The Kintyre Forum

For the majority of people that travel around Scotland, access to anywhere and everywhere is taken for granted. Most of us are able bodied and will remain so for most (if not all) of our lives. However, when you are either in a wheelchair, or are travelling with someone that is, things take on a totally different perspective. We recently spent two weeks in the Kintyre area and some of the problems encountered certainly opened our eyes – but it wasn’t all bad!

One of the café’s in Inveraray did not give easy access. The small step would have been alright, but space within did not allow any chance to manoeuvre the wheelchair! However, the café also offers a takeaway service which at least allowed all those travelling to enjoy the great food they offer.

Further on, in Lochgilphead, the disabled toilet gave the name of a building where the key could be obtained. However, it did not give the location of this building so I headed across to the Tourist Information office which happened to be nearby. As luck would have it they had copies of the key and it would make sense if this was mentioned at the toilet itself. For all we know the Tourist Info may even have been the building in question!

In Tarbert the pavements are mostly too high causing possible tipping of the wheelchair and its occupant! Also most café’s did not allow easy access at all, although one did provide seating outside which is fine when the weather is dry! However, the disabled toilet was locked and there was no attendant available to provide a key – and no indication where a key may have been found! Chances are the Tourist Information office there could supply one, but that was some distance from the toilet itself and… sometimes when you have to go you HAVE to go!

While in Tarbert we decided to go for a trip on the paddle steamer Waverley. Before deciding to book the tickets we checked for disabled access and were assured this was possible. Not only was this the case, but the crew of the ship carried the wheelchair AND its occupant aboard – and they also approached us to offer to do so as soon as they saw us waiting. It also has to be mentioned that the toilet facilities for disabled passengers were first class.

So on to our destination for the holiday, Campbeltown. When walking around the town, practically every kerb is too high and most shops, etc are inaccessible! Where there are lower kerbs to allow roads to be crossed, the corresponding lower part on the opposite side (assuming it even exists) is diagonally across the road, meaning it takes longer to cross! Also, at one point the lower part of the kerb was next to two railings that were too close together so a wheelchair would be unlikely to pass between them!

Again it’s not all bad news here though. A member of staff at the Corner House Café was extremely helpful and there was also a ramp into the premises making access easy. The Owl Sanctuary offered relatively easy access to the lower aviaries and the display area, but the higher aviaries were not so easy to reach due to the steep incline and steps! Finally, while we never actually used the buses, signs on the rear windows of these indicated that they were easily accessible by wheelchairs!

We’re actually quite lucky as the next time we travel into Kintyre it’s unlikely we’ll have a wheelchair – this was only required as the person sitting in it had broken their ankle! So once that has healed they should once more be able bodied… but it certainly was an enlightening experience!

Well done Linda J. There are various groups and individuals in Campbeltown and South Kintyre who have been complaining for ages about the problems with access for wheelchairs and poor mobilityespecially the kerbs and some public buildings.

There is also the problem in some of the villages of not even having a pavement to come off of but you have to use a rough gravel path or edge of the road (Southend and Tayinloan e.g.) which is also a problem for people who may be able to walk but are not too steady on their feet.

Those with limited sight also have difficulty crossing roads especially where there is the double kerb in Longrow South.

I could go on but will leave that to others.

Sooze

linda_j ,if you contact a group called RADAR online you can purchase a key which opens all locked toilets in uk,the key is for disabled persons and we have one for our son's and daughter,you can also contact local council in your area and they should be able to give you one free of charge,hope this helps

ullean's mum wrote:you can purchase a key which opens all locked toilets in uk

Thanks for the info there, I am sure others will find it useful. As for our experiences, as Linda stated it was due to a broken ankle that the person ended up in a wheelchair - and with a full length cast that meant disabled toilets were the easiest to use. However, by the time we return to Kintyre (and the holiday next year is already booked!) we should be wheelchair free!

I for one hate using my wheelchair in town because of the pavements and very uneven ones at that..........there is a hole in mainstreet which my front wheel just loves to dive into.............shops are`nt too bad but could be better layout wise although most stuff like baskets or boxes can be moved,and shop keepers are helpful.But I still don`t envy those people who have to use the streets every day.

I am just back from Oban and was in the chair everyday ,not saying their pavements are any better mind ,and it was great to be able to cross roads without the big bump down and walking for ages before coming accross a ramped crossing and loads of parking helps,also shop keepers ,attractions etc were very helpful.

We usually stop at the toilets in Adrishaig and I don`t have a key for the disabled loo either so have to use the ladies but the huge step makes it difficult .........I am going to get a key as there are a lot of innaccesable toilets.

Thanks everyone for replying... as bruce says we have booked for next year and its only when you hit with something like a broken ankle and using a wheelchair does it make you realise what the pavements and shops are like to access. It has opened my eyes a lot and will make me look out for more of these pavements when im out and about in Scotland...