Staffordshire
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 Cornwall.
Walks Greenspaces and Countryside
Biddulph Valley Way - It is ideal for pushchairs and wheelchair users too. Download the Valleys and Pastures leaflet above to see which access points are suitable for wheelchairs.
Blithfield Reservoir - The paths include both easy walking and more challenging areas - see also Staffordshire Water
Brampton Park (Newcastle) - Green Flag award - Sensory and rose gardens
Bramshall Road Park - Access for All – Bramshall Road Park has tarmac paths leading all around the grounds, with benches placed at regular intervals and disabled toilets operated via a radar key.
Branston Water Park - Access around the site using well-surfaced paths. Designated disabled toilets and parking.
Bucknall Park and City Farm - (Disabled Go) - Services/facilities within the grounds include a car park, football pitches, bowling greens, a children's play area, city farm, a sensory garden, picnic area, an adapted toilet and standard toilets. - ACE understands that the City Farm is now closed.
Burslem Park (Stoke on Trent) - Disabled parking spaces are available by the Lodge entrance off Moorland Road.
Cannock Chase Heritage Trail - This leaflet will help you understand the surface structure that you may come across in the countryside sections of the trail, such as inclines and gradients and surface materials.
Cannock Chase Visitor Centre - The Visitor Centre and Café at Marquis Drive is open 7 days a week and is the starting point for numerous self-guided walking and family cycling trails, including routes for people with disabilities. Electric scooters are available, free of charge, for people with mobility problems. The Visitor Centre and Café at Marquis Drive is open 7 days a week and is the starting point for numerous self-guided walking and family cycling trails, including routes for people with disabilities.
Cannock Park - Cannock Park is really the Districts Gem in the Crown having been awarded the coveted Green Flag Award for quality parks and open spaces in both 2008 and 2009
East Staffordshire Council Accessible Parks - The following video shows the accessibility around a few of our major parks.
Hales Hall Pool - The site comprises of an easy level and broad path surrounding a man-made body of water dating back to 1846. wheelchair access is available from the car park to hard surfaced southern and eastern paths.
Hanley Park - Disabled access is stated but no details of facilities.
Kingfisher Trail - (Green Flag Award)The Kingfisher Trail runs alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal, through the Shobnall, Horninglow and Eton districts of Burton upon Trent.
Leek to Rushton Spencer Greenway - Old Railway Line approximately 8.5 kilometres long. The track is surfaced between Leek and north of Rudyard Lake. There is a car park and miniature Railway at Rudyard, together with a picnic area. There is access for wheelchairs via RADAR keyed gate. Toilet and visitor facilities available at Dam Head, approximately 600 metres from the car park.
Lichfield Cathedral - Accessible toilets are available in the Cathedral Coffee Shop, and opposite the Visitors' Centre. Most of the building and the entire Close is accessible to wheelchair users.
Lyme Valley Park (Newcastle under Lyme) - Green Flag award - though no info on council website!
Manifold Track - This 9 mile tarmac track runs along the line of a disused railway from Hulme End, near Hartington in the north to Waterhouses on the A523 Leek to Ashbourne road in the south. It provides a good level surface for people in wheelchairs, families with pushchairs and for cyclists. However the section from Swainsley to Wetton Mill is used by traffic (single track) and contains a tunnel 100m long at Swainsley
National Cold War Exhibition at Royal Air Force Museum - Low level barriers ensure excellent viewing of exhibits for all visitors. There are also wide aisles in the hangars ensuring access for pushchairs and wheelchairs is very easy. There are a limited number of manual wheelchairs and motor scooters available for loan on site at no charge
National Memorial Arboretum - There is level access to the Visitor Centre where disabled toilet facilities are available. There are also firm level paths giving good access to much of the site.
Queens Park (Newcastle under Lyme) - Green Flag award - though no info on council website!
Rudyard Lake & Steam Railway - Disabled access is available to all the stations. The platforms are all at ground level and are wheelchair accessible. They can also carry foldable wheelchairs on all of the trains in a wagon provided for this but cannot load a wheelchair with occupant onto the trains due to their restricted size.
South Staffordshire Railway Walk - The all weather surface makes it ideal for wheelchairs, pushchairs and family cycling. Horse riding is allowed between Greyhound Lane (Penn Halt) and Wombourne Station, and from Wall Heath to Himley Car Park.
Stafford to Newport Greenway - The Greenway follows the route of the former Stafford to Newport Railway Line, There is well surfaced track suitable for wheelchair users.
Stanley Head Outdoor Education Centre - (Disabled Go) - Services/facilities within the building include restaurant, adapted toilet, bedrooms and meeting rooms. Services/facilities within the grounds include abseiling, archery, challenge wall, canoeing and kayaking, standard toilets and a car park.
Stapenhill Gardens (Burton on Trent) - Green Flag Award - Access for All – Stapenhill Gardens has tarmac paths leading all around the grounds and disabled toilets operated via a RADAR key.
