Countryside

A stroll in the sun (or rain!), an ice-cream on the beach, a ramble through a forest, exploring a bird sanctuary or a nature reserve….

Wales has some of the most beautiful rural landscapes and sites in the UK, but the simple pleasures of visiting the countryside are often denied to disabled people because of lack of access. 

We don’t want to put a platform lift up Snowdon, or ramp the Dan yr Ogof caves. And we don’t want to tarmac over the beauty spots of Wales. But, there are many aspects of the managed countryside that can be improved and adapted sensitively to make them much more inclusive to disabled people. For example:

• removing stiles and replacing them with easy-to-open gates
• widening and levelling footpaths
• removing branches and overhanging vegetation from paths
• putting boardwalks in country parks or bird sanctuaries
• making bird hides accessible
• installing accessible fishing points
• offering a scooter loan service for accessible paths
• making car parking easier for disabled people
• putting seats along popular footpaths
• installing accessible picnic tables

Apart from physical changes to improve countryside access, we want to see much better information about popular countryside sites, how accessible they are and how to get to and around them.

This means publishing access guides to sites in all kinds of formats, and putting much better signage to guide people around the site when you get there. There is no reason why better signs should detract from the beauty of the site if it is designed inclusively and with care.

Some Welsh councils like Monmouthshire have made significant improvements to their most enjoyed countryside footpaths by consulting disabled people and removing obstacles; they show through their CountrysideMobility project how to improve access with the right approach, by offering scooters for loan and creating a network of accessible paths.

Disability Wales supports and endorses the best practice guidance BT Countryside for All: a good practice guide to disabled people’s access to the countryside. Available from Fieldfare Trust

We are working with the Welsh Assembly’s Countryside Opportunities Steering Group and the Countryside Council for Wales’ National Access Forum to develop a more accessible countryside in Wales. We have helped CCW develop guidance By All Reasonable Means available for download here: By All Reasonable Means (CCW)