Cottage in the Dales
Coming Soon
Cottage in the Dales
Eastburn Farmhouse
Newbiggin
Leyburn
NorthYorkshire
DL8 3TD
This Access the Dales wheelchair hub is based at the award-winning Cottage in the Dales. Our hosts, Diane and Andrew Howarth deliver a luxury 5-star holiday cottage experience, from a warmly lit fire & premium toiletries, to the best local produce, electric car charging and accessible & inclusive facilities if you need them. The Cottage in the Dales is at the heart of the Yorkshire Dales with places such as Aysgarth Falls and the pretty villages of Hawes and Leyburn practically on their doorstep.
At this hub there is a Minimo Plus mobility scooter available to borrow for the day.
The Minimo Plus is a compact mobility scooter which folds up and can fit into the boot of most cars (dimensions: LxWxH = 86x59x51cm or 34x23x20"). This means that people can take the scooter with them for a day and explore beautiful places such as Cotter Force, the Dales Countryside Museum and Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes.
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
What you need to do before you go:
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Watch the video on how to use the TGA by pressing the link: https://www.tgamobility.co.uk/range/scooters/minimo-plus-4
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Read through the PDF manual of the TGA by pressing the link: https://www.tgamobility.co.uk/help/instruction-manuals/
What is the Cost?
We don’t ask that you pay a fee for your trip because we want to reduce the barriers for people to access the outdoors. However, if you have enjoyed your expereince you can leave us a donation to help support us at Access the Dales to continue to develop the HUBS around the Yorkshire Dales. To help make the inaccessible accessible for more people donate using the link below:
Additional Information
Film Credit TGA Mobility
Accessible places to visit near the Hub
Hawes
Hawes is a market town found at the head of Wensleydale, famous for its Wensleydale creamery. Located in Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, the town covers a large area of moorland on Dodd Fell, Snays Fell, Stags Fell and Widdale Fell and includes the River Ure and Gayle Beck. There are many abandoned lead mines, quarries and limekilns in the area highlighting its industrial past. Aysgarth Falls is 9 miles east of Hawes along the A684, half way between Hawes and Leyburn.
The River Ure north of the town is a tourist attraction, along with The Dales Countryside Museum.
Market day is on Tuesday and the town comes alive with visitors and shoppers.
Places with disabled bathrooms:
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Public Toilet requiring radar key located on Market pl road close to “The Chippie”
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Dales Countryside Museum Disabled Toilet located in the car park close to the site entrance
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Laburnum House - Tea Room Bed & Breakfast – Disabled Toilet in Tea Room (a bit tight)
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1668 restaurant – Ground level access - Standard toilet
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Cafe Curva – Wide bathroom – Standard Toilet
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Whiteheart Inn - Ground level access - Standard toilet
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The Crown – Ground level access - Standard toilet
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Wensleydale Creamery
Places to park:
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Gayle Lane Car Park
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Wensleydale Creamery – Disabled bays/ time restricted
Places to visit:
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Wensleydale Creamery – Ground level access
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The Wensleydale Pottery – Ground level access
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Raydale Perserves – Ground level access
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Playground opposite museum - Ground level access, metal gate entrance
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Ropemakers Museum - Ground level access
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Dales Countryside Museum - Ground level access
Places to stay
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Dales House – ground level access into ground level bedroom. Standard bathroom
Places to eat and drink
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1668 restaurant – Ground level access, outside seating, narrow corridors inside
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The Crown – Ground level access
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The Fountain – step up onto pavement - Ground level access, Narrow entrance, wide open area inside
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Dales House Bed & Breakfast
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The Folly – ramp access
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Cafe Curva – 2 entrances: one with flat access / one with small step. Wide bathroom with standard toilet is accessible using step entrance
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Laburnum House - Tea Room Bed & Breakfast – Disabled toilet in Tea Room
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White Hart Inn – Ground level access
Shops
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Bear Cottage – Ground level access
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Rhodes Pet & Wildlife Supplies – Ground level access
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Toy Clothes Gifts – Ground level access
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Elijah Allen & Son – Small uneven step at entrance
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Cunninghams – Ground level access
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The Old Sweet Shop – Ground level access
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Spar – Ground level access
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Forever growing – Ground level access
Describe your image
Leyburn
Grid Ref: SE 11308 90413
w3w: ///simply.swung.enlighten
Leyburn is a market town, in the district of Richmondshire, North Yorkshire. Situated on a low ridge above the river Ure, it makes an excellent base for exploring the eastern Dales. Leyburn is part of the admired Wensleydale Railway heritage line and offers a range of local shop, restaurants, cafés, and even a cinema.
