Feature Photo: Linda and John Reinecke
You may recognise Debbie North from her appearance
in television series such as Channel 4’s The Yorkshire Dales & The Lakes. Here, Debbie shares her experience of visiting Smardale Nature Reserve as a wheelchair user.
I work with Julia Bradbury and The Outdoor Guide (TOG) running the wheelchair-friendly walks section of the website. The brainchild of both Julia and her sister, Gina, The Outdoor Guide is an online resource which details all of Julia’s walks and many others. All of these are available for free download and also include information on places to eat, drink and sleep.
One facet of the work I do with The Outdoor Guide is the ongoing research of walks suitable for wheels, ranging from prams and buggies through to manual wheelchairs and up to and including all- terrain wheelchairs. With this in mind, the aim of our walk on this particular outing – I was accompanied by Rachel Briggs, Recreation and Access Officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Andy, my husband – was to explore and audit a new section of the Dales, which officially grew by almost a quarter on 1 August 2016.
This walk with wheels begins in the seemingly sleepy village of Smardale, a couple of miles or so to the west of the market town of Kirkby Stephen, the nearest place for any amenities you might need. To be very clear, we weren’t just taking in the route for pleasure – we were here to work! And our very clear goal was to decide whether the route can be added to the ‘Miles without Stiles’ programme, a series of wheelchair-friendly walks allowing access for all in the countryside.
Armed with tape measures, GPS, gradient measure and chocolate, we prepared to leave Smardale behind and head along the path which follows the route of the old dismantled railway.
An information board announces the start of the walk – a linear ‘there- and-back’ trek unless you arrange for transport at the other end – and within moments you delve into the delightfully
22 Cumbrian Wildlife | May 2019 P
Accessible nature reserves: Smardale
Debbie uses an all-terrain wheelchair to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Photo: Andy North
Debbie manages the wheelchair- friendly walks section of The Outdoor Guide, set up by Julia Bradbury and her sister, Gina.
Disabled facilities ❖ The former car park at Smardale is for disabled parking only.
❖ The new car park, opened in March 2019, has disabled spaces. From here, visitors will follow the raised walkway to the hamlet of Smardale and through the disabled car park to access the nature reserve.
❖ The nearest accessible RADAR toilets are located in Kirkby Stephen.
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