Scottish Disability Sport Week – your experiences

We’re proud to support #ScottishDisabilitySportWeek and today we’re sharing our community’s experiences on our blog, as a way to help improve the confidence of disabled people looking for somewhere great to go for sports and physical activity. We have loads of great reviews on EuansGuide.com, here's some for Scotland and beyond! 

Nevis Range Mountain Resort gets 5 stars

“I've always wanted to climb Ben Nevis, so in a wheelchair, this was the next best thing. Various activities on site, but we went to go up Aonach Mór in Britain's only Mountain Gondola. Fantastic experience, very accessible, would highly recommend a visit.”

The Climbing Hangar gets 5 stars

“I take my teens to The Climbing Hangar two or three times a week. While I don’t climb, I do find the rest of the building refreshingly accessible and delightfully welcoming. My teens enjoy the independent climbing as well as the (free to members) lessons, and there have been no sensory issues. There is a cafe and large seating area for those of us who are grounded, with great food and drinks and plenty of room for wheelchairs, and great big windows to watch the climbing. The outdoor seating is inaccessible to wheelchairs/mobility issues. Though almost no-one wears a mask, I’m assured the ventilation system is robust and A+ due to the chalk used on the walls.”

Kailzie Equestrian Centre gets 5 stars

“Attended for my daughter to take part in a lesson. There is ample parking and smooth tarmac area to park on and around the main area of the yard so I was able to move easily. I was offered somewhere to sit where I could watch the lesson and that meant to world to me being able to be involved. All the staff and people around were lovely. The horses looked amazing and are clearly very well looked after.”

Braywick Leisure Centre gets 5 stars

“I go to Braywick every Thursday to my swimming lessons, and gosh I always get surprise with the amount of facilities available for disabled people, it's really gratifying that the entire building has been designed to meet the needs of literally everybody. So if you are looking for a place to go for swimming, gym or even simply a cafe you should go to Brawick Leisure centre, it is good I guarantee you.”

Loch Insh Outdoor Centre gets 4.5 stars

“Being the adventurous type I always want to take part in things that aren’t exactly disabled friendly! I have Muscular Dystrophy and use an electric wheelchair/ crutches to get about. I lack the trunk and head control to sit unaided. These guys didn’t even bat an eyelid when I asked to try sailing, canoeing and paddle boarding. I did email in advance so they could get the right adaptions. They know a great guy called Suresh who helps them with seating etc. At no point did I feel in the way or an inconvenience, even when it started peeing with rain when James was sorting me a canoe, he did it with a smile.”

Haughhead Stables gets 5 stars

“What a place to enjoy ponies and horses. Run by volunteers and was instantly made to feel welcome and as if nothing was too much trouble. Everyone was very helpful and chatty and I was able to leave all my worries at the gate on the way in. Spent time being able to help groom my ride and was assisted to go for a walk on horseback. I can’t recommend this place enough. They have a good Facebook page as well where you can keep up to date with what they are doing.”

Bridgnorth Endowed Leisure Centre gets 4.5 stars

“Four disabled parking bay within 15 metres of the main entrance, but there are plenty of other spacious bays. The slabbed path outside is very slightly uneven. Level entry access, with automatic doors to reception area. Low level reception desk. Extremely helpful and friendly staff. Level entry to changing rooms. Spacious, very well-equipped disabled changing rooms with toilets and showers. Level entry to the swimming pool. Very modern pool hoist / lift, which will accept wheelchairs. If the poolside waterproof wheelchair is needed, staff are more than willing to assist. A swimming session specifically for disabled people called 'swimability' is usually held once a week. Carers can also join, but as far as I know, they do need to pay full price. I have been many times, and have never seen anything but a smile on an employee's face.”

Fell Foot Country Park gets 5 stars

“Absolutely fantastic weekend away on Windermere. We canoed 10 mines in total over two days and wild camped overnight on the end of Windermere. Fantastic adaptive equipment which made the impossible possible for myself whilst still giving it enough of a challenge for us both. It felt like myself and my able-bodied sister were on the same level which was amazing. Good quality camping equipment fully provided along with fantastic food. We both came away saying we had eaten like kings for the weekend. Highlights food-wise were the local bakery pies and the homemade pizzas.”

Please get involved in #ScottishDisabilitySportWeek by reviewing your favourite sporting venues and experiences on EuansGuide.com to help other people find great places to go.

Tags: scottish disability sport, scottish disability sport week, sports, sports venues, physical activity