Places to park:
There are two main car parks in the centre of Leyburn, these include:
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Market Place Parking - DL8 5BG. There are three accessible spaces however these are not clearly signposted. The road markings are also faded but can be seen in the image below.
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Leyburn Long Stay Car Park - This is to the rear of the Golden Lion Hotel, Market Place, DL8 5AS. There are two accessible spaces to the left as you enter the car park.
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Tennants Auctioneers - Auction Centre, Harmby Road, Leyburn, DL8 5SG. There are two accessible bays outside the main building however these are not signposted - take the second left after entering and you'll see the accessible spaces are outside the main reception.
Places with disabled bathrooms:
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Disabled public bathroom located on Kelberdale Ct, DL8 5AP - Rader key required - These are not signposted but can be found if you walk northwest from the Market Place Car Park towards the big old building at the top of the Market Place (Wray Bros). As you face the front of this building turn immediately right, cross Harmby road, and straight down the alleyway in front of you are the toilets.
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Disabled public bathroom located on Harmby Rd, DL8 5BB – Radar key required. These toilets are signposted and can be found by walking down the main road (A684) towards the roundabout.
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Ceramic Inspirations - The Teapottery, DL8 5QD - Has one accessible toilet.
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Inspired Chocolate - Chocolate shop, Leyburn Business Park, DL8 5QA - Has one accessible toilet.
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Leyburn Arts and Community Centre - DL8 5DL - Has one accessible toilet.
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Chambers Coffee House – No accessible toilet but is ground access with standard toilet.
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The Bolton Arms – Ramp access to side of building. Ground level bathroom access. Standard toilet
Places to Eat and Drink:
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Golden Lion – Small step access at the front but does also have an accessible side entrance.
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Chambers Coffee House - accessible entrance and ground access standard toilet.
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The Bolton Arms – Ramp access to side of building. Ground level Bathroom access. Standard toilet.
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Saffron - Indian Restaurant, bar and takeaway.
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Soprano Pizza - evening takeaway - ground level access.
Places to visit:
There are many other places to visit within Market Place such as:
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The Parish Church – Ground level access around side of building
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Leyburn Arts and Community Centre – has accessible parking bay at the front, accessible entrance & access to the garden. Has accessible toilet.
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Co-op – supermarket - accessible entrance.
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One stop – accessible entrance.
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St Teresa’s hospice – charity shop – accessible entrance.
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Thomas the Baker – accessible entrance.
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House and Home – department store – accessible entrance.
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Andy’s Traditional Bakery – accessible entrance.
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Wensleydale Longwool – wool shop – accessible entrance.
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Hewsons – newsagents – accessible entrance.
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The Walking Shop – accessible entrance.
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Campbells and Son’s – food and wine emporium – accessible entrance.
There are many places to visit within Leyburn Business Park (DL8 5QA) such as:
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Tennants auctioneers – accessible building with a lift to the first floor and dropped kerbs outside the reception area.
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Ceramic Inspirations – The Teapottery – has a step at main entrance but they have a ramp to use at the side entrance.
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Inspired Chocolate – chocolate shop with accessible entrance & toilet.
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Simon Winstanley – Garden centre – accessible entrance with narrow aisles (possibly cluttered).
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Taplin & Mageean Spirit Company – accessible entrance.
(The Journey from Tennants back up to Market Place is accessible on the Minimo Plus, with dropped kerbs the whole way).
Shawl Playground - Accessible playground
A new accessible playground has been built however there is currently no accessible route to the playground at present.
