Access and tramper hire at Charlecote Park

Two young women enjoy a day out in the parkland. One is wearing a black coat and has a black assistance dog. The other is wearing a grey jumper and is riding a mobility vehicle, alongside her golden-coloured assistance dog. — Visitors can hire an all-terrain mobility vehicle to explore the parkland with. | © Annapurna Mellor

Charlecote has two all-terrain mobility vehicles (trampers) available to hire, helping you to explore more of the parkland on your visit. Find out more about access at Charlecote and how to hire a tramper here.

What is a tramper?

The tramper is an electric all-terrain mobility scooter designed specifically to cover rough ground and grass safely. It can go up and down slopes, over bumps and tree roots, through shallow puddles, mud and soft ground.

These mobility vehicles have been kindly donated by the Coventry National Trust Association, to improve access to the parkland for everyone visiting.

Explore the parkland

The tramper can be used to explore suggested routes through the parkland. These routes have been thoroughly tested by ambassadors from other local access charities including Dogs for Good and the Disabled Ramblers.

These routes may change seasonally to work around annual weather challenges we experience across the parkland terrain. It is important the tramper sticks to these specific routes to help us with the conservation of the parkland. A member of the team will provide this map and run through it during the induction.

Please note that due to narrow spaces on the visitor route, trampers are not able to access our historic buildings. However, the Orangery Restaurant and Wood Yard Café are easily accessible and the trampers are welcomed inside these spaces.

Who can use the tramper?

The tramper is for use by anyone over the age of 14, who struggles with walking distances or up hills, or who has limited mobility of any kind. You don’t have to be registered disabled or have a Blue Badge to use it.

It can keep pace with a brisk walking companion, which is great for exploring the parkland together. Because parts of the parkland have gated access, you will need to have someone with you when you hire the tramper.

How to hire a tramper

We recommened contacting the team to book your slot at least 48 hours before your visit as the trampers are very popular. To book, please send us an email (this inbox is checked daily). Please wait for a reply from one of our team to confirm your booking before travelling to visit.

The two trampers are available 10am–3pm on most days.

Please be aware that all tramper users must be accompanied by one other person.

Normal admission prices apply but the tramper hire is free to book and use. Any donations are gratefully received to help with the maintenance and up-keep.

The tramper is very easy to operate and we provide you with a briefing, test drive and route map before you set off which takes around 10–15 minutes.

A gentleman leans out of his mobility vehicle to run his hand through the yellow sea of buttercups in the meadow. To his right, an older woman and man walk along the grass pathway, both wearing raincoats in different shades of blue. — Ask our team for a map of the suggested tramper routes around the parkland. | © Annapurna Mellor

Access at Charlecote Park

Available at Charlecote for your visit you will find:

Parking – A number of designated accessible parking spaces can be found in the main car park for Blue Badge holders or anyone with mobility requirements. A small number of spaces are available in a car park on site. Please ask at Visitor Reception if you need to use this space.
Drop off – A drop off point onsite is available on request. Please ask at Visitor Reception for more information when you arrive. A buggy transports visitors up and down the main driveway – please note that this is volunteer-led and only operates when we have volunteers available.
Hearing impairment – Induction loops are available in all our front facing spaces.
Visual impairment – Large print guides are available at Visitor Reception on request. We are indebted to one of our partially-sighted visitors who has reviewed Charlecote from her unique perspective.
Assistance dogs – Are welcome in all areas and buildings at Charlecote Park. We are working on plans to install a spend pen in the future. Dog water bowls are available around the main buildings.
Eating and drinking – Large-handled cutlery and mugs are available in our food and beverage outlets. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to use these.
Picnicking and relaxing – Additional picnic benches and café seats have been installed. The picnic benches in the parkland are designed to accommodate wheelchairs or mobility vehicles.
Wheelchairs – There are four wheelchairs for visitors to borrow which have been generously funded by the Coventry National Trust Association. They are more mobile on our gravel paths and can be self-propelled too. Talk to our Visitor Reception staff if you'd like to borrow one for your visit when you arrive.
All-Terrain Mobility Vehicles (Trampers) – There are two all-terrain mobility vehicles or trampers to hire which have been generously donated by the Coventry National Trust Association. These are designed to enabled those with mobility requirements to access the wider parkland terrain. Please see above for details on how to hire one of these for your visit.
Surfaces and terrain – There are flat gravel paths around the gardens. In the wider parkland there are gravel and mown, grass paths which can be uneven in places. These paths are accessible for chunky-wheeled child's pushchairs, but may be heavy-going for a wheelchair depending on recent wet weather conditions, and are easier to navigate using a tramper. Please ask for advice in Visitor Reception on your way in.
Toilets – Toilet facilities are located by the Gatehouse with an accessible toilet inside the first cubicle.
Ramps – Are available for access to the house and to the shop. Please ask a member of staff for assistance when using these. There is a ramp for access to the Orangery restaurant and flat access from the side door (right-hand side as you look at the building). Access to the Wood Yard Café is across gravel, the shorter route is from the side entrance.
The house – Most of the rooms which are open to the public are on the ground floor, and are accessible via the front porch ramp. Our upstairs rooms are currently closed.
Essential Companion card – Our admission policy admits the necessary companion, or carer, of a disabled visitor free of charge, on request, while the normal membership, or admission fee, applies to the disabled visitor. Find out more about the Essential Companion card for you and your companion.
Access Statement – Read our full Access Statement here.