Wales
IN AND AROUND WREXHAM
Wrexham Town Centre
These pages will be updated during 2010 in the meantime we strongly advise you to check with the accommodation and attraction providers included for more current information. N.B. The information for Chirk Castle, Techniquest, The Plassey, Bersham Heritage Centre and the Llangollen railway have now been updated.
Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales and it has an excellent variety of shops and three indoor markets. There is easy access throughout the town centre and to the majority of the retail outlets. There are many disabled parking spaces at various locations in and around the town. There are disabled toilets in the car park between the library and the police station but if you are shopping in the main centre, there are two nearer ones on the ground floor of Marks and Spencer's store. There is a Shopmobility Scheme that operates from a base adjacent to the bus station tel: 01978 292065.
For accessible places to stay in the area please scroll to the bottom of the page and for a wider accommodation search for other areas of Wales and the UK click here.
St Giles Church
The commemorative window to The Royal Welch Fusiliers
St Giles Parish Church is situated in Church Street off the High Street and dates back to the end of the 15th century. The roof of the nave is particularly beautiful and is adorned with carved angels. There is a chapel dedicated to the Royal Welch Fusiliers and a rare 16th century brass eagle lectern. The church has good access throughout except to the high altar. Adjacent in Church Street there is a small family run cafe with level access.
Wrexham County Borough Museum
The Museum Entrance
Wrexham County Borough Museum is located in Regents Street in the town centre. It houses a wide range of exhibits about the history of the area and the lives and times of former local inhabitants.
Trying out the Audio Display
Having recently undergone refurbishment it now offers excellent access and facilities for all visitors. For more detailed accessibility information, contact details and a link to their website please click here.
Techniquest Glyndwr
One of the many interactive displays at Techniquest
Techniquest Glyndwr is housed on the university campus at Plas Coch. It is an interactive science and technology discovery centre with live science shows in the theatre. Its great fun for children and the young at heart.
Our researcher checking out an exhibit about the human body
General access around the exhibition which is housed in two buildings is good and many of the exhibits are at a good height for wheelchair users.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
Bersham Heritage Centre
One of our team of researchers checking out the intepretation board near the centre's entrance
Bersham Heritage Centre is situated about 2 miles from the town of Wrexham in the Clywedog Valley. The centre houses displays about the local iron industry and 'Iron Mad Wilkinson' who developed a way to bore cylinders that were used for cannons and later on for James Watts steam engines.
The signage within the museum is easily accessed
During school holidays the nearby ironworks are also open but please note they have limited access for wheelchair users.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their web page on the local authority website please click here.
The Plassey Craft and Retail Centre
The Plassey
The Plassey Craft and Retail Centre is south of Wrexham on the B5426 Bangor-on-Dee road. It has a plant nursery, a selection of small craft and retail outlets, a cafe and a restaurant.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
Alyn Waters Country Park
Launch Day for the All Ability Bicycles at Alyn Waters Country Park
Situated in the Alyn valley, three miles from the town centre on the A451 Mold road. This is the largest country park in the Wrexham area and has good access for wheelchair visitors. There is a wheelchair friendly sculpture trail around the park with a good all weather surface but you may need assistance in certain areas due to the gradient. The newly extended visitor centre has a disabled toilet and refreshment and rest room facilities. There is an exciting new project that is now up and running. A cycle path has been upgraded and especially adapted bicycles and tricycles suitable for people with disabilities (and their carers) are available. These provide an interesting and enjoyable way to access the countryside. Further details are available by telephoning 01978 763145.
A view across the aqueduct from the towpath at Froncysyllte
If you take the A483 south from Wrexham and then the A539 towards Llangollen, when you get to Trevor take the left hand turn sign posted Trevor Basin. The car park is approximately half a mile on the left hand side. From here it is a short walk along the towpath to the Poncysyllte Aqueduct. It rises 126 feet above the river Dee and was built by Thomas Telford. It is possible to take a wheelchair across the aqueduct although the path is narrow and you need a good head for heights, the views from here are dramatic. There is a Radar key operated disabled toilet in the car park.
