Access at Hill Top
- Published:
- 07 April 2025
We want to ensure that as many people as possible can experience Hill Top’s history and beauty. Here you’ll find information about access across the different areas of Hill Top and how to make the most of your visit.
Arrival and parking facilities
The car park is flat and tarmacked. The car park has 30 parking spaces. There are two disabled parking spaces located in the far corner of the car park close to the visitor reception.
There is one accessible space near the house that is available to use upon request on arrival. If the space is in use at the time of request, it can also be used as an accessible drop off point close to the house.
The house
Unfortunately there is no wheelchair or step free access to the upper floor of Hill Top house but a video of the upstairs rooms is available to watch on a tablet. The ground floor is wheelchair accessible
Large print guides are available from the house entrance.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of our site.
Most of Hill Top house has low levels of lighting to preserve the building and the collection.
Visitor reception
Visitor Reception can be found just off the main car park in an old barn.
Entrance to the Visitor reception is all one level. Entry and exit door is 100cm and fixed open. Floor is made of stone cobbles and slightly uneven. The area is lit by both natural and artificial lighting, but the light level is low. The reception desk is 115cm high. There is a turning circle with a diameter of 150cm. An Induction Loop is available at the reception desk.
There is a hearing loop in our Visitor Reception.
Braille copies of Beatrix's tales are available to borrow in our Visitor Reception.
Shop
Hearing loop available.
Ramp available for shop entrance.
Sensory Guides
Click the links below to download or view our sensory guides:
Visitors are advised that low-flying jets do occasionally fly over Hill Top. These practice flights are very loud and sudden; unfortunately, we do not receive prior notice of these flights.
Accessible toilet located in the visitor car park
If there is anything that we can do to help you in your visit, or if you would like more information, please contact us by email on hilltop@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 015394 36269.
Route from visitor reception to Hill Top House
Visitor reception can be found in the main car park. The following steps describe and show the short journey you have to make to then access Hill Top garden and property.
Step 1
Once you have collected your token from the visitor reception, you will exit through the barn door.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
Sensory items can be borrowed which include ear defenders and fidget toys. You can borrow these from Visitor Reception.
Baby carriers available to borrow from visitor reception.
Lockers are available for bags and rucksacks onsite. Buggy store located next to the lockers.
An all-terrain wheelchair is available at Visitor Reception.
Accessibility in the garden
Traditional cottage garden with paths and orchard. Garden is on a slight incline. There are some uneven surfaces and steps in the garden: four steps up to the entrance gate, three steps down to the on-site toilets (with handrail), and three steps down to the vegetable patch from the front of the house.
Accessible path to vegetable patch through the orchard. This entrance is 74cm wide and there is a slight incline.
Wooden benches for visitors in the garden. Two accessible picnic benches.
Wooden boards across the garden have interpretation written on them.
