Teesside Countryside Directory for People with Disabilities first edition Whatever your needs, access to and enjoyment of the countryside is rewarding, healthy and great fun. This directory can help you find out what opportunities are available to you in your area. Get yourself outdoors and enjoy all the benefits that come with it… Foreword written by: Jeremy Garside, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust This directory was designed for people with a disability, though the information included will be useful to everyone. Alongside its heavy industry Teesside has some fantastic countryside. There are numerous parks, green spaces and nature reserves which provide excellent opportunities for countryside activities, from walking to wildlife spotting. It is more than worth taking that first step and getting yourself involved in your local countryside, regardless of your abilities. For people interested in wildlife and conservation there is much that can be done from home or a local accessible area. Whatever your chosen form of countryside recreation, whether it’s joining a group, doing voluntary work, or getting yourself out into the countryside on your own, we hope you will get as much out of it as we do. There is still some way to go before we have a properly accessible countryside. By contacting Open Country or another of the organisations listed here, you can help to encourage better access for all in the future. Published in Spring 2013 Using the Directory Throughout the Directory you will see some symbols. These are to help you see what kind of facilities or information is available. Please also contact individual places to ask what they can offer people with disabilities. Key: A wheelchair accessible toilet is available Accessible parking is available P A Braille guide and / or tactile book is available Large print leaflets are available Scooters / wheelchairs are available for loan To make it easier to find information some parts of this directory are divided into the five local authority boroughs: Darlington DURHAM Hartlepool Hartlepool Middlesbrough Stockton-on-Tees Redcar & Cleveland Redcar & Cleveland Darlington Stockton-on-Tees Middlesbrough NORTH YORKSHIRE Getting into the countryside is such an important thing for all of us. There is nothing better than the natural environment for the body and soul. Teesside is a compact urban settlement and might not be readily associated with quality natural environments. You can readily and easily get into the surrounding farmland and the landscape to the south is dominated by the steep scarp edge of the moorland plateau. While these all offer great walking and wildlife country, it is worth remembering that there are some fabulous opportunities even closer to home. There is a truly beautiful coastline which stretches from the golden beaches and low sand dune systems around Teesmouth, to the rocky foreshore of Hartlepool Headland or Redcar Rocks, to the towering cliffs (the highest in England) of East Cleveland’s Heritage Coast. The real surprise, however, comes from the great selection of nature reserves and countryside sites scattered through the conurbation itself. In what other urban and industrial settlement could you hope to watch seals fishing for salmon or stand a chance of catching a glimpse of an otter? I am delighted to support Open Country’s Teesside Countryside Directory for People with Disabilities and hope it brings pleasure to all who use it. Chief Executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Contents 1. Walking and Outings 1 Breakfree 2 Walking Clubs and Contacts 3-10 Easy Going Walks 11-13 Health Walks 14-15 Markets 16-17 Outings 18-23 2. Sports and Outdoor Pursuits 24 Clubs and Contacts 25-26 Outdoor Pursuits 27-33 Fishing 34-37 Cycling 38-43 3. Wildlife and Conservation 44 Clubs and Organisations 45-48 Accessible Wildlife Sites 49-52 Visitor Centres 53-54 4. Countryside Employment and Volunteering 55 Volunteer Centres 56-57 Volunteer Websites 57 Volunteering in the Countryside 58-61 Countryside Employment 62 5. Useful information 63 Community Transport 64-65 Public Transport 66-67 RADAR, Blue Badge parking and wheelchair hire 68 Shopmobility 69 Tourist Information Centres 70 Publications 71-72 Websites Worth a Surf 73-74 6. The Countryside Code 75 7. The Authors and Funders 76-77 Walking & Outings 1. Walking and Outings Breakfree 2 Walking Clubs and Contacts 3-10 Easy Going Walks 11-13 Health Walks 14-15 Markets 16-17 Outings 18-23 1 Breakfree Open Country have produced three Breakfree packs for Harrogate District and Nidderdale AONB. Great for short walks, nature trails, children, cycles and people with disabilities. The packs have clear, colour maps for each place, with all the information you need to help plan your day. Breakfree packs are £2 plus p&p. Get your packs from Open Country; call 01423 507227 and we will gladly post them to you. Only Breakfree, get healthy and £2 discover your local green space! 