Accessibility at Snowshill Manor and Garden

Arrival and parking

• There are 6 designated blue badge spaces in the main visitor car park. 
• Our Visitor Welcome team will welcome you and will be happy to help you with any additional needs you may have. 
• It is possible to arrange to drop off visitors at an alternative entrance to the manor & garden, by arrangement with the visitor welcome team.
• There is an induction loop at both till points at Visitor Reception. 
• There is a righ-hand transfer accessible toilet next to the Visitor Reception building alomg with a baby changing room.
• BSL guided tours can be arranged with a minimum of 3 weeks’ notice.

Moving around the site

• The path from visitor reception to the garden is approximately 500 yards long and takes around 10 minutes to walk at a moderate pace.  The route is an undulating tarmac path, incorporating several 1:8 gradient slopes.  There are benches positioned regularly along the route. 
• The path is shared with our visitor shuttle buggy which can take 6 people from visitor reception up to the Manor. 
• We have manual wheelchairs available at Visitor reception and at the manor. 
• There is Wi-Fi available at Visitor reception and in the cafe. 
• Dogs are allowed into Visitor Reception, the cafe patio, along the main visitor path and in the Orchards. Assistance Dogs only in the Manor and formal gardens. 
• The garden is set on a hillside and is designed as a series of ‘outdoor rooms’, each enclosed by hedging or low walls and separated by stone steps, most of which are steep and only some of which have handrails.
• Only a small part of the formal gardens are accesible by wheelchair and the surfaces vary, including gravel paths. 

Moving around the house

• The entrance to the manor is up 3 steps, each approximately 150mm high.  There is a temporary portable ramp that can be requested from the front door of the manor. There is no alternative level access to the Manor. 

• Powered mobility vehicles and pushchairs cannot be accommodated in the manor due to the entrance steps and narrow corridors and turning circles.

• Lighting in the Manor is dim, particularly on dark days. 
• You are not permitted to take back-packs, back child-carriers or large bags into the manor, these must be returned to your car. Pushchairs must be left outside the front door of the manor.
• Once inside the manor, wheelchair users can access three rooms on the ground floor without encountering further steps (these rooms are Turquoise, Meridian & Zenith) and then must return to exit through the entrance door. The remaining three rooms on the ground floor (Admiral, Dragon & Nadir) are all accessed via a single stone step, which do not have ramps.
• The first and second floor of the manor are unfortunately inaccessible to wheelchair users, as they are accessed via several flights of stairs.
• There is a virtual tour incorporating photos and text on a small tablet computer, which can be requested from any of the team.
• There is a Braille guide available from the manor front door.
• Seating is available if required, please ask the team for assistance.  There is usually someone in each room.
• If you require use of a quiet space, please indicate this to a member of our team who will be able to find a suitable area for you.
• Handling items are available in some rooms throughout the manor.

Useful resources

• You can find a full sensory map under the accessibility section of our main website page. 
• We have two sensory bags available which include fidget toys, noise cancelling headphones and other resources. 
• If you need a quiet space please ask a member of staff and we can point you to the nearest quiet zone.