Accessibility & Inclusion

Here at Nettlecombe Farm, we want to make holidays as accessible and inclusive as possible for as many people as possible. We recently consulted with local charity Isle Access which is committed to encouraging and promoting greater accessibility and inclusion on the Island for people with disabilities as well as other individuals to see what advice they could give us. And having had those conversations, improvements that we could make so that holidays are available to all. We understand that different guests have different needs, so we will aim to make our facilities and cottages as available as possible.

Our Properties

For guests with limited mobility, a number of our properties are single-storey with few steps. We do have the use of a portable shower stool which we can provide on request and parking access is directly outside your property with most parking being on tarmac, except Corner and Forge. And if you do need to hire equipment like a wheelchair while you’re holidaying with us, then our local Red Cross branch can help with that. Our cottages are dog-friendly, perfect for visually impaired guests with a guide dog. Please see the individual property descriptions for the most suitable holiday cottage for you.

Things to Do

There are, of course, lots of things that we’re already doing at the Farm, and we know that it’s a wonderfully peaceful and welcoming place for children and adults alike. Our ever-popular feeding tours take place from Monday to Saturday for residents and we understand the amazing impact that animals can have on mental well-being. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our guests to get up close to the animals and we have found that the tours are very beneficial to those with autism or dementia. And who can pass up the chance to feed a baby lamb or stroke an alpaca…

If you love to fish, then our fishing lakes are just the place for an afternoon of peace and relaxation. There is a designated parking place at the entrance to the fishing area and multiple fishing platforms on the lake. For those who would like to explore physical and mental wellbeing, we have yoga classes available in our underfloor heated studio and supply all of the equipment for these classes.

For an appreciation of our fabulous Island there are accessible walks for all taking in some truly spectacular scenery, and details about these can be found on the Accessible Countryside for Everyone (ACE) website. They vary in length and accessibility to the countryside and green spaces.

Our list of updated access guides can be found HERE

Further Reading

For further reading and information about what’s accessible on the Isle of Wight whether it’s somewhere to visit, somewhere to eat, or something to do, please see the below list. It’s not an exhaustive list by any means, but it’ll get you started.

• Euan’s Guide- An award-winning disabled access guide
• Monkey Haven- Quiet hour 9-10 am Wednesdays and Saturdays. They supply ear defenders for those who need them.
• Steam Railway – A lovely way to see parts of the Island.
• Ventnor Botanic Gardens – Wonderful plants, an excellent restaurant, and far-reaching views
• Robin Hill Country Park- Running accessibility sessions
• Osborne House – Queen Victoria’s own holiday home filled with history.
• Carisbrooke Castle – Knights, history, and the prison of Charles I
• Dinosaur Isle – Get Jurassic…
• Isle Access – Helping you with all accessibility on the Isle of Wight