Access Statement For The Farmhouse 

Introduction

The Farmhouse is a large stone and half-timbered self-catering cottage, sleeping a maximum of 12 people and dining a maximum of 20. All rooms have beamed windows which contrast and complement the newly added glass and oak sun room/dining room. We have tried to provide as much information as possible in this statement, if you have any queries please do call or e-mail us. We look forward to welcoming you.

Pre-Arrival
We have our own website www.hidelow.co.uk and are also listed on www.premiercottages.com.

• Bookings / enquiries can be made online, via email, fax, phone.
• The nearest bus stop is 400 yards away in Acton Green but buses do not run from here regularly and usually are not adapted for wheelchair users. A better bus-stop with more frequent services is in Bromyard, 5 miles away and would require other transport to reach it; we have telephone numbers for accessible taxis if one is required.
• The nearest train station (Malvern Link) is 7 miles away; there are usually taxis at the station however it is recommended to book accessible taxis in advance; we have numbers for accessible taxis if one is required.
• We offer the facility to hire wheelchairs and other aids and also equipment (such as profile mattresses and hoists), please ask for a price list when booking.
• We can arrange for shopping to be delivered, please advise of your requirements. We can also arrange for some freezer meals as well as beverages from the shop to be in the cottage when you arrive, please ask for a menu and order form.

Arrival & Car Parking Facilities

• Private gravel car parking at the front of the cottage with space for eight vehicles.
• Guests are able to park so that doors/ramps can be opened onto a hard paved path.
• Vehicles are also able to park so that there is ample access to the rear of the vehicle.
• The path leads directly under a porch area, this entrance opens directly into the living room with no steps or lips to manoeuvre around.
• Other parking is available although this is gravel parking further away from the cottage and we would prefer a maximum of eight vehicles for this particular cottage.
• There is also a back entrance to the cottage that opens from the dining room onto a patio area, however most guests prefer to use the front entrance as it is closer to the parking area.
• Both the front and rear entrances have passive infra-red lights that are activated at night for your safety.

Main Entrance & Reception

• The entrance at the front has no steps.
• The door is 82cm wide and is hinged on the right.
• Inside the front entrance is the lounge, with the dining room, kitchen, and 2 ground-floor bedrooms radiating from it.
• The entrance at the rear has level entry from the parking area via a paved pathway. The entrance via the dining room is a single door entry and is 80cm wide.
• Inside the 2 rear doors is the dining room

Dining Room & Lounge

Dining Room:

• The dining room has 2 doors to the lounge (each, width 85cm) and a door to the kitchen (width 80cm).
• Table (immovable) legs on each corner, 65cm floor to lowest point of table (underspace), 3.4 metres long, 2.6 metres wide and 80cm high.
• Free space between table and walls is 95cm either side and 1 metre at the end of the table.
• Dining chairs (all moveable) - 20 chairs with padded seats which have no arms. If needed, 2 further chairs with arms may be requested.
• There are large free spaces at either end of the table to allow entry through back doors.
• Flooring is Indian sandstone flagstones.

Lounge:

• Accessed through door to the dining room (width 85cm) or doors to downstairs bedrooms (78cm wide) or staircases to first floor bedrooms or doors to front entrance.
• Flooring is Indian sandstone flagstones.
• Furniture is moveable and there are plenty of non feather cushions provided.
• Two upright chairs provide armed alternatives (non feather filling)
• Two coffee tables are provided, 45cm wide and 100cm long, standing cm off the floor.
• Integral Freeview TV with Teletext provided with remote control (also available are DVD, with CD)

Bedrooms

Room combinations:

• Ground floor - 2 accessible ensuite twin rooms, First Floor - 2 ensuite four-poster kingsize beds, 2 ensuite twin beds.

General:

• Non Feather duvets and pillows can be provided in each room.
• Sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases are poly-cotton or cotton.

Ground floor:

2 ensuite Twin rooms:

• Door width 85cm
• Twin beds provided - each 3ft wide.
• Ensuite shower room
• Largest transfer space available to left of one bed is 1.2metres
• Largest transfer space available to right of one bed is 1 metre
• Bed heights 45cm floor to top of mattress. Height can be raised if advised before arrival.
• Space beneath beds for hoist legs
• Beds are movable if more space is required
• Largest free space clear of doors and furniture is 150cm by 210cm

 First Floor:

• Reached via 2 staircases (one at each end the cottage) each of 14 steps and with a small landing at the top (2.8 wide by 95cm deep). Steps are 18cm high, 31 cm deep and 1.2 wide.
• Handrails are on both sides of the stairs
• Short pile carpet from stairs and throughout first floor (not bathroom)
• All doors to the bedroom and bathroom on this floor are 78cm wide
• All rooms have an en-suite bathroom containing a power-shower over bath, wash basin, toilet and heated towel rail.

2 ensuite Four-poster double rooms:

• Bed height 46cm, 4ft6 bed, space each side of bed 76cm, free space clear of doors or furniture 4 by 3.2 metres.

2 ensuite Twin rooms:

• Twin 3ft beds (movable), bed height 48cm, total space possible between beds (where beds are on opposite walls) is 1.9 metres. Free space clear of doors or furniture 2.8 by 3.1 metres.

