Overview

I have visited Dumfries House many times before on family outings but on this occasion we were celebrating my brothers wedding and so we were able to stay overnight for the weekend in the accommodation which is attached to Dumfries house.

Transport & Parking

We travelled to Dumfhries House by car and there is plenty of parking available although it's not necessarily marked as accessible. I'm not sure how easy it would be to get there via public transport at it as it is quite a distance away from the main town of Cummnock. The car park itself is a gravel surface so it's quite difficult to get over without help in a power chair and would be quite a challenge to a manual wheelchair user with a good upper body strength.

Access

The main house can be accessed via the stairlift which goes up the stairs very slowly. The staff are always very helpful and willing to help in any way that they can. Anybody who uses of power chair would be required to transfer into mannual chair to visit the main part of the house as a power she will be too heavy for the upper floor. This could be quite a challenge for someone who is unable to transfer. In order for this person to complete the house to her I would suggest putting in an interactive video or tour of the upper floor to allow this person to feel included and enjoy the full tour of the house which they have paid for. With regards to the accommodation for the wedding the cottages are attached to the main house. The disabled access room is number 17. There is a ramps peeved entrance to the cottage which can be quite slippery when it's wet. The cottage itself is a much bigger layout than the other accommodation. The accessible room includes a wet floor bathroom and wheel in shower with shower chair. The toilet has handrails either side but it's easier to transfer to the left side as the toilet is against the wall. I would recommend the installation of a ridge emergency cord in case of emergencies to allow a disabled person to ask for help. The tapestry room where the wedding was held is very large and spacious and a lovely space to be in. It is very well laid out by staff beforehand and very easy to move around in a wheelchair. The area where the wedding guests had breakfast the following morning is inaccessible to wheelchairs. I had to have my breakfast in my own room this then potentially bother me as the rest of the family meet up during the rest of the day. The woodland restaurant is also very rarely though by staff but requires to be booked beforehand if you wish to eat there. We all sat a long table so there is plenty of space for everyone. The café which is in the grounds of the house can you get very busy particularly in the summer so you're not always guaranteed a table. If you wish to eat inside as a family I would recommend booking a table in advance.

Toilets

There is one accessible toilet on the ground floor of the house which is quite small but has handrails either side of the toilet which can only be transferred onto from the left hand side. I would recommend to the venue to consider installing at Changing Paces toilet in the future if this is financially possible. Best with help to attract and watch wider range of visitors and make it a more enjoyable visit for everyone.

Staff

The staff are really very helpful and always willing to help in any way that they can. I was very disappointed when I arrived for the weekend for the wedding that my assistance dog was not expected to be at the wedding despite having told staff this in advance. I feel quite disappointed as my dog is an integral part of my stay anywhere. The cleaning staff said that they feel worried that they were going to be attacked by my dog on entering the cottage where I can understand this concern it is highly unlikely and I felt quite upset by this considering that we had hired the venue for the weekend. I think some staff training on disability awareness and important role assistance dogs play in the independence of disabled people is really needed.

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