Accessible Holidays Scotland

26/08/2023

Happy International Dog Day 🐕️🐾

No idea who makes these days up, but as the companions of two gorgeous chocolate labradors, we aren't going to argue with this one.

Kimber (L) is the baby - she's actually 9, but we refuse to accept she's getting older. So she's the baby, okay? She offers the team emotional support, regular nose cleaning (thanks 👀) and the privilege of cleaning fox poo and other grossness out of her fur on a regular basis.

Millie is 12, she's Kimber's mum and actually the boss of the entire operation. Very enthusiastic about food, discovered how to stamp her paws about 4 years ago and now employs this as a regular tactic to get what she wants. Very vocal in her old age. Keeps us all in line.

They come with us on most of our wheelchair adventures in Scotland, so pet-friendly accommodation is super important to us. That's why we've included it is a filter option in our search.

Woof!

[ID: Two chocolate labradors, both with silver chins, one sitting and one laying on a rug in front of rustic wooden cupboard doors]

13/08/2023

Do you sign guest books and leave reviews?

We always do - it's such a good way to say thank you, and sing the praises of people are getting it right with their wheelchair accessible accommodation. Even if they have to decipher my terrible handwriting 😬 (I swear, it used to be so good!)

We always read reviews from other wheelchair users before visiting anywhere, too. It helps work out if somewhere will be right for us, and we go ahead knowing what to expect.

That's why on our website (link in bio, obvs) we have a leave a review function, and we'd encourage you to share all of the great experiences you've had.

So, to review or not to review - which camp are you in?

[ID: A woman sat at a wooden desk, in a wooden cabin, signing a guest book]

01/08/2023

👻 An Accessible Ghost Tour! 👻

I don't know about you but, as a wheelchair user and long-time crutches user, I've always worried about joining tours in case they are too long. Or what if they are all cobbles? Or there's steps? Or it's awkward to find a dropped kerb 😬

Well no need to worry with Lynda, The Whyte Witch. Her ghost and history tours of Elgin are flexible to suit your needs, and suitable for all the family. Head to the website for more info on how to book!

What kind of things do you worry about when it comes to tours like this? The same as me? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏻

Helen ✨

[ID. 1: A tour guide dressed in steampunk attire - a bright red coat, black and silver hat, and dark glasses - stands talking to Helen, a manual wheelchair user. 2: The same tour guide against a painted blue door. 3: Helen and the tour guide strolling down a street, 4: The tour guide against the blue door again but facing to the side]

30/07/2023

Have you visited Perth Art Gallery? 🖼️

It's wheelchair accessible and currently hosts two permanent displays as well as a coffee bar, gift shop, and Hands on Art - a brilliant family friendly area 🎨

Find out more about access and the exhibitions at the link in our bio.

And yes, that is me. I was very restrained and didn't put up the photos of me pointing at all the naked bums in the gallery because I am a mature and sensible adult 🍑👀

[ID: Two images. A white female wheelchair user against a bright pink background with tall white marble pillars. Then the same person in a gallery with the words Modern Scots on the wall]

29/07/2023

🌱 Wheelchair Accessible Vegan Cafe in Perth 🌱

Rascals is a fab wee cafe in Perth, not far from the art gallery and the River Tay. It's a social enterprise supporting the charity Starting Step, and the menu is fully vegan. There are also gluten free options too.

We highly recommend the Thai Banana Blossom F*shcakes 😋

Head to our website www.accessibleholidays.scot for more info on this fab city centre cafe 💚

[ID: Three images, one of inside a bright modern cafe, one of thai banana blossom fishcakes on a plate, and one of a coffee with sugar cubes]

27/07/2023

Did somebody say 'Wheelchair Friendly Luxury Hotel in Scotland'? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Yes, we did. Introducing The Machrie on the stunning island of Islay. The Machrie is a beautiful hotel with a restaurant we haven't stopped reminiscing about since we visited last year. Their range of Scottish whiskies is pretty astonishing too 🥃

The rooms and lounges are striking and modern but with a quintessentially Scottish feel. You can read more about The Machrie (including our full blog review) by following the link in our bio.

25/07/2023

It might be a bit early in the day (and early in the week) to be thinking about a tall, refreshing glass of the good stuff. But we're too excited to wait to tell you about the latest listing on Accessible Holidays Scotland 🍺⁠
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Windswept Brewing Co offer wheelchair accessible brewery tours and tastings afterwards in their tap room. There's a lowered bar area as well if you fancy staying there 'til late propping up the bar (we are not speaking from experience - honest 👀)⁠
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All their beers are vegan friendly too 🌱⁠
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Head to our bio to check out the full details - or ask below and we can slide into your DMs with the link 🔗⁠
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18/07/2023

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿New Wheelchair Accessible Holiday Accommodation Listing🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

We've just added Elderburn Luxury Lodges in Fife to our growing directory of accessible tourism experiences in Scotland. Set in the countryside, yet only five minutes from St. Andrews, you'll enjoy magnificent views and a comfortable stay with plenty accessibility features. Ideal for your next Scottish self catering holiday.