Bathrooms & WCs 

Downstairs toilet:

• A toilet is provided with basin but there is very limited space available inside (door opens into room). Door width 64cm wide.

Downstairs 2 en-suite bathrooms, each:

• Door width 80cm
• Large wet room with toilet, basin and shower, a plastic shower chair can be provided if required.
• Free space in shower room (free of doors and furniture) is 2.1 by 2.8 metres
• Special non-slip flooring
• Toilet seat height 46cm
• Space to right of toilet is 83cm, no available space to the left
• There are support rails available - 2 vertical next to the basin, one vertical on left entry to the shower, 1 vertical rail to left of shower controls, 1 vertical to the right of the toilet and one horizontal to the left of the toilet.

First Floor en-suite bathrooms:

• Door width 76cm wide
• Bathroom contains, bath, shower, toilet, wash basin and heated towel rail.
• Bath with flexible power shower over.
• Bath height is 46 cm. Integral bath rails available on both sides
• Available space free of door and furniture 1.9 by 3.1 metres
• Non slip tiled flooring
• Good colour contrast between floor, walls and furniture
• Release mechanism on outside of locked door

Self-Catering Kitchen

• Kitchen entrance 80cm from Dining room and 78cm from lounge
• Worktop height 93cm.
• Oven houses 2 ovens with 5 hob rings, the doors are drop down, height of lowest shelf 1.12 metres, can be accessed from the side
• Sink is 88cm high with no clear height under space (54cm wide)
• Hob is 93cm high
• Flooring is made up of Indian sandstone slabs
• Evenly lit kitchen with spotlights above work surfaces where required
• Good contrast between floor, cupboards and other surfaces
• American Fridge freezer, highest shelf in fridge 87cm and lowest drawer in freezer 95cm.
• Large cutlery and utensils available to aid dexterity
• A dishwasher with a drop down door

Additional Kitchen (for larger groups)

• Kitchen entrance 78cm from lounge
• Worktop height 93cm.
• Oven door is drop down, height of lowest shelf 1.12 metres, can be accessed from the side
• Sink is 88cm high with 65cm clear height under space (54cm wide)
• Hob is 93cm high
• Flooring is made up of Indian sandstone slabs
• Evenly lit kitchen with spotlights above work surfaces where required
• Good contrast between floor, cupboards and other surfaces
• Larder Fridge freezer available highest shelf in fridge 87cm and lowest drawer in freezer 95cm.
• Large cutlery and utensils available to aid dexterity
• A dishwasher with a drop down door.

Laundry

• There is a standard size washer dryer in the cottage itself which is front loading, provided in the kitchen.
• There is also a separate laundry available which is situated next to the main office.

Shop

• The shop is situated to the left of the office and can be accessed from the cottage via a paved wheelchair-friendly pathway.
• The shop has laminate flooring and all units are accessible by wheelchair users, with plenty of turning space.
• A computer is available for internet access and is set on a corner desk, space underneath the surface.

Additional Information inc. Outdoor and Leisure Facilities

• Access to children's play area on a slightly sloping lawn with swings, climbing frame and slide.
• The cottage has exclusive access to a hot tub at the rear of the cottage on a paved patio area, it is 200cm from the ground and is cm square, there are two plastic steps up into the hot tub, however there are no handrails and any disabled guests would need to be aided in entering and exiting the hot tub. If assistance is not available then it is not recommended for disabled guests to use the hot tubs. We have a strict set of rules for the hot tub which can be found in the information folder and posted next to the hot tub. These include the rule that no children under the age of 12 use the hot tub.
• Also provided outside are two large wooden tables 250cm long and 120cm wide, 2 armed wooden chairs, 20 chairs and two barbecues.
• Wireless internet connection available

Grounds and Gardens

• Large private garden (grassed) which can be accessed by steps or along a ramp 1:35 with a slightly uneven surface (old paving slabs).
• Recycling area can be accessed by a hard, paved pathway, no steps

Additional Information

• Information folder is produced in size 14 font (can be increased on request)
• A disabled access directory has also been produced to aide disabled visitors in choosing where to visit in the surrounding area based on levels of accessibility. This has been produced by collating questionnaires and feedback from previous guests and is continually updated.
• Light switches and power points at a sensible height to reach from sitting and standing position.
• Reasonable mobile phone reception
• Some assistance aids are supplied for guests who suffer from dexterity problems e.g. arthritis. We provide large cutlery, plug attachments (to aid use of plugs), key attachment to aid with operating locked doors, easy use utensils in kitchen e.g. can opener, scissors

Contact Information

• Address: Hidelow House Cottages, Acton Beauchamp, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR6 5AH
• Telephone: 01886 884547
• Fax: 01886 884095
• Email: info@hidelow.co.uk
• Website: www.hidelow.co.uk
• Hours of operation: Phones - 8.30-21.00 every day
• Local carers- contact Pauline or Stuart on 01886 884547
• Local equipment hire companies: TPG 01432 351666
• Local public transport numbers: Bus 0870 Train 0870
• Local accessible taxi numbers: The Accessible Taxi 01
• Local Tourist Information Centre: TIC 01684 892289

 Future Plans
We are continually improving our services and cottages as a result of guest feedback.

 We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve if you have any comments please phone 01886 884547 or email info@hidelow.co.uk