Grange Bridge Cottage: Access Statement
We want as many people as possible to enjoy their time at Grange Bridge Cottage. The cottage is a historic building with its own character and quirks, and while this charm is part of what makes it special, it also means that it may not be suitable for everyone. 

This Access Statement has been written to give clear and helpful information so that disabled guests can decide whether the cottage will meet their needs.

Public transport
The nearest train station to the cottage is Penrith on the main west coastline. From there you can take the X5 bus to Keswick, then continue on the 78 Borrowdale Bus to Grange. The bus stop is on the main road through Borrowdale and is an approximately 130 metre walk, across the bridge, to the first cottage on the left.

 If you prefer to travel by taxi, ask to be taken to Grange Bridge Cottage, CA12 5UQ. There is a convenient dropping off point right outside the cottage.

Parking and arrival
There are three parking bays available for guests. When you arrive in Grange, two bays sit to the side of the cottage and lead towards the rear garden and entrance. The third is just around the corner by the front door.

The parking areas have been created around the natural granite bedrock, which gives the ground an uneven surface. The bays themselves are finished with cobblestone, so care is needed when moving around the area.

Parking Bay 1 is approximately 4500 mm long and 3000 mm wide. Parking Bay 2 is approximately 4400 mm long and 2700 mm wide.

From Bays 1 and 2 it is about 10 metres to the rear door and approximately 14 metres, down the road, to the front door.

Parking Bay 3, beside the front door, is approximately 3200 mm in length and is suitable only for compact vehicles. This bay sits beside the front entrance and is approximately 30 metres from the rear entrance.

Take care as all the bays back onto the village road.

Lighting for the parking area is provided and is operated by a switch in the cottage.

Front entrance 
The front door is reached directly from the roadside. The short approach, approximately 3 metres in length, is a mix of cobblestone and paving slabs. The front door opens inwards, with a twist handle. There is a clear opening width of 830 mm and a threshold 70 mm high. The door is heavier than the rear entrance, requiring a force of 50 N to open.

There is an external light beside the front door which is operated from a switch inside the cottage. 

Rear entrance 
The rear entrance is reached through a metal gate with a clear width of 1070 mm, opened by a lever handle positioned 1170 mm from the ground. Beyond the gate, the route to the rear door is flat with a smooth concrete surface.

The rear door opens inwards using a lever handle. The clear opening width is 710 mm, with a threshold that is 70 mm high. The door requires 29 N of force to open.

A sensor-controlled external light is positioned beside the rear door.

Internal overview
Grange Bridge Cottage is a three-bedroom property. The main living spaces, including the kitchen, two lounge areas and the dining room, are all located on the ground floor. The three ensuite bedrooms are on the first floor, reached by a stairway. There is no lift in the cottage.

 Whilst it is not practical to move some of the larger furniture, such as the main sofa or cabinets, certain items can be relocated to improve access. This includes moving the dining table, the coffee table or removing the rug carpets. If this would make your stay more comfortable, please discuss this with us before your visit and we will be happy to accommodate these requests where possible.

Thanks to the lower ceilings and soft furnishings throughout the cottage, the acoustics are gentle and comfortable.

The flooring throughout is smooth and flat, with a combination of granite stone flags and wooden boards. There is generally good contrast between the flooring and the white walls, which can assist with navigation.

Socket switches throughout the cottage are positioned at a height of approximately 480mm, and light switches are set at approximately 1130mm.

Kitchen
The kitchen space is well lit with several lighting options, including under counter lighting.

Worktops are 910 mm high, with a breakfast bar at 1010 mm. The bar stools are 680 mm in height.

The sink and hob are both positioned at a height of 910 mm. There is no under counter space for legroom.

There are two fridges. One sits below counter level, near the kettle, and the other is above counter height beside the oven.

The kitchen conveniently has two ovens, with control positions at 1520 mm and 1050 mm.

There is one large washing machines available in the kitchen located below counter height, with a large drier stacked above.

Most kitchen cupboards are below counter height to make access easier. If needed, items stored in higher cupboards can be moved to lower cupboards on request.

Living and dining area
The living area is reached from the kitchen by a short ramp measuring 680 mm in length, with a gradient of 1:9.7, leading through a doorway that is 1140 mm wide.

The space has ambient lighting provided by wall spotlights and lamps, along with 3 pendant lights positioned above the dining table.

The coffee table has a natural wood base with a glass top, which some guests with visual impairments may need to pay particular attention to. Seating in this space is 500 mm high. A short pile rug is placed near the coffee table in the lounge area.

The dining table is at a height of 770mm, and the chairs are at 470mm. 

With the chairs fully under the table, there is a gangway between the table and the walls of 740mm. Some ornaments could be moved or the table moved to allow more circulation space if required. 

The living room sofa is at a height of 440mm, and the coffee table is at a height of 450mm. There is a flat rug by the fire, which can be removed if necessary. 

Stairway 
A wooden stairway with a width of 840 mm and 12 steps leads to the first floor. Each step has wooden nosing, though the contrast with the step is low, so care is advised when using the stairs. A wooden balustrade, fitted with clear glass panels and positioned at a height of 900 mm, runs up the stairway and continues across the landing.

Bedrooms and ensuites
Every bedroom and ensuite has two lighting options, allowing guests to choose between full illumination or warm ambient light.

All the ensuites have flat, smooth tiled floors, and each is provided with a shower rug which can be moved or removed as needed.

There are no assistance rails or shower chairs within the ensuites, though the shower areas have space for a mobile shower seat if required.

All showers are walk in and fitted with glass screens. These may be difficult to see clearly, particularly for guests with visual impairments, so it is advisable to take a moment to familiarise yourself with the layout before use.

The bedrooms offer a variety of bed heights, which may be helpful when deciding room allocation. The master bedroom bed is approximately 440 mm high, while the other beds are approximately 500 mm and 600 mm high.

Hearing loop
There is no hearing loop installed in the cottage. 

Garden
As the garden has been designed to retain elements of the original landscape, there are various steps and natural undulations. The bedrock can become slippery, especially when wet, so caution is advised. Access to the garden is via 3 steps, each with a maximum height of 190 mm. 

The garden surface is a mixture of cobblestone, lawn, paving stones and natural bedrock. 

The hot tub, built from natural stone, is reached by 3 steps with a maximum height of 370 mm. There is then a step down into the hot tub which is 380 mm deep. Two pillar handrails are provided to support safe entry into the water.

The picnic table is 770 mm high, and the bench seating is 450 mm high. All picnic benches include backrests. Care is advised on the patio area as the step down to the fire pit is 400 mm high.

Assistance dogs
Whilst Grange Bridge Cottage has a no dogs policy, we do allow trained assistance dogs where they are required to support a disabled guest. We cannot accept emotional support animals (ESA’s), as these are not classed as trained assistance dogs.

If you need to bring an assistance dog, please speak with us before your visit so we can make sure everything is in place for your stay.

Access questions and support
If you have any questions or would like to talk through anything in more detail, we would be very happy to help. You can reach us on:

WhatsApp: +44 7540 299779
Phone: +44 7748 682989
Email: escape@grangebridgecottage.com 

We are always keen to learn and improve. If you have any comments or feedback about the accessibility of Grange Bridge Cottage, please do get in touch at escape@grangebridgecottage.com 

Author
This Access Statement has been independently completed by: 
Nick Liley
Beyond Bendrigg, part of the Bendrigg Trust
www.bendrigg.org.uk
01539 723 766