ACCORDING to the Scottish Government fewer than 20% of people with disabilities enjoy annual holidays.
That’s mainly because, unless they want to cruise or go abroad, there just aren’t enough suitable places to stay.
There are 11 million disabled people in the UK, that’s 16% of the population, yet only two million of them pack a case and head off for a break. Astonishing, but true.
When I broke two bones in my ankle this summer I was grounded for the best part of three months.
No flying for me in my plaster cast, just weeks of frustration at not being able to drive or do the most basic tasks for myself, so the suitcase stayed in the cupboard.
As a travelaholic, after a month, I was climbing the walls so I decided to investigate breaks for folk like me unable to fly, wheelchair or zimmer-bound, and requiring special help.
Surely there’d be dozens of options.
Well, no. A resounding big no. Fact is tour operators offering UK breaks for the disabled are few and far between.
Self-catering cottages that are adapted for wheelchair users are the simplest option, but if you’re looking for a hotel break, or a simple package in the UK, you’ve got your work cut out.
Fact is, the demand for disabled rooms far outstrips the supply. Research by the Department for Work and Pensions found travel agents said it was easier to arrange holidays for disabled people overseas than in Britain.
The Disability Holiday Directory, Britain’s biggest disabled holiday company, said it was unable to accommodate a fifth of its clients looking to holiday in the UK every year because of a shortage of accessible accommodation.
It seems crazy because the 11 million disabled Brits have an estimated combined spending power of £80 billion.
Not just that, but disabled people tend to stay longer on holiday than able-bodied people.
So much for the bad news. What about the good?
Well, when you’re infirm you want to know that you’re in expert hands. Veteran travel agent Ken Clifford, who runs Largs-based Touch of Class Travel (touchofclasstravel.co.uk/tel 0843 216 0451) has been organising holidays for disabled clients for decades.
He works with enableholidays.com who are about as good as it gets for disabled holidays, both in the UK and abroad.
A cruise is an excellent choice for someone with mobility problems. Unpack once, and that’s it for the duration.
You’ll find many people with disabilities on most cruises, and as a result, the staff are very used to dealing with their needs.
Many ships, especially newer ones, are accessible for wheelchairs in all their public areas and have specially adapted cabins at all grades.
Excursions in adapted vehicles are also often possible. To find the right cruise to suit your needs, turn to Accessible Travel & Leisure (accessibletravel.co.uk/ tel 01452 729 739), an award-winning operation that offers cruises to disabled people.
When I travelled with Fred Olsen and Saga Cruises from the UK I was impressed by the care they took with infirm passengers.
The staff were wonderful and the repeat business these lines enjoy is testament to how successful they are at delivering a disabled-friendly product.
A different type of sailing comes from the Jubilee Sailing Trust (jst.org.uk/tel 023 8044 9108).
They operate two square-rigged tall ships designed to be crewed by people of all physical abilities. Voyages vary from short trips in UK to ocean crossings. The cost from £525 per person for a week’s full board is subsidised to make them more affordable.
If you’re after as much of the outdoors as possible the Calvert Trust (calvert-trust.org.uk/tel 01434 250232) has three activity centres at Kielder in Northumberland, Exmoor and in the Lake District.
They’re geared to allow people with disabilities to enjoy outdoor adventures such as climbing, a high-ropes course, canoeing and sailing.
Fancy a break near pretty Oban? Two wheelchair-friendly luxury pine lodges in secluded countryside 200m from the sea eight miles north of Oban. Each has a roll-in shower room en suite with a double bedroom and also a twin bedroom with a bathroom. See portselma.co.uk.
Another option is Denis Duncan House.
This holiday cottage for the disabled is situated on the village green in Manse Road in the village of Dirleton, 24 miles east of Edinburgh, and close to North Berwick. This has one twin-bedded disability bedroom on ground floor with en-suite disability bathroom and two
twin-bedded bedrooms, bathroom and carer’s sitting room upstairs. See thelinberwicktrust.org.uk for details.
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