Access Guide

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Everywhere is fully wheelchair accessible. There are no steps and all doors have 760mm clear opening. All showers are wet-room style, kitchens have accessible hob and sink with front controls and 850mm wide x 350mm deep and 700mm high clear space under for wheelchair access. Light switches are at 1100mm and electrical sockets at 900mm. Push-pull doors for easy opening and closing rather than awkward handles to be turned.

Available for guests' use are : " Bello Sonno" electric fully height adjustable profiling beds, Oxford Advance mobile hoists (please bring your own sling/harness) wheeled shower chairs, shower-chair commode, high back chairs with arms, bed height raisers, toilet seat raisers, a pouf-footrest, kitchen perching stool and child’s step-stool. Smaller items include a pick-up reacher/grabber, magnifier, and a shoe-horn in each cottage. 
Bedding and linen for the cottage is provided but please bring your own pool towels.

Wi-Fi is available in the cottages.

Pre-Arrival

Large print booking forms, access guide , directions 'how-to-find-us' and other information is available.

Bookings can be made by telephone, post or e-mail.

Groceries and frozen meals can be pre-ordered and will be in your cottage when you arrive.

We are in the heart of the countryside so it is advisable to stock up with food and petrol on the way here.

The access guide is available on our website, please click " Full list of disabled facilities" on our website Homepage.

Arrival & Car Parking Facilities

Ellwood Cottages postcode DT11 0ES will bring you here when using Google Map or SatNav. We are in a remote area; there aren’t many road/direction signs and no street-name signs or street lighting! DETAILED DIRECTIONS can be found on our website under the link " contact us".

You will be able to drive up to the front door of your cottage to unload your luggage, which we can help with.

Adequate undercover parking is available at the rear of your cottage and there is a level hard surface route, without kerbs, from the car to the cottage - a distance of approximately 30 metres. The gravel in the courtyard is also wheelchair friendly.

We will meet you on arrival and show you around your cottage, the recreation room, pool and gardens.

A welcome pack consisting of, milk,butter,homemade bread and jam plus one or two other " goodies " will be in the Cottage.

Public Areas

A large recreation room is provided for guests use. There are books (some large print), magazines, games, puzzles, a piano and an information section with leaflets and brochures of places to visit.

Mobile phone reception can be poor in our area ( depending on network)with only isolated areas where it is possible to get a signal. However, if you have the WiFi Call facility on your mobile phone then you will be able to use your mobile phone by using the WiFi signal which covers all of Ellwood Cottages.

Laundry

Your cottage is equipped with a washer/dryer, a drying rack, pegs, iron and ironing board. There is a washing-line for use in the garden.

Leisure Facilities

The splash pool is 6.0 metres x 3.0 metres x 1.25metres deep and the pool water is kept at a comfortable temperature - circa 30oC. Do please note the water temperature in a Hydrotherapy pool is much higher, but ours is not a hydrotherapy pool. Please check the water temperature of the pool you regularly use and if it is higher than 30oC consider whether our pool is appropriate for you to use.

There are two changing rooms, each fully wheelchair accessible with wet room shower and side access WC facilities. There are guide rails all around the pool at the water line and easy access steps. There is an Oxford Dipper hoist - please be sure to bring your own harness/sling. We also ask our guests bring their own pool towels.

Bedroom 1.

All three cottages have Divan style " Zip and Link " beds which can be used as single or placed together  to make a " Super Kingsize" bed. 

Bedroom 2. 

Has an electric fully height adjustable profiling bed plus another single bed except in Hardy Cottage where the profiling bed is in a single room.

        Main bedroom lighting operable from bedside.

Wheelchair turning circle of 1300mm.

Doors have 760mm clear opening.

Non slip, water resistant vinyl flooring

Light switches at 1100mm and electrical sockets at 900mm.

The family bedroom in Blyton cottage  has a ramp 1000mm wide x 2400mm long x 200mm rise.

Shower-rooms & WCs

Each shower-room is wet room style with slip resistant vinyl flooring.

Doors have 760mm clear opening.

Fully adjustable thermostatically controlled shower.

Wheeled shower chairs/commodes ( including recliner) and mobile hoists are available.

Basins have rims between 740mm and 760mm from floor level, quarter turn lever action taps and wheelchair access beneath.

Wheelchair turning circle of 1500mm.

Toilets have a drop-down support arm and side grab rail.

Hardy Cottage left transfer.

Barnes Cottage left transfer.

Blyton Cottage one left and one right transfer.

Light switches at 1100mm.

Shelving trolley on wheels.

Kitchens

Each cottage has a purpose designed fully fitted kitchen with dishwasher, washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, microwave etc.

Wheelchair turning circle of 1400mm.

Ceramic hob and sink with front controls and 850mm wide x 350mm deep and 700mm high clear space under for wheelchair access.

Oven at mid height with side opening door.

Light switches at 1100mm.

Slip-resistant vinyl flooring.

Worktops at 900mm. Hob and sink at 850mm.

Doors have 760mm clear opening.

Gardens

The landscaped gardens have a seating area for each cottage, sensory planting and some raised beds. The pathways are wheelchair friendly and the views over farmland towards Bulbarrow Hill and Ibberton Hill are just beautiful and you will be tempted to remain there for hours.

The route from your cottage to the garden is along a level wheelchair friendly surface.

Additional Information

As mentioned previously, electric fully height adjustable profiling beds, mobile hoists, wheeled shower chairs/commodes , bed height raisers, toilet seat raisers, high back chairs and kitchen perching stools are available for guests to use without charge.

Assistance dog or one well behaved companion dog per cottage allowed.

There is a 'no-smoking' policy in all of the buildings.

A child’s travel cot and high chair available.

Basic cleaning materials are provided and there is a vacuum cleaner in the recreation room cupboard.

Please bring your own toilet paper.

A BBQ is available

There is a hairdryer in each cottage.

There is an umbrella in each cottage.

An electric shaver adaptor is available – please ask.

A long-handled shoe-horn in each cottage.

Automatic external lighting extends to the cottages and car park areas.

The courtyard surfacing has been specially selected to be suitable for cars and wheelchairs.

Our address is:

Ellwood Cottages

Village Road
Woolland
Blandford Forum
Dorset, DT11 0ES

Telephone:  01258 818 196

Email:  admin@ellwoodcottages.co.uk  Website: www.ellwoodcottages.co.uk
 

Hours of operation: 

All are welcome at Ellwood Cottages 365 days of the year. Three night short breaks are available, please enquire. Please see our website for further details. www.ellwoodcottages.co.uk.
 

Emergency contacts:

Clare and Darren :  Landline  01258 818196 or Clares mobile 07387584605  and Darrens mobile 07979496000.

 

 

Local carers:

The following are able to provide a visiting care service.

Silverstars Care - admin@silverstarscare.com - 01935 507792

The Old Grove Factory, Bristol Road, Sherborne,DT9 4HP

 

Local equipment hire company:

Mr Jem Dicken
Weymouth Mobility 
http://weymouthmobilityltd.co.uk/hire.htm

42, St Mary Street, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8PU
Email: sales@weymouthmobilityltd.co.uk
Tel: 01305 760575

Revised 10th May 2023