Overview

Firstly, I am a full-time wheelchair user who tries to be as independent as possible. I visited with my brother and sister, who can help me, but I like to do things for myself. Hence, I write from this point of view. The countryside and places to visit were great, especially to someone unfamiliar with the Somerset countryside and wanting to experience what it has to offer and its unique atmosphere. Our hosts were friendly and helpful, and our accommodation good. However, from a wheelchair-users point of view I can add some comments that I hope are taken the right way and could have improved my experience, as follows ( nb. we stayed in Swallow Barn, so I cannot comment on the other accomodation) - - The downstairs room for a disabled person is really best for someone with a carer in tow to help out. It has 2 single beds, which are positioned so as to make access difficult to the whole room for the disabled guest. - The roomy toilet and washroom is good, but the shower, being in a cubicle with 2 outward swinging doors on springs and a bath chair to manage, is not easy to utilise as a lone wheelchair user. Ok I'm sure with a carer. For me, a full wet room is far better. - I could not seem to get the radiators and towel rail working in the bathroom and bedroom; despite requesting help. Generally it was warm enough, but only just if getting up early, and I woke up cold x1 in the night. Because of the positioning of the beds I would not have been able to access the controls on the bedroom radiator anyway. - Similarly, the room has a radio, perched in a corner where a disabled person cannot reach it. - I was unable to shut the curtains at night as I couldn't reach because of a bed being in the way. A pulley system could overcome this. - The 2 single beds are large and of a very sturdy nature. It would be better to have something narrower and lighter that could be positioned closer together, leaving more room; or could even be pushed together. - The disabled parking slot demontrates the issue that calling something by this name does not make it so. To use it, and prevent someone parking so as to deny me access with my wheelchair, I would have had to back in. Then, however, I would have had to negotiate netting, and some loose lying wood to get out with my wheelchair. I preferred to park in an ordinary space over the road where on the end of the row I could reserve myself space to get access. The owners really should address this issue of having a proper disabled parking space(s). Sorry to moan. We did enjoy our stay, and if fixing the above it would easily get 4, if not 5, stars.

Transport & Parking

Access

Toilets

Staff