Llangollen is a small town situated on the banks of the river Dee approximately 12 miles from Wrexham on the A539. It is a bustling vibrant place that amongst other events hosts the International Eisteddfod each July. It has an interesting variety of small shops but access to these is limited. The Cottage Tea Rooms that are near the bridge have level access and serve excellent meals as well as light snacks. There is a disabled toilet in the town's main car park in Market Street.
Llangollen Railway
A view from the steam locomotive on Llangollen Railway
Llangollen Railway station is on the far side of the bridge alongside the river. There is a shop, snack bar and designated toilet. Access to the train is via a ramp and the friendly staff are on hand if assistance is necessary. Please allow plenty of time before train departure to assist with boarding. It is advisable to book beforehand at peak times and for booking details and information about special event days please check out their own website.
Step free access to the adapted carriage via a ramp
The adapted carriage (a former guards van) is spacious has good visibility and can seat 8 passenegers and 2/3 wheelchair users. The line is almost 8 miles long and travels through the picturesque Dee Valley to Carrog, where there is a small tearoom and designated toilet. The railway is run by a trust and all the staff are volunteers.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
Llangollen Horse Drawn Boats
Boarding the Horse Drawn Boat at Llangollen Wharf
Llangollen Wharf is a short distance from the railway. There is a drop off point at the Wharf which is up a steep incline but no parking, however at the weekend it is possible to park a short distance away at Dinas Bran school. Horse drawn boats operate from here and it is possible to board them via a ramp. The trip lasts 45 minutes and goes along the Llangollen Canal. Please arrive in plenty of time before departure as wheelchair users must board first. There is a disabled toilet but it is very small and wheelchair users might have difficulty.
A view from the top of The Horseshoe Pass
If you take the A542 Ruthin road from the town it will gradually start to rise towards the Horseshoe Pass. It is a very scenic route and from the lay-by at the summit there are stunning views across to the Berwyn Mountains. There is a self service cafe, gift shop and bar called The Ponderosa which has level access.
Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle
Approximately 8 miles from Wrexham travelling south along the A483 towards Shropshire is Chirk Castle. It has been continuously lived in for over seven hundred years, the last four hundred by the Myddelton family. Tickets are available from the Homestead Farm Visitor Centre adjacent to the car park. There is a wheelchair accessible courtesy bus from the car park to the castle. If you are not a wheelchair user but cannot manage the steps on to the bus there is a dropping off point outside the Castle entrance.
There is access to the staterooms both on the ground and upper floor via a wheelchair stair climber operated by a member of staff. As it is a requirement of health and safety rules please note that only one wheelchair is allowed upstairs at a time and it is advisable to ring and book beforehand to avoid disappointment.
The accessible route in the gardens
A large area of the extensive gardens are also accessible, look out for the wheelchair sign on an arched gateway as this is the disabled entrance. The Castle tea room has a separate level access, there are several shops at the Visitor Centre and designated toilets at the Castle and by the car park.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
N.B.The National Trust produce an Access Guide which covers all their properties and is available to order from their website.
Wrexham is an ideal base to explore the countryside in this part of North Wales. There is plenty to see and do in and around the area.
PLACES TO STAY
All accommodation included has been assessed by one of our wheelchair user researchers for accessibility. Please note however whilst we have tried to ensure that the accommodation included will meet most wheelchair users needs we strongly advise you to consult with each provider about your own specific requirements. For accommodation inspection gradings e.g. Diamond ratings, follow the links to each providers own website.
The Ramada Plaza
The Ramada Plaza Hotel
The Ramada Plaza Hotel is situated on the Western edge of Wrexham and is only I mile from the town centre. It has four accessible rooms (3 non smoking and 1 smoking) all with en-suite wet rooms. There is plenty of designated parking and level access to reception and around the ground floor bar, lounge and dining areas. There are no ground floor bedrooms in the hotel and the accessible rooms are situated on the first and second floors (accessed via a lift).