The best route to take is down Riseber Lane however the route to Riseber Lane does not have dropped kerbs and cars have been parked on the path which completely block the route. This route is indicated on the map below; however the photos show the paths which may be inaccessible. There is a path to the left of the caravan park which may be a suitable route to the park however it involves going across a field so is only recommended in the summer.
Accessible walks nearby
Grid Ref: SD 8484 9166
w3w: ///spoiled.commander.reeling
Cotter Force is one of the most loved waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales. To this end, it has been made accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs by the creation of a purpose built track that leads from the roadside parking area to the waterfall.
How to get there
Leading out from Hawes towards Sedberg on A684, after crossing the River Ure on a narrow bridge you’ll see a barn on the left, the new tarmac layby is on the right just out of sight on the left-hand bend.
(Photo credit: Google Images, 2023)
The nearest accessible toilets are in Hawes, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park.
There is a dropped kerb at the end of the layby leading to a gate.
The track here is flat along the entire length, although there are occasional ups and downs but certainly too taxing.
It's only a short trek too - about a mile there and back.
Take care when getting out of the car as the A684 is a busy road at times. Stay to the footpath and do not attempt to take the scooter beyond the turning point at the end of the track. Do not attempt to take the scooter to the base of the waterfall.
Film Credit: The Outdoor Guide
Address: National Park Visitor Centre, Aysgarth, North Yorkshire, DL8 3TH
Grid Ref: SE 0105 8875
w3w: ///slams.spinning.perplexed
Perfectly situated to visit the superb waterfalls on the River Ure, the National Park Centre can also point you in the direction of other lovely walks in the area, taking in the surrounding woods or heading up to the lovely villages of Caperby or Aysgarth.
A view of the impressive falls at Aysgarth has been made possible because of a purpose-built footpath from the car park to the middle falls. Here there is a viewing platform for wheelchair users. The gate is wide and easy to open and there are benches along the way.
The Visitor Centre is completely accessible throughout, with a dropped kerb going up to the entrance, with double doors at the entrance.
Parking
There are four accessible parking spaces to the right as you enter the visitor centre.
Parking charges do apply for accessible bays as well - £3.50 for up to 2 hours,
£5.50 for over 2 hours (correct as of April 2023).
Toilet
There is one accessible toilet at the back of the visitor centre which is open all year round and opened with a radar key.
Places to eat and drink
The Coppice Café, based at the visitor centre, serves a great selection of drinks and meals largely made with locally sourced ingredients. The café and outdoor seating area is accessible, with double doors leading to the outdoor seated area.
By using the Minimo Plus Scooter, it is possible to travel to the viewing platform at the middle falls, go back out through the entrance of the car park via the path down to the road.
Please take care when crossing the road and travel at a low speed down the hill.
There is a gate after crossing the road, the middle gate is easier for the scooter to get through.
Carry on through the woodland then you will reach the viewing platform at the middle falls.
It is possible to continue through the woods to the steps that lead to the lower falls. Please do not attempt to go down the steep path in the scooter. This is your turn around spot to return back to the start of the walk. It is possible from the gate to walk a little way into St John’s Wood but this is not advised on wet days as the scooter cannot travel through thick mud.
Film Credit: The Outdoor Guide
Hawes Accessibility
Hawes local area (see below)
Gayle Lane car park: This car park, on the road leading left off the main street towards the Wensleydale Creamery, has two accessible parking spaces at opposite ends of the car park (4 altogether).
Wensleydale Creamery: The Creamery has 5 accessible parking spaces, 1 accessible toilet in the main visitor centre, but the cheese making experience, adjacent, has no accessible toilet. As you approach on the pavement from Hawes, there is an accessible pathway on the left leading to the main entrance, which is also accessible.
Gayle Mill: This can be accessed via the road from the Creamery. A small scenic stone bridge can be crossed (no pathway). The Mill can be accessed on your left after the bridge, down a driveway (access through farm gate). Please check website for opening times as these have varied over the Covid-19 period.
