You’ve sifted through endless accessible holiday cottages in County Durham and finally found your perfect fit. It’s time for a big break for the family, and a week or two away from the stress of everyday life! All you need to do is plan your entertainment for the holiday, and make sure that all activities are wheelchair-friendly or suitable for your loved ones with limited mobility. You don’t need to be stuck indoors for the entire week to relax!
Walks are an incredible way to explore during your stay, and they’re seriously cost-effective. Pack a picnic, and you can easily go the whole day without spending a penny! With our help at Mellwaters Barn, you’ve got a guide to the best accessible walks in County Durham right here at your fingertips. Let’s get started.
The Park & Garden Walk at Raby Castle
Raby Castle is a main attraction in County Durham, and it isn’t difficult to understand why! The grounds are extensive and exciting to explore, and wheelchair access is available to the ground floor of the actual castle too. The gardens are situated on a slight natural slope, but any wheelchair will be able to navigate beautiful routes with pushing assistance from family or friends.
Anywhere that wheelchairs cannot physically navigate, due to the medieval nature of the grounds, is displayed in a DVD presentation area with level access. There are disabled access toilets in the Coach Yard, near the tea rooms.
Easington Colliery
Just off Crawlane Avenue, Easington Colliery is a one-mile circular route that has spectacular views of the Durham Heritage Coast. You won’t struggle to navigate the path, and the entire family is guaranteed to love the stroll. With flat terrain and breathtaking surroundings, this is a popular destination for both local dog-walkers and holiday visitors!
Easington town centre isn’t far from your walk if you need toilets, and there are a few restaurants sprinkled around should you find yourself hungry. This is a route with scenery you shouldn’t miss, or you’ll regret it!
Great Aycliffe Way
The entire route of Great Aycliffe Way has wheelchair friendly tarmac, so the entire family can enjoy exploring. Newton Aycliffe is a prominent town in County Durham, and you’ll see the highlights following this trail! There are also art sculptures dotted around the path to appreciate while you make your journey. There are a few steep parts to the path where wheelchairs may need an extra push, but nothing unmanageable.
You never stray too far from Newton Aycliffe town centre, though you’ll still be able to appreciate some proper country views! If you take the secondary loop, you’ll come across the train station if you need to use the toilet, and there are options for seating available around the entire trail.
Flatts Wood Walk
Flatts Wood has been lovingly nicknamed the ‘green lung’ of Barnard Castle, and this route explores the most beautiful sights the town has to offer. If you park in the town centre, you’ll only have to travel ever so slightly downhill and follow Raby Avenue to get to the castle. The section of Flatts Wood Walk that is closest to the castle is very flat, but you need to be prepared for slightly rockier terrain later on in the route. With some guidance and a little pushing, you won’t struggle too much.
If you check our accessible cottage availability at Mellwaters Barn, you could even turn your next trip to Barnard Castle into a holiday! We’re located a stone's throw away from the town, so you can enjoy even more of what County Durham has to offer with some comfortable accommodation.
