Accessibility at Dunstable Downs

Arrival and parking

• There are 5 designated spaces for blue badge holders located in the front row of the car park nearest to our Visitor Centre. These spaces are tarmacked, indicated by white ground markings, and located around 10 metres away from all indoor facilities. Parking is free for these users.
• The rest of the car park is firm with a layer of loose gravel.
• Accessible toilets are available opposite.
• Benches are available outside the Visitor Centre, and there is level access to all inside areas.

Moving around the site

• The building and courtyard are open plan with large entrances and exits, level, non-slip flooring throughout and good turning spaces for wheelchairs.
• Maps with walking routes can be found in each carpark and next to the visitor centre courtyard. There are three permanent marked routes available, one of which is a hard surfaced, multi-user path with several benches located alongside.

Trampers

A tramper is a mobility scooter designed for all-terrain use, including on rough ground, grass, and mud.

• We have two trampers available to borrow on a first come first served basis. To guarantee access to a tramper we recommend booking at least 24 hours in advance. To book please call us at 01582 600920. Please let us know your name, contact number, arrival time and date.
• Trampers are available to pick up from our Visitor courtyard, located next to the disabled parking bays in the main car park.
• They can be used on our hard surface, multi-user path.
• There is no charge, but we rely heavily on donations to keep the service running.
• One mountain trike wheelchair and one standard wheelchair are also available to borrow daily throughout the year.

Facilities

• There are two sets of toilets available at Dunstable Downs, one inside the visitor centre and one just outside, closer to the main car park. Both contain men’s, women’s, disabled and baby change rooms. They are all step-free throughout. Accessible toilets do not require a radar key to access the facility.
• Chairs with and without arms are available in the café, and we have large-handled cutlery and crockery available for use.
• We have induction loops in our Visitor Centre, café and shop entry points. Please note that the visitor centre can get very loud, with limited quiet spaces.
• The height of the reception desk and till points are 1m high.

Useful resources

• There is a braille and large print guide to our estate and facilities guide available to borrow from our Visitor Hub, just off the courtyard.
• Also available at the hub are sensory bags to borrow. With a great selection of sensory items to provide stimulation, create calm, and engage with your senses, these can be curated and signed in and out.
• All dogs on leads and under close control are welcome throughout the estate, Visitor Centre, shop and café. From March to July please take extra care to not disturb ground nesting skylarks and livestock in fenced locations.