Access Guide - is The Chestnuts perfect for our stay?

We like to offer a warm welcome to everyone at The Chestnuts, but due to the size and age of the cottage it does sometimes present some difficulties especially for those who have mobility issues. We have therefore set out below as much information as possible to help you decide if The Chestnuts is the perfect holiday cottage for you.

The Chestnuts has taken a number of steps to help make the house easier to get around for the slightly wobbly, young and older and have been awarded the VisitEngland NAS Mobility Level One award.

We would also suggest that you look at the many pictures on this website and our Pinterest page, as pictures can speak a thousand descriptive words. Plus take a trip around the cottage on our interactive ‘Step in’ tour guide. There you can see every aspect of our cottage.

If you have any further questions or queries then do please contact us and we will help as best we can. Email: chris@ecochiccottages.com

Entry to The Chestnuts

The front door to The Chestnuts is accessed via the undercover car parking area which is graveled. The front door itself is wider than normal and the width can be increased further by opening the side section. Once inside the door there is a small step up into the house, which has a support rail.

Main lounge with fireplace – there is a small step down to the main lounge but a grab rail has been placed here.

Kitchen and garden lounge – there is a small step up into the kitchen, that then leads to the garden lounge – there is a grab rail here to help with the rise in level.

Downstairs Bathroom Facilities

We do have both a toilet (with grab rail) and a shower room downstairs, however, the room sizes are not suitable for a wheel chair. The shower room is limited in space and has an additional step up to it, as well as a small step up into the shower tray. There is a wash hand basin and also a razor plug with mirror here. There is a grab rail in the shower and a shower seat is available in the cottage.

Upstairs bathroom facilities

The ensuite bathroom in the original part of the house has a large bath with taps at one end. No bath rail is present. It also has a toilet and wash hand basin, with shaver plug and ample mirrors. There is a large walk in shower with a small lip. A shower seat is available.

The Bathroom in the new wing contains a double ended deep bath (with grab rail) and wash hand basin and toilet (with grab rail). There is no shower in this room. This bathroom is accessed via the landing which again has a small step down to a lower level.

Downstairs Bedroom facilities

There are two lounges at The Chestnuts and the garden lounge contains a quality sofa bed. It is therefore very easy to make this into a secluded fifth bedroom downstairs. This room is also close to both the shower room and separate toilet.

Upstairs Bedroom Facilities

There are two double bedrooms in the original wing and two in the new wing. The original wing is accessed by the original stone curved staircase, which can be difficult to negotiate for the infirm or very young. It has a traditional rope rail and there is a door at its base to stop children going up unsupervised.

The further two bedrooms are accessed by a modern carpeted staircase with hand rail.

In the original wing the Master bedroom is accessed by a couple of small steps. These have a support rail and lights here illuminate the steps at night. It has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the garden and a Juliet balcony. The second master in the new wing also overlooks the garden and has a Juliet balcony.

Stairs

There are two sets of stairs at The Chestnuts, one in the old wing, which must be used with care. It is an original feature of the house and bends as it ascends from the lounge to the landing. The treads are original Cotswold stone and many centuries of use have made the beautiful stones rather slippy, so it is advisable not to use them in stocking feet and always to use the rope rail to go up and down. Particular care should be taken by the elderly and young children should be supervised.

The other set of stairs are in the newly extended part of the house and conform to current building regulations, they are wider and have a solid stainless steel rail for support. The surface here is carpet.

Please note – both wing are separate and do not connect upstairs

Floor Surfaces

The entire ground floor of The Chestnuts is natural limestone and so it is slightly uneven and unforgiving should you or your child fall. The upstairs in the new wing is has oak floor boards with stone flooring in the bathroom. In the original wing there is oak floor boards and limestone tiles in the bathroom.

Garden Areas

The garden has a large paved area with flush access from the double doors in the garden lounge and also double doors in the dining area. The main part of the garden area is shingled. There are ample places to sit once in the garden, including some very sturdy seating should you wish for a solid armrest on which to aid you getting up and down.

Additional Parking

In addition to the single car parking space at the cottage, there is also plenty of free parking in Shilton village on the roadside.

Our Accessibility Guide is also available on the VisitEngland website https://www.accessibilityguides.org/content/chestnuts-0

To Conform to the NAS Mobility level one award The Chestnuts has the following –

Reserved parking at the front of the cottage

One flight of stairs to the upstairs bedroom with no more than 15 steps and a rail provided

2 armed dining chairs

Door openings of 670mm

Cordless kettle

Shower and bath with integral handles

Shower with low threshold (less than 190mm)

Toilet with support rail

Lever taps

A shower seat is available on request

A clip on riser toilet seat is available on request

Mirrors go down to the wash-hand basin, so can be used whilst sitting down

Latch door handles rather than turn handles, however these can only be used when standing

Touch bedside lights

In the garden there is a solid sturdy bench with arms

To help the visually impaired we have all the welcome information on the TouchStay App which guests can access beforehand and during their stay on they own devices and therefore at their own magnification