2 Walking Clubs & Contacts General contacts Disabled Ramblers www.disabledramblers.co.uk The Disabled Ramblers helps mobility-challenged people get back out into the countryside. Able-bodied helpers are welcome to support members and to help with loading scooters and other jobs. About 30 rambles are run each year across England and Wales – mostly from March to October. They ramble in all weathers and over a variety of terrain. The rambles are graded according to difficulty; some are suitable for shopping buggies and power chairs whilst others need large scooters capable of travelling over rough ground. For enquiries use the form on the ‘Contact Us’ page on their website. The Ramblers 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TW Tel: 020 7339 8500 Email: [email protected] www.ramblers.org.uk The Ramblers is Britain's walking charity, working to safeguard the footpaths, the countryside and other places people go walking, and to encourage more people to take up walking. They provide information and publications and promote walking for all throughout England, Wales and Scotland. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Area of The Ramblers has several local groups in the Teesside area. Each group has its own walks programme with walks ranging from easy to strenuous. These groups include: Cleveland Group Tel: 01642 474864 Email: [email protected] http://sites.google.com/site/ramblerscg The group operates over the Districts of Easington, Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hambleton (east of the A19), Ryedale in the North York Moors National Park and Scarborough north of and including Fylingdales Parish. Darlington Ramblers Contact: David Hardaker (Chairman) Tel: 01325 314442 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] https://sites.google.com/site/darlingtonramblers 3 Walking Clubs & Contacts The group has spring, summer and winter walks programmes. The walks take place on Wednesdays and Sundays and are suitable for most walkers and everyone is welcome to participate. The majority of walks are around 7 miles. Darlington Dales and Hills Email: [email protected] www.darlingtonhiking.org.uk A group for Ramblers members in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s (though there is no upper age limit). Based in the Tees Valley area, their walks cover County Durham, The Yorkshire Dales, The North York Moors and The Cleveland Hills. Walks take place on Saturdays or Sundays, starting between 10am and 11am, depending on the time of year. The grades of walks cover most ability levels, from easy five mile walks lasting around two hours to moderate four or five hour hikes. They also organise weekend and week-long trips. Darlington Aycliffe Fellwalking Club Contact: Alan Holmes (Chairman/Walk Secretary) Tel: 01325 488225 www.afwc.org.uk Aycliffe Fellwalking Club is based in Newton Aycliffe near Darlington and is open to everyone interested in fell walking or rambling. It caters for walkers of all abilities and ages. Each outing has a variety of walks of different lengths and difficulty ratings and transport is by comfortable coach that picks up in Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland. Darlington CHA & HF Rambling Club Contact: John Barnes (Club Secretary) Tel: 01325 720869 Email: [email protected] www.darlingtonchahf.com The club walks all year round regardless of the weather and covers all age groups from 17 to 70+. Walks are arranged on Saturdays and Sundays with additional evening local walks arranged for the summer months. Saturday walks are generally 6-10 miles in length and of medium grade. Sunday walks are more often of a greater length and degree of difficulty. Local Motion Tel: 0800 45 89 810 Email: [email protected] www.localmotion.blumilk.info 4 Walking Clubs & Contacts Funded by the Department for Transport though the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Local Motion aims to provide information, advice and support to encourage more people to use sustainable transport in Darlington, such as public transport and includes non-motorised transport like walking and cycling too. Walking and cycling maps are available to help you get out and about. Parks and Countryside Team The Beehive, Lingfield Point, Darlington, DL1 1YN Tel: 01325 383099 (Park Rangers) or 01325 388648 (Rights of Way) Email: [email protected] www.darlington.gov.uk/Environment Darlington Borough Council’s Parks and Countryside Team have a number of publications to help you enjoy the countryside, including a range of walks leaflets. At the time of writing these walks were being reviewed so contact the Parks and Countryside Team for further information. Middlesbrough Boro Becks Project c/o Stewart Park, The Grove, Marton, Middlesbrough, TS7 8AR Tel: 01642 515618 (The Boro Becks Team) Email: [email protected] www.middlesbrough.gov.uk The Boro Becks project is a three year project which is all about getting people involved in the becks through events and activities, training, practical task days and environmental and access improvements.