Travelling as a wheelchair user or as a companion to someone in a wheelchair can be a challenge. However, with some smart forward planning, wheelchair accessible holidays can be relatively stress-free.
Opting for a staycation right here in the UK immediately jettisons the hassle of air travel. It’s also easier to know what you’re in for, with no need to negotiate your way around foreign signage and language barriers. But where to go for an accessible holiday with a smidgen of off the beaten track adventure? Look no further than Wales.
Offering the lot, from glorious seaside spots to quaint villages, mountainous landscapes and vibrant cities, beautiful Wales is just the place to enjoy a holiday, whoever you are and whatever you love doing when you’re away from home. Throughout the country, you’ll find accessible trails, inclusive attractions and wheelchair friendly places to eat, drink and chill out. And when it comes to disability friendly accommodation? We’ve got you covered.
Finding wheelchair friendly accommodation in Wales in beyond
We know how hard it can be to find wheelchair accessible hotels. If you’re a wheelchair user or will be travelling with someone in a chair, here are some of our tips for finding accessible holiday accommodation:
- check the accessibility statement: a good hotel will be able to provide an accessibility statement. This should give you in-depth information covering everything from access into the building to the flooring that’s used inside.
- make a call: don’t rely on internet booking. Call a hotel or B&B direct to make sure the room you’re booking has the features you need. Some travel experts even recommend asking for pictures, allowing you to assess the layout of a room. Ring again the day before you leave to double check the right room is ready for you and to arrange assistance if needed.
- get recommendations: read reviews and get tips from other disabled visitors before booking. Elderly relatives can also be a good source of recommendations. Not only do older people have more time to travel they’ll also notice those niggling issues that might impact a wheelchair user.
- consider hostels: with large rooms and spacious public areas, hostels can be a great choice for wheelchair users. We are committed to diversity and inclusion. We supply detailed accessibility statements for all hostels and have several wheelchair friendly locations on our books, including a number in Wales.
Wheelchair friendly holidays in the Brecon Beacons
With a wide range of locations suitable for wheelchair users, the beautiful Brecon Beacons is a lovely spot for a stress-free break. Whether it’s bird spotting in the accessible hide at the Talybont Reservoir, hitting the rails on the wheelchair-friendly Brecon Mountain Railway or taking in the history and nature of the Blaenavon UNESCO World Heritage Site with its many accessible areas, there’s an interesting day out here for everyone. And all in some of Wales’s most spectacular countryside.
In addition to tourist attractions, the Brecons provides the ideal opportunity to get away from it all, with acres of unspoilt land to explore. Numerous paths are wheelchair suitable and in many areas stiles have been replaced with gates and ramps while surfaces have been upgraded.
A cosy farmhouse surrounded by ancient woodlands, YHA Brecon Beacons may not sound like a dream spot for someone with accessibility needs. However, in the hostel’s converted barn, you’ll find a spacious room with step-free access. This disabled holiday accommodation with wet room offers space for five people with a three bed en-suite room located in the same building – perfect for family or group getaways.
Disability friendly holidays in Pembrokeshire
Pretty Pembrokeshire is a must for those who love to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature. Not only does this coastal area offer a wide array of beaches, it’s also home to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path (also known as the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path). Surprisingly accessible, much of this path is suitable for wheelchair users and you won’t miss out on stunning views to sea either with easy-access viewpoints dotted along the way.
As for beach bums, wet sand needn’t stop you from enjoying some of the UK’s most attractive beaches. Many Pembrokeshire beaches provide ease of access via concrete paths or slipways while beach wheelchairs and all terrain equipment can be locally hired so you don’t have to miss out on a day in the sun or bring your own specialist equipment.
Located within easy reach of the sands of Broad Haven beach, YHA Broad Haven is a pick up spot for one of those aforementioned beach-friendly wheelchairs. Providing excellent accessibility features, this well-equipped hostel has ground floor bedrooms and wheel-in showers in en-suite rooms. A single storey building, all public areas at Broad Haven are accessible and both reception desk and self-catering kitchen have low level sections.
