Access Guide

Detailed accessibility information to help you decide whether the cottage will work for your needs.

Yorkshire Wolds Cottage is a single-storey building with all rooms on one level and no internal steps. It wasn't purpose-built for full wheelchair access, but the layout is straightforward and many guests with reduced mobility have stayed comfortably. This page provides honest, detailed information so you can make an informed decision before booking.

Arrival and Parking

The cottage has private off-road parking directly outside the front door. The parking area is a firm, level surface of compacted gravel. The distance from the car to the front door is approximately 3 metres across flat ground.

The farmyard surface around the cottage is generally firm but uneven in places. After heavy rain, some areas can be muddy. The path from the parking space to the door is the most level and well-maintained section.

The Entrance

The front door has a single step of approximately 15cm (6 inches). The door opening is 76cm (30 inches) wide. A temporary ramp can be provided for this step if requested in advance — please mention this when booking so we can have it in place before your arrival.

The door has a standard lever handle at approximately 105cm from the ground. The threshold is flat once you're past the step.

Internal Layout

All rooms open off a central hallway. The floor throughout is level with no internal steps or changes in height. Flooring is a mix of carpet (bedrooms and sitting room) and vinyl (kitchen, bathroom, and hallway).

Internal doorways vary in width between 71cm and 76cm (28-30 inches). This is narrower than the 80cm recommended for wheelchair access, but sufficient for most walking frames and rollators. Doors are lightweight and open easily.

The hallway is approximately 90cm wide — enough for one person to pass through comfortably, but tight for a standard wheelchair to turn.

The Sitting Room

The sitting room is the largest room in the cottage. Furniture can be rearranged to create more floor space if needed. The sofa seat height is approximately 45cm from the floor. Armchairs are slightly higher at roughly 48cm. The television remote and light switches are within reach from a seated position.

The Kitchen

Kitchen work surfaces are at standard height (approximately 90cm). The oven is a built-under type at floor level, requiring bending to access. The hob is on the work surface. The fridge-freezer is a standard upright model.

The dining table has a clear underside height of approximately 70cm, sufficient for most wheelchair armrests. Chairs can be moved aside if needed.

The Bedrooms

The double bed is approximately 60cm from the floor (top of mattress). There is access space on both sides of the bed — roughly 70cm on the wider side, 50cm on the narrower side. The twin bedroom has approximately 60cm between the two beds. Bed heights are similar.

Both bedrooms have a wardrobe. The hanging rail is at approximately 160cm. Lower shelves are accessible from a seated position.

The Bathroom

The bathroom has a standard bath with an overhead electric shower. The bath rim is approximately 55cm from the floor. A non-slip mat sits inside the bath. There are no grab rails fitted permanently, but a portable grab rail and bath board can be provided on request.

The toilet seat height is standard (approximately 40cm). The washbasin is a pedestal type at approximately 80cm. There is space beside the toilet on one side for a person to stand or for a commode.

The bathroom floor is vinyl, which can be slippery when wet. A bathmat is provided.

The Garden

The patio directly outside the back door is paved and level. Access from the kitchen to the patio involves a single step of approximately 10cm. The lawn area beyond the patio is grass over slightly uneven ground — manageable on foot but less suitable for wheelchairs.

Lighting

All rooms have ceiling lights operated by wall switches at standard height (approximately 120cm). The sitting room and bedrooms also have table lamps. External lighting covers the parking area and front door. The farm lane and surrounding area have no streetlights.

Emergency

A smoke detector is fitted in the hallway. The nearest hospital with an A&E department is Hull Royal Infirmary, approximately 16 miles south. The nearest minor injuries unit is at Beverley, roughly 8 miles away. The cottage address and postcode are displayed in the guest information folder for use in any emergency call.

Please Get in Touch

Everyone's needs are different, and this written description can only cover so much. If you have specific mobility requirements or questions that aren't answered here, please contact us. We're happy to provide additional measurements, describe particular aspects of the cottage in more detail, or discuss whether the accommodation will work for your situation.

We'd rather be honest about the cottage's limitations before you book than have you arrive and find it doesn't meet your needs.