National Trust Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey is wheelchair accessible and rollator accessible. It also has both changing place toilet and standard accessible toilets too. I didn’t need to use the toilets whilst at Dunham Massey today so didn’t get to see the inside

It was delightful to return to Dunham Massey on a beautiful summer's day. This was my first visit since I became disabled. I was apprehensive, however was pleasantly surprised how do-able it is there. Gentle slop down to visitor centre, which is step free, completely level and large, with toilets, cafe, seating, shop, second hand bookshop and plant shop. The visitor centre alone would make a lovely place to come for lunch and a bit of shopping. We were offered a wheelchair but opted to use my walker. We were advised to exit to the right and go over the bridge, then up a path (too steep for me really) to the deer gate, to enter the estate. It was quite challenging for me to walk up to the house and garden but I didn't know at that point the buggy was so easy to mount. We didn't visit the house because I wanted to see the gardens. We followed the paths under advice of how to get to the rose garden, which I especially wanted to see. The paths are mostly level and crossing on the grass is allowed. Lots of benches meant there was always one I could rest on. One step up to the orangery. Lots of people were sitting on the grass chilling out, which was nice to see. The rose garden and nearby kitchen garden were delightful. Next time we go, we will get the buggy up to the house and garden and conserve my energy so I can look round more. Perhaps when the weather is cooler we will try the house.

The entrance to this National Trust property is downhill and, recently, the path down to the visitor centre has been improved to make it less steep for pushing wheelchairs back up to the car park. This is only a matter of a few yards but, previously, it was difficult to push a chair back uphill. The disabled parking is immediately to one side of the visitor centre which is spacious with good access to the National Trust shop, disabled toilets and large cafe. There is a large courtyard area for outside eating and drinking and the food/drink is, like all National Trust properties, good but pricey. However, there is nothing to stop one taking a picnic to the park. I have visited both with my mother who requires a wheelchair and with my husband who requires a mobility scooter. Most of the paths are suitable for both and enable a pleasing journey through the grounds and woods where the roe deer roam and can be seen very close to the paths. There is a lake and also a garden for which separate tickets are required but, again, the paths are wheelchair and mobility scooter-friendly. The garden is still a lovely place to visit even in winter-time. The hall, which is not always open, can be visited but only the ground floor is accessible. A mobility scooter can be hired at no cost if booked in advance: a donation to the trust is welcome, but not mandatory. Of all the NT venues we've visited so far, this is the best for accessibility.