Access for all

Cotswold Way

Several sections of the Cotswold Way have been improved to provide access for people with restricted mobility, including at Leckhampton. View a 2.25 mile mobility scooter route, which was designed and executed by the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens as a 50th Anniversary project, on the Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common website.

An off road mobility scooter is available for hire to explore the Cotswold Way around Crickley Hill Country Park, through Countryside Mobility.

King Charles III England Coast Path in the North West

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.

The Allonby to Whitehaven stretch has been designed to be as accessible as possible. There are 2 stiles, these are at a railway crossing on Network Rail land.

The video below shows the Maryport to Allonby section of the King Charles III England Coast Path. This stretch of path is approximately 5 miles and can be walked in either direction, it is mostly along flat, tarmacked path but the video also shows two extra paths that can be taken around a nature reserve and to a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The video highlights parking, path surfacing, accessible toilet provision and suggests some places where you can stop for a rest or picnic lunch. The film can be used by anyone to give them all the information they need before visiting to enable the to decide where they can go and how far they can get along this stretch of coast. It was produced by Solway Coast National Landscape with Natural England.

Information about the Maryport to Allonby section can also be viewed on the Phototrails website.

The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the North West on the Contact Us page.

King Charles III England Coast Path in North East

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps such as down to the denes in County Durham and in certain sections of Bridlington North Sands to Filey. In other places the path may follow paved promenades such as in Hartlepool or other land such as the riverside in Sunderland, suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.

The 32km South Bents to Amble stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path is stile free and has no flights of steps (a flight consists of 10 or more steps).

The 26km Skegness to Mablethorpe section is stile free. Much of the trail follows promenades and is accessible to most people.

The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the North East on the Contact Us page.

King Charles III England Coast Path in the East

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.

The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the East on the Contact Us page.

King Charles III England Coast Path in the South West

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.

The 93km of King Charles III England Coast Path from Minehead to Brean Down is stile-free.

The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the South West on the Contact Us page.

King Charles III England Coast Path in the South East

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.

The 105km section of the King Charles III ECP in Kent is stile free.

The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the South East on the Contact Us page.

Glyndŵr’s Way

Visit the Natural Resources Wales website for information on accessible trails, trail for users of adaptive equipment and visitor centres with accessible facilities.

Hadrian's Wall Path

You can find information on accessible attractions, viewpoints and picnic sites in the National Park on the Northumberland National Park Authority’s website.

North Downs Way

Making the North Downs Way National Trail a safe, inclusive and accessible destination where all are welcome. Putting Down Routes is a collaborative project between Kent Downs National Landscape and the North Downs Way National Trail to encourage new audiences from under-represented communities, as well as upgrading and enhancing parts of the trail so they are more accessible to a wider range of people. To find out more go to: Putting Down Routes website.

The Kent Downs National Landscape website and Surrey Hills National Landscape has a range of easy access trails.

There are three Changing Places toilets in the Kent Downs National Landscape, you can find them at Shorne Woods Country Park, Brockhill Country Park and Lullingstone Country Park. Visit the Kent Downs National Landscape website to find out more.

The Wild with Wheels project offers free, safe and accessible guided, interactive nature walks and experiences for people with disabilities and impairments. Find out more on the Wild with Wheels website.

Offa's Dyke Path

Offa’s Dyke Path is working to improve accessibility. Stiles are being removed where possible.

Visit the Natural Resources Wales website for information on accessible trails, trail for users of adaptive equipment and visitor centres with accessible facilities.

Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path

There is only 1 stile left on Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path. Long stretches of the trail area accessible to most people. Surface improvements to widen and level out the surface has been carried out at ~Brancaster, Skelding Hill and Thornham.

A guide to wheelchair access to the Norfolk Coast Path is available to download from the Leaflets page.

A range of Access Tested walk leaflets are available from Norfolk County Council’s website including several for the Norfolk Coast Path. Each booklet contains key logistical details and a route map with a description of the route. They also include a map showing audit points with associated photos and details, illustrating the conditions you are likely to encounter on your walk.

Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Most of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path has been captured for Google Street View so you can determine for yourself if you could manage various sections of the trail.

A selection of downloadable wheelchair accessible walks along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path can be found on the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s website, just select Coast Path (Walks for All) under the walk location.

At low tide there are a number of walks along some of the finest beaches, to make it easier to enjoy there is a variety of mobility equipment to hire especially designed for use on sandy beaches. For location and booking information visit the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s website.

The National Park has a map on their website showing the location of a number of viewpoints along the Coast Path with parking areas nearby.

Pennine Bridleway

The Pennine Bridleway was created for riders and cyclists, so there are no stiles, although in places there are 10 horse stiles that may present a barrier to some people and mobility scooters. Many of these now have gates alongside.

Pennine Bridleway Miles without stiles routes in the Peak District can be viewed here (the link to Parsley Hey is the only route directly linked to the trail) : https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/miles-without-stiles#mwsroutes

Trampers are available in the Peak District National Park for use on the first section of the Pennine Bridleway.  They can be hired at Parsley Hay: https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/access-for-all/trampers

Pennine Way

Visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s website to download their Miles Without Stiles routes.

The Access the Dales website has details of hubs across the National Park where wheelchairs and/or trampers can be hired, there are details of accessible walks and accessible accommodation, places to eat and visit.

South Downs Way

The South Downs Way is open to cyclists and horse riders as well as walkers. There are no stiles that don’t have a more accessible alternative alongside.

The South Downs National Park Authority has created a number of Miles Without Stiles. These are routes that are suitable for people with limited mobility. Wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, dog walkers and less agile walkers can choose from a list of routes from across the South Downs on the National Park Authority’s website.

Inclusive equipment is available for hire at several venues across the South Downs National Park. This includes:

• the free use of two mobility scooters at Seven Sisters Country Park;
• hire of e-bikes including a tricycle from Cuckmere Cycle Co., located near the Seven Sisters Visitor Centre;
• scooter for hire to allow people with additional mobility needs to explore the South Downs Way from Cadence Cycle Cafe at Cocking.

Find out more including how to book on the South Downs National Park Authority’s website.

South West Coast Path

If you would like to explore parts of the South West Coast Path but are looking for flatter and wider paths which may be more suitable for people with limited mobility, please visit the South West Coast Path Association website where you can find routes which are accessible for people with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and pushchairs.

Thames Path

The Thames Path is a gentle Trail, suitable for people with a wide range of abilities. It is mainly flat, with just a few natural slopes. Many places along it can be accessed by people with limited mobility such as users of wheelchairs or mobility scooters, parents with pushchairs or those using a walking stick.

In recent years the stiles along the Trail have been replaced with gates. However there are still structures which may be barriers for many people with reduced mobility.

Walks for All on the River Thames

To encourage everyone to make the most of the Thames Path, National Trails and the Environment Agency published 12 walks along different parts of the River Thames, all with level and wide paths, gentle slopes and rest areas.

Each walk comes with a handy map and details about distance, type of surface and where to find accessible local refreshments and toilets, so everyone can decide which walks are right for them. Visit the Visit Thames website to download the walks.

The Ridgeway

Many people visit The Ridgeway in mobility vehicles including wheelchairs, hand-trikes, mobility scooters or off-road mobility scooters such as the Tramper. There are no stiles on The Ridgeway.

The Ridgeway offers miles of wide track without gates or stiles. These more accessible stretches are detailed in an information note which was produced in partnership with the Disabled Ramblers.

The Disabled Ramblers are helping people plan their visits to the Trail using Google Streetview – use the links below to view sections of the trail.

• View Coombe Hill on Google Streetview
• View Ivinghoe Beacon
• View the Lord Wantage Monument on Google Streetview

Yorkshire Wolds Way

There are no stiles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way and over time kissing gates are being replaced more accessible structures.

Some sections of the Yorkshire Wolds Way are promoted as step and stile-free. You can find these on our Circular and Linear Walks page. They are listed as Accessible walks and more are being added.