The four cottages, two fully wheelchair accessible, converted from an old dairy / granary were thought of and designed by our son, a full time wheelchair user so that families like ours can go away on holiday feeling confident that they will be able to ‘cope’ away from home. There are so many families who feel that they cannot go on holiday as a family because one member has a mobility problem and would not be able to manage away from their home facilities. On many occasions we have been told by our visitors ‘this is just like home from home’ with all the facilities that we offer.
Some of the benefits of holidaying at Mellwaters Barn Cottages are:
• The tranquillity of the area – a very relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
• Mellwaters Barn Cottages have total flexibility to suit your needs.
• All doors are 850 to 900 mm wide.
• All beds are electric profiling which raises the head or feet of the bed or both and are a suitable height for wheelchair transfer (see Accessibility section of the Mellwaters Barn Cottages on the website).
• To avoid the need to bring specialist equipment Mellwaters Barn Cottages have a lot of this available free of charge but we must know what you require before you arrive.
THE LARGE COTTAGES - BLUE TIT AND KINGFISHER
• These cottages have been assessed by Visit England as fully wheelchair accessible throughout the cottage. The cottages, each sleep four, are ideal for families who are looking for a central base in an area with plenty of places of interest for all the family.
• Each cottage has the two bedrooms and bathroom (in Kingfisher) or wet room (in Blue Tit) on the ground floor. The beds can be positioned either as a double bed or as twin beds place close together or wide apart depending on the amount of space you require. The bed height (55mm) is suitable for transfer from wheelchair to bed. Mobile hoists are available for use in the bedrooms.
• In the bathroom / wet room: There is a ceiling hoist in the bathroom of Kingfisher. We also have mobile grab rails, which means they can be positioned where you want them. Toilet frames, Neptune bath aid and shower chairs or commodes are available.
• To get from the ground floor to the upstairs there is a through lift (length 1085mm x width 725, up to 178 kg weight restriction) which will take a normal wheelchair and there is also a staircase.
• A freezer is positioned under the shelf in the hall together with recycling boxes.
• Upstairs the living area is especially spacious with a kitchen off the living area and there is also a W.C. upstairs. In the living area there is a rise and reclining chair as well as a sofa and armchair with a chair with arms at the dining room table.
• In the kitchen the work surfaces are at wheelchair height with kneehole spaces under the sink and hob for wheelchair users. The oven is at work surface height with a sliding shelf alongside it for ease of taking food out of the oven and placing it straight on to the work surface. These cottages also have a dishwasher each.
• The laundry room has a washing machine and tumble drier for use by our visitors as well as ceiling airers.
• The spaciousness of the cottages and miles of countryside to explore and enjoy makes Mellwaters Barn Cottages an ideal holiday base for disabled people or wheelchair users who enjoy the countryside.
• The footpaths on the farm are wheelchair friendly if a little dirty at times as we are a commercial sheep farm but do not worry there are washing facilities in the farm yard for cleaning the wheels of wheelchairs off if required. Some other footpaths in the surrounding area are also wheelchair friendly.
• A large and a small cottage can be ‘joined’ to allow a family of four and two grandparents or other family members or if a family has a requirement for three bedrooms suitable for wheelchair users to holiday together whilst also being able to have their own space to relax, Mellwaters Barn Cottages can meet your needs.
Take a look around: Blue Tit Cottage & Kingfisher Cottage
THE SMALLER COTTAGES – ROBIN AND WREN
• These cottages have been assessed by Visit England as suitable for less mobile visitors and those who are ‘part-time’ wheelchair users. The cottages, each sleep two, are ideal for walkers who want a base from which to explore the many footpaths in this area of beautiful unspoilt countryside. The approach to the cottages is up a short and shallow incline and through a door into a lobby area with the front doors for the cottages off the lobby.
• Downstairs there is a ‘roomy’ living area with the kitchen off it and also a W.C. The work surfaces in the kitchen have been lowered slightly but are not specifically designed for a wheelchair user.
• A freezer is positioned in the understairs cupboard together with re-cycling boxes.
• Upstairs Each cottage has one bedroom and good sized bath with shower over. The beds can be positioned either as a double bed or as twin beds place close together or wide apart depending on the amount of space you require. There is a ceiling hoist in the bathroom of Wren and a mobile hoist is available for use in the bedroom. We have mobile grab rails, toilet frames, Neptune bath aid and commodes available.
Take a look around Robin Cottage & Wren Cottage
Enjoying the unpolluted air of the North Pennines make Mellwaters Barn Cottages an ideal centre with easy access to places like Barnard Castle, Beamish, Bowes Museum, Newcastle, Auckland Castle, York and the Lake District.
As you will have gathered we consider this area one of the most fantastic areas for a holiday whatever your situation. One where you can just get out into the fresh air and ‘chill’ after the stress of the modern working life. The cottages are large enough to allow social distancing for everybody, so we would love to welcome you to our cottages at any time of the year, the cottages themselves are warm and cosy even in the middle of winter.
