Accessibility

Birchill Cottages is a complex of self catering cottages, sleeping between two and six people, in a rural setting. We have tried to provide as much information as possible in this statement, if you have any queries please do call. We look forward to welcoming you.

Information about our website can be found at www.birchillcottages.co.uk
Bookings/enquiries can be made by text phone, email or by phone.
Our email address is holidays@birchillcottages.co.uk and our phone number is 01805 601623

The nearest bus stop is in Langtree, approximately 1 mile from our cottages. 
The nearest train station (Umberleigh) is approximately18 km away;
Home delivery of groceries from Sainsbury's or Tesco is available - please ask for details.
A home-cooked meal service delivered to your cottage, an organic vegetable delivery service, and a range of 'welcome hampers' are also available.

There is a car park, from which easy access to vehicles is available at all times. The car park surface is gravel but fairly even and easy to traverse.
Spaces near to the entrance can be reserved if necessary. The car park is lit using a PIR floodlight. PIR lights are fitted to the front of all cottages, although guests are advised to keep a torch handy at night if they feel they need extra light.

Luggage, etc can be unloaded directly in front of all of the cottages except Bryony and Hazel. However, help with luggage is available.

The Granary is approximately 20 metres from the car park and is approached via a gravel drive and down a gentle slope. Bryony and Hazel are accessed via the same gentle slope, Hazel being the furthest away, approximately 50 metres from the car park. Oak Apple, Bramble and Willow are accessed across a gravelled drive and then concrete yard. Oak Apple and Bramble have gravelled terraces in front of them, held back by railway sleepers. Oak Apple has two steps up to the threshold whilst Bramble is on a level with the gravelled terrace. Willow is furthest away of these three cottages and is to be found at the lower end of the concrete yard. The yard surface is fairly even but Willow is at the bottom of a gentle slope.

Should you need assistance or wish to tell us that you’ve arrived, a doorbell is situated on the front of the farmhouse, directly opposite the car park. The farm house is reached via a small area of grass, then four steps (ranging between 60 and 180mm) and a gateway (1020mm wide). A concrete path leads to the front door.

The Granary

The Granary is a two storey cottage.
The entrance is on the first floor as is the kitchen, the lounge, dining room and downstairs WC.
The entrance hall is tiled as is the kitchen. The lounge and dining room are carpeted. All door widths are standard – 830mm – with the exception of the lounge which is a double door, both of which open.
The kitchen is large and airy. Worktops are a standard height and are built in on two walls of the kitchen. Easy access is available to all the ground based units although all of the worktops (including the sink) have cupboards built under.
The downstairs WC is on a level access but is quite compact and is unable to accommodate a wheelchair.
Access to the rear of the cottage is afforded by a door leading from the kitchen to the outside patio and by a French window from the lounge. Both of these doors involve a step (50-100mm) down to the patio beyond. The patio is a slabbed area and borders a lawned area. The paddock beyond is accessed by a narrow gate.

The second storey in the Granary is accessed by a flight of ten steps, each approximately 180mm deep. A stair rail is available on the left hand side. The stairs are carpeted and are approximately 900mm wide. The second storey gives access to three bedrooms and the family bathroom. The master bedroom has an ensuite, with a shower, sink and WC. Again, the ensuite is fairly compact and does not allow wheelchair access. All door openings are standard. The family bathroom is bigger than the ensuite but would not comfortably allow access to a wheelchair user.

Bryony Cottage

The entrance to Bryony leads on to a small tiled hall (approximately one square metre in size) with a doorway directly opposite leading to the kitchen. Easy access is available to all the ground based units although all of the worktops (including the sink) have cupboards built under.
From the tiled hall, a step (230mm) leads down to the ground floor level. The lounge is reached via a single leaf door (830mm). The floor is wooden and polished. The lounge incorporates two settees and dining furniture for four in a large, airy space, easily accessed by all.
Immediately outside the lounge is a flight of ten steps leading up to the second floor. On the second floor are the family bathroom, the main bedroom and from that, the ensuite bathroom. Door openings are standard although the ensuite is compact and is not accessible to anyone in a wheelchair. The family bathroom is also fairly compact and is unsuitable for wheelchair users. From the second floor, a step (approximately 230mm) leads to the second bedroom.
Access to the rear of the cottage is via the same graveled path, then a lawned area, and finally up two steps (approximately 100mm each) to a lawned area bordered by a concrete path. Access to the paddock beyond is via a grassy slope.

Hazel Cottage

The entrance to Hazel Cottage leads into a narrow hallway from which the kitchen/dining room and lounge are accessible. All floors on this level are wooden with rugs covering parts of the floor in the lounge. The lounge is large and airy and allows easy access to all. One wall of the kitchen houses the kitchen units. All of the worktops (including the sink area) have cupboards built underneath.
From the narrow hallway described above, a step (approximately 150mm) leads to the bedroom. Entrance to the bedroom is via a standard doorway – however, this doorway is at right angles to the step. The bedroom is large and airy, allowing easy access to a variety of different furniture. Access to the back garden (a graveled area bordering a sloped lawn), is via a stable door leading off the bedroom.
The ensuite is accessed via a further two steps (both approximately 180mm) and a standard door. The step is carpeted as is the metre-square area outside the bathroom where a further door can be found that can be used to exit the cottage in an emergency. This door leads out to the front of the cottage and involves an 80mm step to the paving stones below.
The bathroom has a separate shower and bath. It is however, fairly compact and may not allow room for a wheelchair user.

Willow Cottage

Access to Willow Cottage is via a concrete yard, down a gentle slope. The entranceway is at right angles to the approach and is accessed via a concreted ramp, wide enough for a wheelchair user. Entrance to the cottage is via two double doors into a single storey. The lounge and kitchen are open plan and allow easy access to all. The kitchen is built on two walls of the cottage. All worktops (including the sink area) have cupboards built under.
The bedroom is accessed via the lounge. The doorway is wider than standard and allows easy access. There is adequate space on both sides of the bed to allow a wheelchair user access. The ensuite also has a wider entrance and can accommodate a wheelchair should the need arise. However, the ensuite does not yet contain any support mechanisms to allow use by a disabled person.
Access to the garden area is to the front of the cottage, either via steps, or via the same ramp (as was used to gain entrance) back to the concrete slope, and then further down the slope before reaching the grassed area. The grassed area is bordered by a row of railway sleepers. A seating area is available at the bottom end of the concrete slope.

Oak Apple and Bramble Cottages

Both of the above cottages are mirror images of each other except with regard to the décor. Thus, the description below is of both. However, where there are any minor differences, both will be detailed.
Oak Apple and Bramble are accessed via the concrete yard, some 20 metres from the car park across the graveled drive. Both are bordered by railway sleepers that hold back a graveled seating area that forms the patio for each cottage. Oak Apple has one step (approximately 90mm) prior to the threshold. The doors to both cottages lead into an open-plan lounge and kitchen/diner, all on a wooden laminate floor. Bramble has no step other than a raised threshold. Oak Apple has a standard door width while Bramble’s door is wider.
The first floor in both of these cottages is accessed via a central staircase with a 180 degree turn in the middle. The first floor comprises two bedrooms, one with ensuite and the other with adjoining bedroom. A small landing allows access to three of the rooms on the first floor but room is limited owing to a lack of space. Doors are also narrower than standard.

All duvet and pillow fillings in Birchill Cottages are non-feather and sheets are cotton or poly cotton.

We hope that this guide has been of use. Should there be any matters arising from it, please email us – mail@birchillcottages.co.uk or ring us on 01805 601623.

Many thanks,

Simon & Margaret Mathews