Tittesworth Water - Tittesworth Water is accessible for wheelchair users with car parking and toilet provision at the Visitor Centre. Wheelchair hire is available free of charge.
Trent Washlands - Accessible toilets can be found in the Market Square, at Meadowside Leisure Centre, Burton Library and Stapenhill Gardens (requires a RADAR key).
Tunstall Park (Stoke on Trent) - see DisabledGo website -Services/facilities within the grounds include 2 bowling greens, children's play area, football pitch, adapted and standard toilets, car park and a cafe.
Victoria Park (Stafford) - Victoria Park is located on the Banks of the River Sow adjacent the Railway Station and is a Green Flag Award winning park.
Westport Lake - The main lake is surrounded by a good, level footpath which is one mile long.
Wolseley Visitor Centre (Staffs Wildlife Trust) Rugeley - We have tried to make the sensory garden so that it is as accessible as possible to as many people as possible, we have tried to make it an inclusive area so there is plenty of space for wheelchairs, pushchairs and little children to explore safely. (ACE note - good wheelchair access on surfaced paths and boardwalks - a scooter and wheelchair are available for hire from the visitor centre) - (ACE note - the boardwalk has now been closed but there are still some accessible paths).
Country Parks
Apedale Community Country Park - There is a designated wheelchair trail leading from Blackbank Road to the view point giving extensive views of the potteries and beyond.
Baggeridge Country Park - Green Flag Award - Easy access trail and sensory garden -
Biddulph Grange Country Park - Paths have been restored and new ones created to give easy access throughout the park. Although the site is on a hillside, wheelchair access is usually achieved at least as far as the main pool
Cannock Chase Country Park - There are over two miles of traffic free waymarked routes across the park, including a flat, well surfaced trail around the old RAF camp suitable for wheelchair users.
Deep Hayes Country Park - There are designated car parking spaces and toilets available for people with disabilities.
Greenway Bank Country Park - There are designated car parking spaces and toilets available for people with disabilities.
Park Hall Country Park (Stoke on Trent) - see DisabledGo website (ACE note - parking and visitor centre are accessible - park walks are not, natural sand / gravel paths, some steep slopes and steps)
Nature Reserves
Bateswood - Newcastle-under-Lyme - The track is hard surfaced along the plateau to 2 viewing butts. The track away from the plateau is unsurfaced and there are some steep slopes, timber boardwalks and steps. Gate to site is padlocked - phone Staffordshire Wildlife Trust for the combination - click here to download a PDF map of the site
Brown End Quarry (SWT)- Waterhouses - There is a small parking area next to the reserve. Enter the reserve through the kissing gate, which is wide enough for wheelchairs. . . visitors should still be able to access all the information panels without needing to climb any steps.- click here to download a PDF map of the site
Consall Nature Park - There are designated car parking spaces and toilets available for people with disabilities. (ACE note - little or no disabled access to the reserve, please check)
Croxall Lakes (SWT) - Alrewas - There is a surfaced access track that runs adjacent to the railway track up to the bird hide, with views across the main lake. All of the main access points have kissing gates and the one at the main entrance is wide enough for wheelchairs. - click here to download a PDF map of the site
Doxey Marshes (SWT) - Stafford - The reserve is accessed just off the A513, Eccleshall road off Junction 14 on the M6 - We aim to provide an accessible reserve to as many user groups as possible including wheelchair and pushchair users. However, because this is a wetland site, winter flooding may mean paths are inaccessible - click here to download a PDF map of the site
Hem Heath Woods (SWT) - Trentham-Longton - Hem Heath has a large car park (with a height restriction) and all-ability circular trail around Hem Heath. In addition there are a series of footpaths throughout the other areas of the reserve on relatively even terrain. - click here to download a PDF map of the site
Mill Green and Hawks Green Valley Nature Reserve - The paths at this end of the proposed reserve are well surfaced in rolled stone and have no significant gradients.
Other Useful Links
Carers Association Southern Staffordshire - We support unpaid carers of any age in southern Staffordshire, who are looking after a friend or relative, who because of disability, illness or the effects of old age cannot manage at home without help.
ELITE (Enabling Living Independently Today & Everyday) - a ‘User Led’ organisation and our aim is to promote Independent Living and Social Inclusion
In and around Stafford in a wheelchair - info from Disabled Holiday Info
National Indoor Shooting Centre - the Rifle Range at the National indoor Shooting Centre is on the Aldersley site. It is fully adapted, and is used by a variety of disabled people. It pioneered shooting for disabled people and it’s adaptations include shooting using your tongue instead of a finger on a trigger. There are also shooting bays for wheelchair users, and for blind people.
Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent - Disability Sport - This Disability Sport section of the SASSOT website has been designed to help inform, educate and highlight disability sport and show the level of importance that Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent place on it.
Wolverhampton Association for Disabled Sport (WADS) - At WADS we offer sport facilities and events for the disabled in the Wolverhampton and West Midlands area.