, reminiscent of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights landscapes. A boardwalk goes through the wetter parts of the reserve and the best time to experience the walk is in late spring and early summer where the wildlife is at its finest, with bogbean, globeflower and marsh valerian. 

The nearest facilities are located in Malham Tarn village which is 2 miles away, including tea rooms, pubs and toilets.

Enjoy!

Planning a wheelchair-friendly walk can be frustrating, however, we hope we have given you a variety of viable options throughout the Midlands. Whether you’re looking for nature reserves, places of historical interest or just pleasant walks from A to B – this list covers all bases. Of course, dependent on your disability and the wheelchair you use, some walks might be more favourable than others. We recommend looking up your walk before you go and planning around any unforeseen circumstances, as well as coronavirus precautions and closures. 

The historic county of Derbyshire lies in the East Midlands of England. Derbyshire is famed for its dramatic bleak moorland landscapes of the northern Peak District and the serene Trent Valley Washlands of the South.  The county is divided geographically into two sections, a large part of the county lies within the Peak District National Park and a smaller southern lowland area surrounding the city of Derby. In addition, the Pennines, the backbone of England, extends southwards – from Northumberland into Derbyshire. 

Here are our top choices for wheelchair-friendly walks in Derbyshire – keep reading to find places to go in the heart of the Peak District itself.

1. Shipley Country Park, Slack Lane, Ilkeston, DE7 7GX 

Shipley Country Park, Osbourne Pond, Derbyshire.

Accessible Format ✓	Disabled Parking ✓	Large Print ✓
Disabled Access ✓	Dedicated Seating ✓	Online Booking ✓
Accessible Toilets ✓	Changing places ✓	Assistance Dogs Welcome ✓

Getting here… 

The nearest train station to Shipley Country Park is Langley Mill. To find out more about suitable travel arrangements via bus or train, call 0871 200 22 33 or click here for more information about public transport in general. 

Shipley Country Park is located near Derby and Nottingham. Suitable for any season, Shipley offers 700 acres and over 20 miles of paths that can be bridleways for everything from walking and bird watching to picnicking and angling. For children, there are 3 playgrounds to choose from, bird observation points and an annual events itinerary, for more information see here. Before you venture out, check the latest information about coronavirus and visiting this particular site. A gift shop, coffee shop and toilets and a Changing Places facility are also on site. 

There are plenty of disabled bays in the Pay & Display parking area, which is free for blue badge holders. The car park on Shipley Hill is for blue badge holders only, if you want to skip the crowds and tramper hire is available at the Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre is at ground level surrounded by flat paths, making it accessible to wheelchair users. A slight slope inclines from the Visitor Centre to the car park and the car park itself is flat. 

2. Carsington Water, Big Lane, Ashbourne, DE6 1ST

Assistance Dogs Welcome✓	Disabled Parking ✓	Changing places ✓
Disabled Access ✓	Lifts ✓	Accessible Toilets ✓

Getting here…

Carsington Water is accessible by bus, the nearest stop is conveniently located at the front of the main entrance to the Visitor Centre. The bus provides connections also to the market towns of Ashbourne, Wirksworth and 19th Century spa town Matlock. 

Located between Wirksworth and Kniveton in Derbyshire, Carsington Water is the UK’s ninth largest reservoir. Home to a variety of wonderful routes and trails, the Visitor Centre is fully accessible to wheelchair users and has the ability to cater for other access requirements. There are 23 Blue Badge parking spaces available that are accessible, less than 50m from the main entrance where there is a permanent ramp and level access. Automatic number plate recognition is used at this site, which means completing Blue Badge registration on the day of your visit at reception. Alternatively, you can call 03306 7880 701 or email [email protected]. 

There are also 2 lifts, which means access to all floors, and disabled toilets in the Courtyard and Visitor Centre. Many of the surrounding shops have level access and there are permanent ramps with access to picnic areas outside for wheelchair users. Tramper hire is also available, and wheelchairs can be provided free of charge. For more information regarding accessibility specifics, see here. 

3. Elvaston Castle Country Park, Borrowash Road, Derby, DE72 3EP

Elvaston Castle, The Parterre Garden, Derbyshire. 

Assistance Dogs Welcome✓	Disabled Parking ✓	Changing places ✓
Disabled Toilets ✓

Getting here…

Located near Derby and Nottingham, the estate entrance and car park is just off Borrowash Road – between Borrowash village and Thulston. There are brown tourist signs from either direction that will guide you, and there is only one entrance open to the public. Sat navs have been known to direct vehicles incorrectly, so it might be an idea to familiarise yourself with the journey with the park’s location leaflet. There are no bus services that currently stop outside the main entrance, however number 73 (Arriva) and the Skylink Derby (TrentBarton) both stop in Thulston at Elvaston Castle Gates.

At the focal point of the estate lies the 17th Century Elvaston Castle, surrounded by 321 acres of open parkland, woodland and several formal gardens. Evanston Castle was redesigned in the 19th Century by James Wyatt to the gothic revival masterpiece seen today. Unfortunately, the castle is not open to the public, however the gardens are locally renowned with fine topiaries and rockwork structures – originally designed and introduced in the 19th Century by William Barron. 

There is a lot to do at Elvaston Castle Country Park, including an annual woodland festival- as well as walking, cycling, bird watching, picnicking and the like! There is free blue badge holder car parking and trampers are available for hire at the information centre and shop. Here, you will also find the disabled toilets and baby changing areas. The park is low-lying, which is worth bearing in mind after periods of rain, making it muddy underfoot. Please take extra care at these times. 

Accessible walks in the heart of the Peak District

While you might think that the Peak District itself would be an unwelcoming place for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, the truth is that there are plenty of walking routes which are free of stiles, steps and steep gradients. Do be aware that most of these routes do not have toilets, whether accessible or otherwise. 

The Peak District’s ‘Miles without Stiles’ guide is available to purchase, but beautiful wheelchair-friendly walks in the Peak District itself include:

• Coombs Dale, S32 4TB (1.6km of fully accessible pathways)
• Damflask Dam, S6 6SQ (3.4km of fully accessible pathways)
• Derwent Dam, S33 0AQ (600m of fully accessible pathways, plus 3km of additional pathways suitable for assisted wheelchairs but not suitable for unassisted wheelchairs)
• Goyt, SK17 6GJ (1km of fully accessible pathways)
• Ladybower, S33 0BY (400m accessible pathways to view the dam, plus 1km fully accessible pathway along the dam. An additional 1.5km of pathways are suitable for assisted wheelchairs)
• Manifold Way, DE6 2AG (2.8km of fully accessible pathways)
• Monsal Trail, DE45 1NW (11.5km of fully accessible pathways on the route to Chee Dale – nearest accessible facilities are Hassop Station and Miller’s Dale Station)
• Parsley Hay, SK17 0DG (4km of fully accessible pathways)
• Tideswell Dale, SK17 8SN (3.2km of fully accessible pathways)

For more information on these destinations, visit https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/miles-without-stiles where you can select each location from the sidebar menu.