Access
Statement
Introduction
Riscombe
Farm has 4 self-contained holiday cottages. As these are old buildings
we are restricted in the accessibility in some areas, but we are striving
to improve this wherever possible.
Pre-Arrival
•
We are accessible by telephone, with an answer phone, and email.
• As we are in a remote area in the centre of Exmoor National Park,
the bus services are limited to Exford village. The service is to and
from Minehead, with one bus per day to Taunton. The nearest railway station
is at Taunton, which is about 26 miles away.
• Exford village is 1.5 miles (2.4km) away. Minehead, the nearest
town, 16 miles (26km) away. It takes about 35 minutes to walk to Exford
village.
• There is a mobility shop in called Independent Living at 8 Park
Street, Minehead.
• There are Radar accessible toilets in Summerland Road car park,
Minehead. Radar Keys are available from Minehead Tourist Information Centre
Tel: 01643 702624.
• Accessible taxis are available in Minehead.
Arrival & Car Parking Facilities
•
In the farm yard there is ample parking for up to 10 vehicles. Visitors
can park within a few yards of their accommodation.
• The surface of the parking area is round gravel/small pebble.
• There is front and rear access to parked vehicles.
• There are no barriers, speed bumps etc.
• Well behaved dogs are welcome. There are gardens and fields for
dogs to exercise/play in.
• No specific signage is required as everything is simple and clear.
• We can help with porterage from car to cottage if required.
• There are automatic lights in the yard at night.
• Access from parking to the cottages is level, except if entering
Bracken or Heather Cottage via the stone steps to the upstairs floor,
in which case there is a short ramp which leads from the yard to the lane.
Entering the Cottages
• Fern Cottage is all on one level, with no steps. There is also
direct access to the garden. The other 3 cottages (Gorse Cottage, Bracken
Cottage and Heather Cottage) all have steps external and or internally.
For Gorse Cottage there is access without steps, but inside there is one
step down into the living area, and 12 steps to access upstairs. In Bracken
Cottage there is access to the ground floor without steps, but access
to the upper floor is either from the outside via 7 stone steps (3 feet
or 0.9m width) with a hand rail, or internally by 12 steps (2'8"
or 0.82m wide) with a hand rail. There is also a single step to the bathroom.
In Heather Cottage, there is access to the ground floor without steps,
but access to the upper floor is either from the outside via 4 stone steps
(2.5 feet or 0.75m width) with a hand rail, or internally by 13 steps
(2'8" or 0.82m wide) with a hand rail.
• We show all guests into their accommodation, tell them about the
area and show them all the facilities we offer.
• All doors to the cottages are standard door width.
Public Areas - Yard, Games Room/Laundry and Fields
•
The flooring in the cottages ranges from carpets to wood to vinyl.
• There is a standard public pay phone available in the games room,
with seating beside it.
• Doors are standard size and key operated.
• There are gardens and fields for dogs to be exercised.
• The public facilities (games room/laundry) are all on one ground
floor level and have one small step to access.
Laundry
•
One small step (3 inches high or nearly 8cm) to access door to games room,
and then level access through games room to the laundry.
• No service wash is normally available, but we will do the wash
for those who need assistance.
• The laundry/games room is on one side of the yard, with the cottages
on two other sides of the yard.
• Internal lighting is bright, via fluorescent strip lights.
Leisure Facilities
• There is a games room with pool, darts and table football.
• Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult.
• Access is via one small 3 inch (nearly 8cm) step to a standard
door.
• It is open 24 hours.
• It is located on one side of the yard, with the cottage son two
other sides of the yard.
• Internal lighting is via fluorescent strip lights.
Outdoor Facilities
• We have several grass fields which are bounded by the
River Exe. There is also a track up to a woodland area.
• Parts of the fields are level or a slight slope. Other parts are
steeper. Access to the woods is up a steep rough track.
• If moving between fields, there are gates which might be open,
but are sometimes closed and need closing behind you as you pass through.
• There is no lighting in the fields and woods.
• There is no outside WC.
•
There is no seating on the fields or woods.