Check out our website for more info, www.accessibleholidays.scot

[ID: Five slides. 1: a small group of lodges with a large lawned area and branches in the foreground. 2: the living and kitchen area, neutrally decorated with red tartan accents. 3: a close up of the pillows on the bed, with a remote for controlling the bed. 4: the patio area of the lodge. 5: Wet room bathroom with shower chair, heated towel rail, and wheel-under sink]

14/07/2023

🐬New Day Out!🐬

I know, that building would make for some truly quirky holiday accommodation, but that is the Tugnet Ice House at The Scottish Dolphin Centre in Moray Speyside. The centre makes for a brilliant wheelchair accessible day out, and there are tours of the ice house available throughout the summer - a great opportunity to learn a little history and get to see some real whale and dolphin bones up close. Very cool!

Don't worry if you can't make it along the shingle beach, there are cameras inside that you can control to get a great view of the bay (and hopefully some dolphins!)

And make sure you stop by the cafe and gift shop to complete your visit! Vegan and gluten-free options available.

Check out the link in our bio for more info 🌊

Helen ✌🏻

[ID: 1. The ice house, a three section building with rounded, grassy roofs. 2. A dolphin leaping out of the water with the ice house in the background. 3. Helen, a white woman, sits in her wheelchair next to a brightly painted dolphin statue]

13/07/2023

Who on earth are Accessible Holidays Scotland and how did you get here? This is not a question we hear often, but we're going to answer it anyway.

I'm Helen, the one with added wheels. I have a rare, somewhat progressive neurological disorder and a fringe with a mind of it's own. I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user and Scotland-based travel blogger aka . Some of you are only here because you followed me on my other account - hi! 👋🏻 I love you for committing to twice the usual nonsense.

The taller one (who is actually only taller by default, and only until I stand up) is my wife, Kirsty. She's a writer and runs a community charity shop. In her spare time she follows me around with a camera and does all of my admin.

We set up Accessible Holidays Scotland because it's what we need, and we know it's what some of you need too. Just a big heckin' database of accessible and wheelchair-friendly things to do in Scotland. I guess the dream is that one day you'll be able to head to our website and plan your accessible holiday itinerary. Full stop. A one stop shop, so to speak. Because nothing is worse than having 300 browser tabs open, sending countless emails, and spending way too long listening to terrible hold music just to try and find out basic accessibility info. Actually there is something worse - being told "yeah we're wheelchair accessible" only to arrive to a flight of 6 steps and an "it's okay, we can carry you in" 🙃

So thanks for coming along for the trip. I hope that as the site grows you'll use it more and more. Be sure to tell all of your favourite accessible businesses about us!

Much love,

Helen and Kirsty ✨✌🏻

[ID: Helen, a gingery-haired white woman, sits in her wheelchair. Kirsty, a dark haired white woman stands next to Helen with her arm around her shoulder]

12/07/2023

We're developing a brand new 'Accessible and Wheelchair-Friendly Days Out' section of our website. So far we have a grand total of one (1) business listed - but it's a great one. We've got a few more in the pipeline, but I'd love to hear from my fellow wheelies and other disabled people. Where have you visited in Scotland that has ticked a few of the good ol' accessibility boxes? Maybe somewhere really (pleasantly) surprised you. Maybe it was the experience of a lifetime. Or maybe it was somewhere pretty simple but a brilliant day out all the same. Let me know in the comments! 👇🏻

Helen ✨

[ID: A woman walks along on a sunny day using two black walking sticks. The words Accessible Days Out In Scotland appear]

20/06/2023

This is where I'll be relaxing tomorrow night!

I'm heading to the Scottish Borders to stay in The Ramsey for a verification visit. What a beautiful place to celebrate Summer Solstice 🌞

What solstice plans do you have?

(link in bio if you're interested in a stay at The Ramsey and want to know more about the accessibility features!)

ID: the decking area of a lodge at sunset

25/05/2023

🌳New Verified Listing - A Wheelchair Accessible Treehouse!🌳

We were completely captured by the magic of Chiffchaff, a wheelchair accessible treehouse in beautiful rural Stirlingshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 You'll have the birds as your neighbours gorgeous views, and a little pocket of tranquility, less than an hour from Glasgow and Stirling.

Let's show this stunning place some love 💛

For more details on how to book your stay here this summer, head to the link in our bio 🔗

[ID: Interior and exterior photographs of a wooden treehouse. The decor is rustic with a modern twist, wooden and corrugated iron walls, huge windows, a massive dining table. The external shots show the unique wooden cabin elevated amongst a grove of trees. The last image is the AHS logo, an etched design of a cabin with two people in silhouette either side. One is a wheelchair user and the other uses crutches and has a lower limb difference]

05/05/2023

Welcome to Accessible Holidays Scotland - a free-to-use directory of accessible cottages, cabins, hotels and more. Get all the accessibility info you need before booking your next break.

Take a look at some of the properties we already have listed ⬇️

Accessible holiday accommodation throughout Scotland for wheelchair users and other disabled people. Find your next staycation here!

05/05/2023