Manchester always feels like my ‘home’ city. It’s one of my favourite places to visit, just an hour away from where I live in the Lake District, so perfect for an overnight stay. So, when I was invited to stay at Hotel Brooklyn, Manchester’s newest accessible hotel, I couldn’t wait to check it out. I’m now excited to share my review of Hotel Brooklyn Manchester after staying in one of its wheelchair accessible hotel rooms. Disclaimer: Hotel Brooklyn provided accommodation and meals on a complimentary basis for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, a ..read more

There’s nothing like a holiday with the whole family – pets included! I regularly travel with my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Poppy, and I know that finding accommodation that is wheelchair accessible but also dog friendly can be a challenge. You might be looking for a cosy cottage with level access and an enclosed garden for your four-legged friend, an accessible farm stay with wonderful walkies on the doorstep or even the perfect pub with wet-room showers, to share a pint with your pup. My list of four wheelchair accessible dog friendly places to stay in the UK has all of these options and ..read more

I’m cruising along the most beautiful beach, the wet sand is bumpy under my wheels and the seagulls squawk loudly overhead. The smell of the sea and the sound of the waves calm me, as they always do, and I look over to see my little dog Poppy running in big circles, loving the freedom of the beach. I realise that’s exactly how I’m feeling at this moment – free. I won’t pretend that accessible travel is ever easy, and travelling as a disabled person during a pandemic certainly brings an extra level of things to worry about – but, after an 8-month travel hiatus, I was determined to soak up ever ..read more

The Yorkshire Dales boasts a large number of holiday cottages, but how many of them are wheelchair accessible? The Dairy strikes the perfect balance of functional accessibility and luxurious fixtures and fittings, offering a wonderful base for disabled travellers to enjoy this tranquil part of Yorkshire. Travel is a strange thing to write about at the moment, isn’t it? As I write this it’s November 2020, and England is in it’s second lockdown. Non-essential travel is advised against. My hope is that once restrictions have been eased, and you may be able and inspired to look forward to a trip ..read more

I am tentatively wheeling my way across a forest floor, with light dappling through the canopy of leaves and the unmistakable sound of water rushing somewhere nearby. Suddenly I come to a clearing, and ahead of me is the most beautiful waterfall. Using a wheelchair means I’ve never been able to access such natural tranquillity, and after all of the stresses and strains of 2020 so far, I’m so grateful for this moment. I won’t pretend that accessible travel is ever easy, and travelling as a disabled person during a pandemic certainly brings an extra level of things to worry about – but, during ..read more

Looking for a wheelchair accessible holiday cottage with COVID safety measures in place? In today’s #SafeAccessibleTravel interview I chat with Steve from Croft Bungalow, an accessible self-catering holiday cottage in Derbyshire. Can you tell us a little bit about Croft Bungalow? Croft Bungalow is a self-catering 2 bedroomed cottage in the Peak District. It was specifically adapted in 2016 to provide holiday accommodation for parties travelling with guests who have extra access requirements. It has level access with extra-wide doorways throughout. It has contrasting door frames to assist guest ..read more

[AD] – This post is sponsored by Mobility Smart What are the best accessible aids to make travel easier for disabled people? Phil Ashforth from Mobility Smart guest posts for Carrie-Ann Lightley, giving us the detail on travel aids, from support handles to specialist cushions. As well as the many potential difficulties caused by accessibility when you arrive at your destination, whether that be work, leisure or when you’re on holiday, sometimes the journey itself can be difficult - so it makes sense to look into potential aids that can help make travelling easier. When you have a disability ..read more

[AD] This post contains a sponsored link to Travelscoop Is it possible for a holiday cottage to be luxurious, accessible, and COVID safe? In today’s #SafeAccessibleTravel interview, I chat with Diane Howarth from Cottage in the Dales, tranquil, beautiful, and accessible self-catering cottages in the Yorkshire Dales. Can you tell us a little bit about Cottage in the Dales? We are the only Yorkshire accommodation providing mobility, hearing & visual support to the VisitEngland National Accessibility Scheme standards, and for guests with wider, differing needs, often hidden, The Dairy is deme ..read more

Whenever I share a photo of my wheelchair online, the most common question I get asked is, what’s that big wheel on the front of your chair? So, I thought I’d use this blog post to tell you all about the FreeWheel wheelchair attachment, how it helps me to manage grass, gravel, cobbles and uneven terrain in my wheelchair, and where you can buy a FreeWheel. What is a FreeWheel? The FreeWheel is a piece of adaptive equipment – a large wheel that quickly, easily and securely clamps to the footrest of most manual wheelchairs, rigid frame or folding. It’s compact, lightweight, and ideal for wheelcha ..read more

How are pubs making themselves safe and accessible for disabled guests in the era of COVID? In today’s #SafeAccessibleTravel interview, I chat with Chris Taylor from ,The Amble Inn, a pub with rooms offering wheelchair accessible facilities in Northumberland. Can you tell us a little bit about The Amble Inn?  The Amble Inn is one of 13 inns across the North which is part of The Inn Collection Group. It opened at the beginning of 2019 and offers dining and accommodation services. It’s located in the Northumberland village of Amble, near to the Northumberland coast, as well as the Northumbe ..read more