Leicestershire
Disabled Access, Wheelchair walks, Easy Access, Access for All, Mobility, Walks on Wheels, Miles without Stiles - whatever the term the following is all about accessibility to the countryside and green spaces of Leicestershire.
Walks Greenspaces and Countryside
Abbey Park Leicester - Green Flag Award - Designated parking for guests with disab0ilities, specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users, Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility.
Argents Mead (Hinckley) - Access to the War Memorial and gardens has been improved
Aylestone Hall Gardens (Leicester) - Green Flag Award - Pedestrian access from Aylestone Road and Old Church Street, with level tarmac footpaths throughout most of the gardens.
Bosworth Park - A landscaped 35-hectare park which was formerly part of Bosworth Hall deer parkland
Bouskell Park (Blaby) - There is a small car park, interpretation boards, hard surfaced paths and dog bins and easy access for wheelchairs.
Castle Gardens (Leicester) - Green Flag Award - Tarmac pathways throughout the park.
Donington le Heath - There are wheelchair-accessible paths around the garden and access to the ground floor of the house. The café is fully accessible. - also see Donington le Heath Manor House
Donisthorpe Woodland Park - Facilities at Moira Furnace including toilets and cafe.
Evington Park (Leicester) - Green Flag Award - Car parking is available for Blue Badge Holders in the staff car park and main car park. Pathways are of either tarmac or gravel. Evington House has ramped entrance with handrails. Evington Park has held the prestigious Green Flag Award for outstanding public paths since 2005.
Foxton Locks - Over 3km of paths in and around the site have been resurfaced, so that over three quarters of them are now fully accessible to most visitors. The Foxton Locks Inn is designed with wheelchair users in mind and has adapted unisex toilet facilities.
Jewry Wall Museum - Car park adjacent to the museum, within St Nicholas' Circle, limited spaces only. Wheelchair access through Holy Bones via Vaughan College's private car park (telephone prior to visit to ensure access through the car park is clear).
Knighton Park (Leicester) - Green Flag Award - Tarmac pathways throughout the park.
Oakthorpe Colliery Picnic Site - There are surfaced paths suitable for all users and pedestrian into the neighbouring 98.8 acre (40 hectare) Willesley Wood
Outwoods (Loughborough ) - Green Flag Award - a short, easy access walk (400m), which includes a bird feeding station, other paths may not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs Two Tramper mobility scooters are available for use at the Outwoods by people who are registered as disabled
Sence Valley Forest Park - Disabled toilets are located on the main car park at the top of the slope. Gateway shelters and information points and boards, installed in 2008, identify the abundant wildlife in the park. Visually impaired visitors can learn more about the site through the audio posts installed. Fishing platforms available for disabled users (by permit only). A bird hide and picnic areas are also available.
Short walks in Hinckley and Burbage - With clear maps and directions, the walks are suitable for all abilities, including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs. ten different walks ranging from a ten minute stroll around a local park to a one hour 45 minute countryside ramble.
Short walks in Loughborough - With clear maps and directions, the walks are suitable for all abilities, including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs. ten different walks ranging from a ten minute stroll around a local park to a one hour 45 minute countryside ramble.
Short walks in Melton Mowbray - With clear maps and directions, the walks are suitable for all abilities, including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs. ten different walks ranging from a ten minute stroll around a local park to a one hour 45 minute countryside ramble.
Short walks North of Leicester - With clear maps and directions, the walks are suitable for all abilities, including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs. ten different walks ranging from a ten minute stroll around a local park to a one hour 45 minute countryside ramble.
Short walks in Oadby and Wigston Borough - With clear maps and directions, the walks are suitable for all abilities, including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs. ten different walks ranging from a ten minute stroll around a local park to a one hour 45 minute countryside ramble.
Short walks West of Leicester - With clear maps and directions, the walks are suitable for all abilities, including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs. ten different walks ranging from a ten minute stroll around a local park to a one hour 45 minute countryside ramble.
Staunton Harold Reservoir - Most of the trails at Staunton Harold Reservoir are suitable for wheelchair users with car parking and toilet facilities also available.
Thornton Reservoir - The 2.5 mile track around Thornton Reservoir is suitable for wheelchair users as is the sculpture trail that leads through the woodland. Picnic tables around the reservoir are accessible to wheelchairs. Disabled toilets are adjacent to the information centre. Disabled parking facilities are also available.
Victoria Park Leicester - Green Flag Award - Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
Country Parks
Beacon Hill Country Park - There are steep, stoned paths in the Country Park and negotiable, stoned trails around the Native Tree Collection.
Bradgate Country Park - Disabled access along tarmac path through centre of park. During the summer months by arrangement you can drive through the centre of the park on Thursdays (NOT between end of October and 1st April).
Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood Country Park - A tarmac carriageway through the park gives limited access for wheelchair users. Designated disabled toilets
Brocks Hill Visitor Centre and Country Park (Oadby) - wheelchair and pram friendly paths have been laid around the park
Market Bosworth Country Park - Green Flag Award - Seating available for visitors with limited mobility, specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users.
Melton Country Park - The Country Park is criss-crossed by various footpaths, including, at the southern end of the park, tarmac paths which are fully wheelchair accessible. There is a small sensory garden between the Visitor Centre and the Woodland Walk.
Watermead Country Park - There are 5½ miles (9 km) of surfaced tracks and paths around the park, ideally suited for users of wheelchair and mobility scooters as well as people with pushchairs. Some routes are also for cyclists. On the perimeter path there are some kissing gates where a RADAR key is required for mobility scooters to get through.
Nature Reserves
Saltersford Valley Picnic Area - The stone-surfaced paths are suitable for all user, Wheelchair users will need assistance in some places. The site has been recently been designated as a Local Nature Reserve.
Other Useful Links
Charnwood Museum (Loughborough) - The museum is fully accessible for wheelchair users. There are wheelchair accessible toilets at the museum.
Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) - is an organisation of disabled people for disabled people. We operate within the framework of the Social Model of Disability, in which disability is a problem of exclusion from ordinary life, rather than a medical impairment.
Leicester Cobras Wheelchair Basketball Club - The Leicester Cobras currently have two teams competing in the national GBWBA league; the 1st team in the second division north and the 2nd team (for newer and inexperienced players) in the third division central
Melton Carnegie Museum - Wheelchair accessible site, wheelchair users are welcome in the museum and the building is accessible. There are wheelchair accessible toilets at the museum.
Charnwood B.C. Walking for Health - an accredited walk agency with WfH offering disability walks.
Leicestershire CareOnLine - a service provided by Leicestershire County Council's Adult and Communities to help vulnerable adults in the community, (such as Older People, People with Disabilities and Carers to use computers and the Internet.)