Near to Tenby, you’ll find the modern YHA Manorbier. Here a fully accessible bathroom with shower seat and grab rails is available, along with good access to public areas including the comfortable lounge and self-catering kitchen with low level gas hob and sink.
Wheelchair accessible travel in Snowdonia
Famed for its walks, scrambles and climbs, Snowdonia is now accessible to all with a wide range of paths overhauled to suit wheelchair users. While the 9M long Mawddach Trail is perfect for wheeled explorers, shorter routes like the circular Dôl Idris trail are recommended for those who can’t go quite so far.
While adventurers are invited to hire a Tramper off-road scooter from the local Parks Authority, visitors who wish to enjoy Wales’s most famous views in a more sedate way are welcomed onboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway. This train, suitable for wheelchair users, takes you to the summit of Snowdon, also known as Eryri, where the accessible visitor’s centre includes disabled toilets and an easy to access café.
When it comes to wheelchair friendly accommodation in the national park look no further than YHA Idwal Cottage. Located in the Ogwen Valley on the banks of Llyn Ogwen, this picturesque hostel offers an accessible bedroom complete with en-suite with low level basin, grab rails, shower stool and toilet raiser. You’ll also find similarly well thought out facilities in the converted barn building of YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass. Situated in the shadow of Eryri, this hostel is in one of the country’s finest locations. Conveniently it’s also next to the Sherpa bus stop and Pen-y-Pass ranger station, an information centre for the local area.
Wheelchair accessible holidays in North Wales
From modern art galleries with space and access for wheelchairs to roll-on roll-off fishing boats for hire. And from cycle trails for adaptive bikes to historic castles with access for all, North Wales has got a bit of everything. Perfect for an activity holiday, North Wales gives wheelchair-bound visitors and their families a wealth of options, whether they’re looking to learn something new, have an adventure or just take in the varied landscape of beaches, mountains, lakes and forests.
Accessible beaches like those found at Abersoch and Rhos-on-Sea make lazy beach days possible while Pedal Power’s adaptive hire bikes, including hand bikes and wheelchair bikes, give you a new and exciting way to get around and see the sights of Alyn Waters in Wrexham. This pleasant country park includes a wheelchair accessible sculpture trail too.
Around ten minutes from the centre of busy and bustling Conwy, with its accessible train station, is YHA Conwy. This lift-serviced hostel offers an accessible bedroom with (non-accessible) en-suite, located close to a wheelchair friendly bathroom with fold down shower chair. With disabled parking bays and a ramp to its front entrance, this friendly hostel is ideal for budget stays, putting you within easy reach of everything the area has to offer.
Wheelchair friendly breaks on the boarder
Often neglected by tourists, the border between England and Wales has plenty to offer for visitors looking for a peaceful getaway in rolling countryside. Known as the Marches, this pleasant area is home to a large part of the famed Offa’s Dyke Path which takes in three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Shropshire Hills, Wye Valley and the Clwydian Range (or Dee Valley). While the natural state of this route means most of it sadly isn’t accessible for wheelchairs, many of the pretty towns and sights along the way are.
Two private hire only hostels are located in this part of the world. YHA Leominster, in a former monastery, has accessible features including a ground floor bedroom located close to an accessible bathroom. Located in amongst the area’s black and white Tudor villages, this hostel is close to the National Trust’s Berrington Hall where mobility scooters can be hired and a Changing Place with hoist is available.
Even closer to Cymru, YHA Kington offers three ground floor bedrooms, one with an accessible en-suite bathroom. With an on-site car park, buses running from just up the road and wheelchair suitable taxi services available locally, this converted cottage hospital is ideally situated for exploring the Marches and is just a short drive from the border with Wales.
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Photo credit: Tomas Marek / phildarby / Alice_D / Delia_Suvari / Boris Stroujko / Jazzlove / acceleratorhams / Adobe Stock
