Changing Perceptions on Sight Loss in Style
Ways I made my trip to Wye Valley accessible for me as somone with a visual impairment.
I recently took a trip to Wye Valley on the borders of England and Wales for a short break.
Renown renowned for its picturesque landscapes and serene ambiance. This lush, verdant haven is blessed with a myriad of attractions, including the meandering River Wye, which offers excellent opportunities for canoeing and fishing. Outdoor enthusiasts can also take in the breathtaking views from numerous walking trails, such as the Wye Valley Walk. Additionally, the region is steeped in history, with ancient sites like Tintern Abbey and the Offa’s Dyke Path showcasing its rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re seeking adventure or tranquility, the Wye Valley provides a perfect escape into nature’s splendor.
but sometimes it can be difficult to make trips more accessible if, like me, you have a disability.
But luckily I found some inclusive and sensory activities that really made my trip to Wye Valley a little bit more accessible to me as someone with a visual impairment.
I’m not one to gate-keep, so today I’m going to be sharing what I got up to on my recent trip to Wye Valley and everything you need to know if you fancy taking a trip there too.
Baring in mind accessibility is subjective and I’m only speaking on my personal experiene of what worked for me as somone with a visual impairment and a chronic illness.
Disclaimer: Contains PR invited experiences.
Beginning in the nearby cathedral city of Hereford, this city is a short drive from the Wye Valley area and also has travel links by train from London, Manchester and Cardiff if you fancy making it your base.
I found the town very compact and walkable with a market in the town centre along with many winding roads that are pedestrianised and full of cute shops to explore.
The town is full of independent shops selling everything from scented candles to local produce – perfect for a sensory spot of shopping.
You can also take a guided tour of Hereford Cathedral running Monday – Saturday ft 11:05 am and 12:15 pm where you can learn about this impressive structure dating back 1,300 years.
After that, we stopped off for lunch at the Green Dragon Hotel which is Hereford’s oldest hotel with the current build dating back over 200 years.
You can have lunch in the downstairs Garrick Longue of this historic Grade II listed building which is very dog friendly and has a cosy, yet historic interior.
They also have large print menus and serve a range of lunch options from sandwiches to a delicious signature burger or fish and chips as well as cocktails priced at £9.95 and mocktails.
They even brought Rosie my guide dog a plate of dog biscuits and some water and although Guide Dogs are allowed in most places with their owners it certainly doesn’t hurt to find somewhere warm and welcoming.
But if you don’t fancy a full lunch you can always just get a hot drink and a piece of cake or a pastry if you still fancy getting off your feet and taking in the surroundings.
If, like me, you like gin, then a gin tour and tasting experience at Silver Circle Distillery is a perfect activity for the senses.
Located in the town of Monmouth, Silver Circle Distillery is based within Meed Farm (otherwise known as Humble by Nature) which produces a range of spirts along with ready-made cocktails like Bloody Mary as well as
This place is quite remote, so it is only accessible by car, however, it makes for a great day trip with a car-driving friend or family member being how sensory it is.
The multi-award-winning artisan gin business first opened just before Lockdown and following a successful crowdfunding campaign they relocated to their brand-new premises.
During a 45-minute tour of the distillery, you’ll have a chance to learn about how gin is made as well as smell a variety of different botanicals used to make their gin and taste five different gins along with some of their popular cocktails and a full gin and tonic.
The tour was led by one of the founders Nina who went into great detail about the gins explaining how to serve them and the process of making them.
A tour costs £20 and afterwards, you can get more drinks to enjoy either inside or outside surrounded by the Welsh countryside.
One thing the Herefordshire countryside is best known for is its Cider, did you know that 80 – 90 percent of the world’s cider fruits are produced in Herefordshire every year?
So naturally it would not be a trip to this part of the UK without a cider tour and tasting experience.
We visited Newton Court a restaurant, cider business and farm shop located a short drive from Leominster.
The business is a family-run and family-owned business run by Paul Stephens who showed us around the orchards and production rooms and was incredibly knowledgeable about all things ciders.
Newton Court produces 110,000 litres of cider a year including seven ciders and two perrys and repurposes much of their waste including the pulp of the fruit which is used to farm electricity.
Now I will say I hadn’t tried much cider but this experience has really brought out the cider lover in me and I can honestly say they are worth their popularity.
For £25 you can do a cider tour and tasting experience which runs on selected weekdays and currently this week they are offering weekday tours up until September 8 to celebrate Craft Cider Week.
The experience also includes a Ploughman’s Lunch served in their restaurant along with a selection of their ciders some of which were made popular after they were featured in an episode of Saturday Kitchen Live during lockdown.
During the tour I got to taste the cider apples specifically grown to make cider which have a very distinct taste followed by tasting the unsweetened cider after the fermentation process before sugar is added and it is frozen to kill any yeast.
This was finished by tasting five of their most popular ciders including their popular Little Owl cider and the River Cottage Yarlington Mill which contained elderflower.
If, like me, you have a love of nostalgia and vintage steam trains you can take a ride on Dean Forest Railway where you can ride aboard vintage steam trains on tracks that were formerly part of the Severn & Wye line.
The trains are dog-friendly and they also have audio announcements on board so you know where to get off with five stations on the route.
We started off at Norchand Station which has accessible toilets as well as a café and an exhibition with a range of historical artefacts and memorabilia on all things trains.
As someone with limited mobility, this is a great way to be able to see parts of The Forest of Dean without having to make the hike through the forest.
You can either get there by car or train with Lydney Junction Station which makes up part of the route is just five minutes away from Lydney Station accessible by National Rail services.
You can either choose to book a one-way ticket for £16 for an adult or £8 for a child with slots from 11 am until 2 pm.
Wheelchair users can also visit, but pre-booking is required to ensure station volunteers and staff are able to assist.
Have you visited Wye Valley?
Let me know what you got up to in the comments below.