The wet room
The bedrooms all have double beds with right hand transfer and adjoining twin rooms with interconnecting doors suitable for a carer/carers if required. There is sufficient wheelchair access to the bed and good access and turning space in the en-suite. The shower has a fixed seat and a portable shower chair (not wheeled).
The spa and sauna
All guests have use of the sauna and spa (with hoist and a wheeled shower chair). There is not a wheelchair accessible changing room but further along the corridor from the spa is an accessible toilet (no turning space) which could be used for this purpose. Also adjacent to the spa is a gymnasium however wheelchair users would need to be able to stand or transfer to use the equipment.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
The Wild Pheasant
The Wild Pheasant Hotel
The Wild Pheasant Hotel is situated just off the A5 (Corwen Road) on the outskirts of Llangollen approximately 12 miles from Wrexham. There is designated parking and level access to reception and around the ground floor restaurant, lounge and bar areas. There is also a good accessible toilet off of the lounge.
The spacious bath/shower room
The accessible suite is spacious with a lounge area as well as a king size bed (right hand transfer or left with prior arrangement) and the en-suite has a corner bath, a level access shower and space to right hand transfer to the toilet.
The kingsize bed in the accessible suite
Guests have use of the pool area and steam room and sauna (N.B. Wheelchair users will need to be able to transfer in the sauna and there is no hoist for the pool however there is access to a changing room and the shower). There is also wheelchair access to the landscaped grounds.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
Dee Valley Cottages
'Swallows' at Dee Valley Cottage Holidays
Dee Valley Cottages are situated approximately 19 miles west of Wrexham and 2.5 miles from Llangollen adjacent to the A5. They are set on the slopes of the picturesque Dee Valley overlooking the surrounding countryside and would make an ideal base for exploring this part of North Wales. Chester, Shrewsbury and Liverpool are also all within an easy days drive.
The attractive living area
Swallows has a ground floor twin/single bedroom and an adjacent shower room with a level access shower, upstairs is a further bedroom which could be suitable for family members or a carer/carers. The owners have made a great deal of effort to ensure the cottage is both accessible and a pleasant and comfortable holiday experience.
The view from the patio
There is level access throughout the ground floor of the cottage including the decked patio with its stunning views of the valley through which the Llangollen heritage railway also runs.
For more detailed information on accessibility at Swallows and a link to their own website please click here
Bryn Halen Mawr
The Shippon at Bryn Halen Mawr
Approximately 22 miles west of Wrexham near the small village of Melin-y-wig (five miles from Corwen) set in peaceful countryside is Bryn Halen MawrThe Shippon has been sympathetically converted to provide accessible self catering accommodation. There is a designated parking space and ramped access into the cottage.
The Shippon bedroom
The double bedroom has good wheelchair turning space and right hand transfer to the bed. A (4 foot) double bed settee is available in the open plan lounge/kitchen for family members or a carer. Access to the garden and lawn is through the french doors.
The en-suite wet room
The en-suite wet room has wheelchair turning space, a fixed shower seat and there is room to side transfer to the toilet (however please note the angled position of the WC).
Also on site is a beautiful 18th century four bedroomed cottage (sleeping up to 8 people) and wheelchair users can access the ground floor of this. So this might be suitable for larger families and groups with one wheelchair member. It may be possible to provide extra care assistance morning and evenings as well as mobility aids and portable hoist hire with prior arrangement. Friday change overs have recently been introduced to enable a longer season of weekend bookings in addition to weekly hire.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
10 miles south of Wrexham on the A483 near Oswestry in Shropshire are Moreton Park Lodge and The Lion Quays that both have rooms with wheel-in showers. Please view our Oswestry page for further details.