Wray Castle Access Statement Wray Castle, Low Wray, Ambleside, LA22 0JA T: 015394 33250 E: [email protected] Introduction Wray Castle is a mock gothic castle with grounds at Low Wray, three miles south of Ambleside on the shores of Windermere. After leaving the main road from Ambleside to Hawkshead, the castle is accessed by narrow public highways and is therefore unsuitable for coach access. The castle itself is situated on a hill with paths leading down to the lakeshore through managed parkland and woodland. The paths are a mix of hard grounding and concrete, and can be steep in places. The grounds immediately around the castle are relatively flat and accessible although there are still some slopes and uneven footpaths. While there are nine steps leading up to the main entrance, there is a level access route signposted to the side of the building which can be opened for you; please make your way to the main car park and ask our car park staff. The castle is not furnished with period furniture or collections, and is instead full of family activities for visitors to enjoy. The house is popular with children of all ages and will be busy and noisy at peak times, particularly school holidays. There is no lift inside the castle, and so access around the house can be limited for visitors with restricted mobility. Further details are given on the map and later in this document. Mobile signal There is limited mobile phone reception across the site. In an emergency, staff can be found in the main car park, ticket office and main entrance hall to assist; all staff are connected via a 2-way radio system and can raise the alarm. Staff can also be contacted in the office by calling 015394 33250 between 9am and 5pm. For emergencies outside of this time, please call 999. Dogs Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the property. In the grounds owners should keep their dogs on leads near vehicles and under close control throughout the rest of the park. Areas of the grounds have seasonal grazing of sheep, dogs should be kept on a lead in these areas. There are water bowls outside the ticket office, which are refilled regularly or can be filled on request. Page 1 of 7 Arrival & Parking Facilities By road: From the south and Bowness (via Ferry) take the B5285 through Hawkshead where this becomes the B5286. Continue on this road for 2.5 miles, then take the right hand turn to Wray Castle. From the north and Ambleside, take the A593 to Clappersgate, then take the B5286 signed to Hawkshead. After 2.5 miles take the left turn, to Wray Castle. Wray Castle is signposted off the main road between Ambleside and Hawkshead. Accessible Blue Badge parking can be found at the front of the castle, where there are four designated spaces surfaced with compacted stone. These spaces are the shortest distance from the castle building. Please display your Blue Badge documentation on your dashboard. Visitors with Blue Badge parking documentation park free of charge at Wray Castle. There is no requirement for visitors to the grounds only to visit the ticket office. The main car park is tarmac on the upper level with lined space markers, and compacted stone on the lower car park with some embedded space markers. The main car park is 20 metres from the castle; please note that there is no transfer vehicle available from the car park to the castle. The ‘pay and display’ machine is situated on the lower level of the main car park, underneath the Fernery. There are nine steps from the upper car park level to the ground level and nine steps from the ground level to enter the castle. There is a sloping path uphill from the lower car park to the upper car park. Busy periods If all the Blue Badge spaces are occupied we will always endeavour to find a suitable location for parking based on the circumstances of each visitor. Please ask our Car Park Assistants on entry to the car park. We regret we cannot reserve parking spaces in advance. Wray Castle can be very busy and during peak times, particularly school holidays, we may need to close the car park due to capacity issues. At busy times we may also use grass overflow parking, which is accessed by a steep track. If you require accessible Blue Badge parking please ask our Car Park Assistants and we can arrange a suitable parking location. Alternative ways of getting here: • By cycle - Seasonal bike-carrying boat from Brockhole; lakeside road and bridleway from Ferry Head (4 miles). Plus off road cycle path from Ambleside, signed Bowness via Ferry, look out for the blue signs. Cycle racks are available in front of the castle and in the main car park next to the bus stop. • By ferry - Regular sailings from Ambleside, Bowness and Brockhole. For more details, please contact Windermere Lake Cruises on 015394 43360 or visit www.windermere- lakecruises.co.uk. • By bus – there is a seasonal bus service to Wray Castle, via Hill Top and Hawkshead. For local bus information visit www.golakes.co.uk/travel/. The bus stop is located on Page 2 of 7 the upper level of the car park, approximately 100m from the castle entrance. The bus stop is surfaced with gravel. It is also possible to use local buses travelling between Hawkshead and Ambleside to arrive at Wray Castle, however please note that this bus stop is located on the main road between Hawkshead and Ambleside. This is approximately 20 – 30 minutes’ walk from the castle; this involves walking on the road for short distances, and on footpaths surfaced with compacted stone. Some parts of the walk may be hilly. • By train - The nearest train station is Windermere. • On foot - From the south, follow the lakeshore track from Ferry Head (4 miles). From the north, off road paths exist for the majority of the route, signed Bowness via Ferry, look out for the blue signs. Toilets We have one adapted toilet in the outside toilet block, opposite the level entrance to the castle, which is suitable for wheelchair access. These toilets are open from dawn until dusk every day. The nearest accessible parking is the Blue Badge spaces in front of the castle. • The adapted toilet measures 2400mm x 1600mm at its narrowest point. • Right hand transfer. • The room is lit by fluorescent bulbs, on a motion sensor. • There is an automatic hand drier. We currently don’t offer a Changing Places facility. Other toilets (not accessible) can be found on the ground floor beside the ticket office on either side of the front door, on the first floor on either side of the Billiard Room, and unisex toilets are also available next to the family room on the first floor. All of these toilets have automatic hand driers, solid floors and brick wall surfaces and are lit with fluorescent lights. Baby changing is available in both male and female first floor toilets, in the family room and in the adapted toilet in the outside toilet block. Ticket Office • The ticket office is situated in the entrance hall, in the main castle building. The floor here is tiled and the walls are stone, with some wooden panelling. There is also a frosted glass dome in the ceiling. • There are nine stone steps up from the front terrace into the ticket office. The door into the castle is made up of two half doors, which are 1380mm wide when fully opened. There is another door made up of two half doors leading from the ticket office into the main hall; this measures 1210mm wide. • The level access door measures 920mm wide. • The corridor between the level access door and the main hall measures 950mm at its narrowest point. Page 3 of 7 • The entrance door is kept open during normal opening hours, however in cold weather it may be half or fully closed. The door opens inwards manually, and ticket office staff are available to assist if required. • The reception desk is 890mm high, however staff will come round to talk to someone who cannot see over or reach up to the desk. • The room is lit by natural light coming through the front door, two lamps on either wall above price boards and four ceiling lights. • There are two chairs, without armrests, available. • We currently don’t offer induction loops at the ticket office. Castle • There are chairs or sofas in most rooms where visitors can sit and rest. • Rooms are not always manned, but our Visitor Experience Assistants do roam the inside of the castle regularly. A member of staff can always be found in the main hall. • We do run guided tours three times a day: please check in advance for tour times, from time to time these may be cancelled in school holidays. Ground Floor • There are six rooms on the ground floor. These include snacks and refreshments in the Drawing Room, and the shop, please see later in this document for details. • All rooms on the ground floor have wooden floors except the Drawing Room, which is lino, and the main hall, which is tiled. • The Library has a door width of 1180mm. It has a wooden floor and is lit by fluorescent lights. It has soft furnishings, with plenty of armchairs with armrests for visitors to use. There is also space to turn a wheelchair. • The Morning Room has a door width of 920mm, and the Study next door has a door width of 990mm.