Bedrooms
• In Fern Cottage the two bedrooms (one standard double
and one standard twin) are on the ground floor, as are all the rooms in
this cottage. In Heather (one standard double and two standard twins)
and Bracken (one standard double and one with three standard singles)
Cottages the bedrooms are on the ground floor, but the living areas are
on the first floor. In Gorse Cottage the bedroom (one standard double)
is on the first floor accessible by a flight of 12 steps with a hand rail.
• All doors to bedrooms are standard size.
• All flooring in bedrooms is carpeted.
• Each cottage is fitted with a separate smoke alarm.
• In each bedroom there is a central light and bedside lighting.
Bathroom, Showers & WC
• Each cottage has its own private bathroom. Fern, Bracken
& Heather Cottages also have separate showers, whilst Gorse Cottage
has a shower/bath with a step up to aid access and a secure handle to
help when getting in and out.
• The bathroom sizes are: Gorse Cottage = 6'9" x 7'9"
or 2.05m x 2.35m , Fern Cottage = 8'10" x 7'7" or 2.7m x 2.32m,
Bracken Cottage = 9'10" x 6'6" or 3m x 2m (excluding the shower
area) and Heather Cottage = 7'6" x 6'6" or 2.3m x 2m (excluding
the shower area)
• All flooring is tiled.
• All doors are standard width, opening inward.
• The shower trays are standard size (2'4" x 2'4" or 0.7m
x 0.7m, and the height is over 8 feet (2.5m)
• The baths are standard size, height = 21.5" or 55cm, there
are no extra support rails in Fern, Bracken and Heather but there is a
support handle to help access the bath/shower in Gorse Cottage.
• The WC are standard size with no support rails.
• The water is not thermostatically controlled from the taps, except
that it is set at a maximum of about 60 degrees C. The showers in Gorse
and Bracken Cottages are thermostically controlled.
Self-Catering Kitchen
• Each cottage has a fully fitted kitchen.
• Access to each kitchen is level from the living area, except for
Gorse Cottage where there is one step down from the entrance hall to the
living area/kitchen.
• The water is not thermostatically controlled.
• Ovens are electric. Microwaves are provided in each kitchen.
• Flooring is vinyl or wood.
• Lighting is by spotlights.
• A fridge-freezer is provided in each kitchen. Extra freezer space
is available and accessible 24 hours a day.
The Cottages - other information
• The contact telephone number is displayed in the cottages and
on our brochure/paperwork.
• Fire extinguishers are provided in each cottage and the emergency
procedures are posted beside these.
• Lighting in the cottages is varied, with spots, central lights,
table lamps and standard lamps.
• Seating is a combination of arm chairs, sofas and wooden chairs
(mostly without arms).
• Well behaved dogs are welcome. There are gardens and fields for
dogs to exercise/play in.
• A cordless kettle is provided in each cottage.
•
Smoking is allowed in the cottages, but we prefer it to be outside and
request that there is no smoking in the bedrooms.
•
Satellite TV is proved with remote control.
• Wireless broadband is available across the site.
• Mobile phone reception is poor and variable in the immediate are
of the farm.
• Well behaved dogs are welcome.
• The area is very peaceful and quiet.
Grounds and Gardens
• Fern and Heather Cottage have private, attached gardens.
These are level areas, partly paved and partly grass. They are directly
accessible from the cottages.
• Bracken and Gorse Cottages have a shared seating area some 40
feet (12m) away from the cottages looking across a field down to the river.
• There is seating in each garden, plus a table.
• There is a level area where there are chickens and ducks.
Contact Information
Address:
Riscombe Farm Holiday Cottages,
Exford,
Minehead,
Somerset,
TA24 7NH,
England
Telephone: 01643 831480
Fax: Not applicable.
Minicom: Not applicable.
Email: info@riscombe.co.uk
Website: www.riscombe.co.uk
Grid reference: SS 834 395
Hours of operation: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Emergency number: 01643 831480
Local carers: to be completed
Local equipment hire companies: to be completed
Local public transport numbers: to be completed
Local accessible taxi numbers: to be completed
Future Plans
• We are developing our plans now.
• Improvements will be made to the bathrooms. These will include
hand rails.
Contact Telephone and Email Address
We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve if you
have any comments please phone 01643831480 or email info@riscombe.co.uk
Updated:
April 2nd, 2009
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