Overview

I stopped at Cairn Lodge Services on my way to Newcastle and found it far more pleasant than most people would expect from a service station. Operated by the Westmorland Family, who also run Tebay Services, which is one of my favourite service stations, this location features automatic doors at the entrance, level access throughout, a well-maintained Changing Places toilet, a family toilet for those travelling with children, a farm shop and a restaurant.

Transport & Parking

The only real way to get here is by car. There are plenty of standard parking spaces but only seven accessible parking spaces. You'll find four facing the main entrance, and three at the back of the building where there are five Type-2 EV chargers. There's enough space on either side of the charging bays to open a door, although not fully. At the front of each machine are two bollards, in addition to rubber stoppers on the ground in front of the machine. There isn't enough space to manoeuvre a wheelchair between the stoppers and a car due to the bollards. Which is a shame. The cables all have support wires and the card reader is on the front of the machine. Parking is free for three hours.

Access

There are no tactile markings at the zebra crossings in the car park. The front entrance features a large revolving door with touchpad-activated automatic doors on either side for those who cannot use the revolving door. At the rear of the building, where there are plenty of benches, there is an automatic sliding door and a touchpad-activated door for access to the outside. The picnic area here is lovely and retains the old gatehouse, which resembles a small castle. The shop counter is reasonably low and can be accessed from a seated height, although it does not offer a specific wheelchair-friendly or lowered section. Throughout the venue, there are many sockets for charging mobiles and computers. I expect that a mobility device could be charged here if needed. The café is spacious, but there are carpeted sections that are slightly raised, which meant I had to take an alternate route. There is a kids' play area that is not very accessible and a microwave for heating bottles or pre-prepared food, which I think is a nice touch. As with the shop, the counter in the café is low enough for most wheelchair users, but not specifically designed for accessibility. Seating is plentiful in the café, the foyer and the courtyard at the rear of the building. Signage is clear throughout the location, making it easy to navigate. There was no use of BSL or braille at the location, which I confirmed with the Cairn Lodge Services manager.

Toilets

This venue has a Changing Places toilet that features a ceiling track hoist, a height-adjustable changing bed and a height-adjustable sink. There are contrasting grab rails on either side of the toilet pan and a contrasting toilet seat. The sink has a single grab rail on the right, where the control button is also located. There is space for a left-side transfer, although it is quite close to the changing bed and somewhat obstructed. There is also space for a right-side transfer, provided the grab rails are moved. The toilet is clean, spacious and well-equipped, with nearly everything you might need. The red emergency cord is positioned on the left of the toilet when seated and was not tied up. However, there is no second cord near the door. It appears there may have been a colostomy shelf on the left of the toilet, but it is no longer present. The toilet requires a RADAR key for access, and the door opens outwards. Next to this toilet is a family toilet, which does not require a RADAR key and is ideal for those travelling with children. There is enough room inside to manoeuvre a power chair, making this an excellent alternative if the Changing Places toilet is occupied. This room also has a low sink. Please note that the family toilet does not have grab rails or a red emergency cord.

Staff

The service station manager I spoke with was pleasant and eager to receive feedback on how they could improve.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Dogs are welcome, but only in the main foyer area where there are plenty of seats and charging points. Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas, and water bowls are provided for all dogs.

Photos