When coming from Gayle Mill or the Creamery back down the road into Hawes, the path on the right is accessible but gets narrow on as it bends right into the town. The path on the left-hand side of the road into Hawes is inaccessible and has steep and uneven steps.
The main town area is mostly accessible from Penny Garth café onwards. If you want to cross over to the café from the right hand-side of the road, there is a dropped kerb at the Fish & Chip shop, where you can cross over.
Penny Garth Café: Accessible entrance. No accessible toilet.
Bear Cottage: Small bump on entrance and quite tight area to navigate inside the shop.
Cockett’s Hotel & Restaurant: Small step on entrance.
The Board Inn: 2 large stone steps on entrance. No ramp. No accessible toilet.
The Crown: Minor step at front entrance. Has accessible toilet.
Voujon restaurant: Cobbles on approach.
The Fountain: No accessible toilet. No visible access. Large kerb to negotiate, from a cobbled are to gain entry.
After the Fountain, the left-hand side of the street can either be accessed over cobbles or on the main road. Steps make the pathway inaccessible.
Bay Tree café at Dryden House: Large step on entrance.
Between Bay Tree café and Dales House Bed & Breakfast, a cul de sac on the left has a few shops including:
Forever Growing: No access due to ridge in doorway.
Upper Dales Community Office: Accessible entrance & toilet.
Back out onto the main street, on your left is Folly café which is accessible on entry but has no accessible toilet.
Hawes Town Walk
This is a circular walk through the town, taking is a short stretch of the Pennine Way.
If using the Minimo Plus we suggest that the steeper section may be too steep for the machine and we advise that the full route is suitable only for a sturdy 4x4 all-terrian wheelchair.
Our alternative route would start at the Creamery, turning left from the carpark, head uphill to the start of the bridle path. Follow the bridlepath all the way to the church. Here we suggest to turn around and travel back the same way that you came.
Film Credit: The Outdoor Guide
Hardraw Force
OS grid ref: SD869917
w3w: ///reseller.fractions.vibrate
Hardraw could refer to shepard’s hut from Old English, and Force or Foss translates as waterfall from Old Norse. With a 30 Metre cascade, Hardraw Force is the highest above-ground single-drop waterfall in England. Located next to Hawes in the hamlet of Hardraw, this beguiling waterfall was formed as part of a wider process when glaciers scoured huge tracts from the land, creating valleys (or Dales in old Norse) such as Wensleydale. When the last glaciers melted almost 12,000 years ago, unique and iconic features were left such as Hardraw, which is just one among many awe-inspiring natural wonders in the Yorkshire Dales. The Force has been visited by various noteworthy characters such as Wordsworth, his sister Dorothy, JM W Turner and Kevin Costner who took a dip in the slightly “nippy” waters when filming Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Previously a fee would be payable at The Green Dragon Pub for entering the Force but now there is a small visitor’s centre where a few parking spaces are available for free. If you cannot fit in the car park, try park in the Hamlet of Hardraw. Entry cost is £4 for adults, £2 for children (under 5 for free) and £3 for concessions. Family Tickets £10. Well-controlled dogs welcome.
After paying, the side entrance to the left of the centre will be opened by a member of staff. Once this gate is open make your way down the path towards another small gate which can be pushed open. Our wheelchairs can quite easily deal with the little bump through this gate.
A firm gravel pathway leads through to an area with grass and picnic benches. Our advice is to avoid crossing the three wooden bridges to your left as the humped bridge is quite steep. You may be putting yourself and others in danger if you try to cross these bridges.
Carry on along the path towards the waterfalls. Be aware of the steep sides on your left as the stream runs parallel to you.
There is a viewing point at a gate labelled “No entry”. It isn’t possible or safe to venture further with your wheelchair from this point. Although there is another path with a viewpoint on the opposite side of the stream, this isn’t accessible due to the risk elements associated with the bridges mentioned previously.
When you have had your fill of the cascading torrent, make your way back the way you came, perhaps stopping at the benches for a quick snack where you can reflect before heading off to Cotter Force, The Wensleydale Creamery or The Dales Countryside Museum. It’s an area with plenty to offer.
