Overview

We’ve just returned from our third stay in Valley View, our first chance since the lockdowns of the last 16 months were eased, and it is as faultless as ever. My wife is hemiplegic and wheelchair-bound after a stroke 8 years ago so we’re picky about where we go but this accommodation has been thoughtfully – and generously – planned and built specifically for people with different disabilities, with no expense spared, and the owners couldn’t be more helpful in providing any special extra equipment needed. Cars / WAVs can be parked within 2-3 metres of the front door for easy egress of wheelchairs and unloading of equipment and luggage. There are no narrow doors or spaces, no difficult right-angle corners and there’s ample turning room for wheelchairs everywhere (the doors are six inches wider than the official recommendations and there’s extra space at the foot of the beds so a wheelchair can get through). Cooking surfaces and the washbasin are powered and can be raised and lowered and shower chairs, fixed and mobile, are available. Plenty of power points for chargers and other equipment too. On arrival you also find a ‘presentation pack’ to die for, including milk, fresh bread, home-made marmalade, biscuits, tea and ground-coffee bags etc. The views over the rolling border hills are wonderful and our only slight disappointment was that we didn’t hear a cuckoo this year! However, ravens and peregrines can be seen from the (accessible) Symonds Yat viewpoint. We have absolutely no reservations about recommending this to anybody with physical limitations, or to people who just like a lot of space. The ability to link it with Brambles Barn means you can stay with other family and friends while still having your own private spaces. If you have any queries, contact the owners in advance – they are unfailingly helpful and informative. I’ve tried to find out how to give it 6* but have had to settle for 5*. I’m amazed that its total marks aren’t 5* and can only guess somebody must have given only 4* at some point, either because they were themselves having a bad day or they failed to ask the owners how to work something. Perhaps Euan’s Guide could discover why it was marked down and correct the rating?

Transport & Parking

Access

Toilets

Staff

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Everything was spotlessly clean when we arrived. We would without hesitation recommend it to anybody, disabled or not.

Photos