Accessibility Guide for Draycote Water

Welcome

Draycote Water is an attractive and relaxing haven for walkers, cyclists, wildlife enthusiasts and families alike. It provides an interesting and varied day out for all. It combines great watery views with a relatively flat tarmac perimeter track, a children’s playground, restaurant, sailing club, trout fishery and space for family fun and picnics.

At a glance

  • There is at least 1 public toilet for disabled visitors.

  • Some staff have disability awareness training.

Level access from the main entrance to:

  • Visitor Hub public toilets 
  • First-floor disabled toilet 
  • Country park toilets 
  • Restaurant
  • Gift shop 
  • Country Park and Children's Play Area

Bird hide entrance:

  •  The hide entrance has level access.

 

  • The walls and the doors have high colour contrast. 
  • Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Getting here and arrival

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point does not have a dropped kerb.

  • From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

  • There are 16 disabled parking bays across two locations between 30m and 50m from the Visitor Hub and Reservoir walk. Access is then up a slope. 
  • Drop off right outside the Visitor Hub can be arranged via the Rangers or restaurant staff, with the car then needing to be moved to the car park.
  • The route is 1200mm wide, or more.
  • Charges apply for Blue Badge holders.
  • You can get to Draycote Water by bus and train.

  • The nearest bus stop is on A426 just outside the main driveway into the site. It is approximately 500m from the reservoir and restaurant. No.63 bus runs between Rugby and Leamington Spa via Southam. The bus stop is 0.3 miles / 0.5 km from Draycote Water.

  • The nearest train station is Rugby. The train station is 7 miles / 11.3 km from Draycote Water.

  • The footpath from the bus stop to the main gate is rough tarmac and crosses a residential side road with no drop kerb. The pedestrian gate to gain access is 1m wide you can then use the tarmac path which is approx 1.2m wide all the way up to the visitor hub. 

  • You can get a taxi with Rugby Taxis by calling 01788 570202. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

  • You can get a taxi with ABC Taxis Rugby by calling 01788 567000. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

  • From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

  • The path is 1200mm wide, or more.

  • The path is sloped.

  • The main entrance has level access.

  • There is a lift.

  • The door is 960mm wide.

  • The door has a push button to open it. 

  • The main door is sliding and automatic.

Visitor Hub Access

  • Public toilets including disabled facilities are on the ground floor accessed via side hung doors. 
  • Access to restaurant and shop is via a sliding door to the Visitor Hub concourse, and then by stairs or lift to the first floor. 
  • Alternative level access to the restaurant avoiding stairs or lift can be arranged from the rear of the building by contacting the restaurant staff.

Getting around inside

  • We have 1 lift.

  • You can get a lift to all floors.

First floor lift

  • The lift door is 850mm wide.

  • The lift is 900mm wide. The lift is 1400mm deep.

  • The lift says the floor number at each floor.

  • The lift shows the floor number, at each floor. 

  • The lift doors are hinged and require manual operation. There is a handrail support within the lift. The lift control has to be held down continuously to move the lift up or down. The lift only moves between the ground floor lobby and first floor restaurant and shop. The lift can easily accommodate two people with one wheelchair. Prams and buggies are also able to use the lift.

Changing Place

  • There is a Changing Place available next to the country park toilet block.
  • From the main entrance to the changing place, there is level access. The changing place is approximately 60 metres from the main visitor hub.
  • The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right. The toilet has handrails.
  • There is a fold down changing bed with adjustable height, shower, hoist, toilet, sink with adjustable height and hand dryer.
  • The door is manually operated, 905mm wide. A RADAR key is required to open the door.

Visitor Hub public toilets

  • There is one accessible toilet available.
  • From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1020mm wide, or more.

  • The toilet door is 760mm wide.

  • The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right. 

  • There is 540mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1100mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 460mm high. The toilets have handrails.

First floor disabled toilet

  • There is one accessible toilet available.
  • From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 760mm wide, or more.

  • The toilet door is 760mm wide.

  • The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left. 

  • There is 700mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1200mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 500mm high. The toilets have handrails.

  • The first floor disabled toilet is available only to disabled or reduced mobility customers of the restaurant (as the main public toilets are downstairs via the lift on the ground floor). There are also baby changing facilities available for customers here.

Country park toilets

  • From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

  • The route is 780mm wide, or more.

  • The toilet door is 780mm wide.

  • The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only. 

  • There is 1200mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 500mm high.

  • Within both the Lady's and Gents, there is a separate cubicle providing space and privacy. Wheelchair access to this toilet block is on a tarmac surface."

Gift shop

  • From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a lift. 
  • From the lift to the shop, the route is 850mm wide, or more. The door is 1600mm wide. 
  • The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more. 
  • Takeaway drinks and ice creams, souvenirs and gifts, hats and toys. 

Treasure Chest takeaway kiosk

  • The Treasure Chest takeaway kiosk is situated next to the playground in the country park. 
  • There is permanent, sloped tarmac access. 
  • Height from the floor to the service counter is 1100mm. 
  • Hot drinks, cold drinks, ice cream and snacks are available to buy.

Waterside Restaurant

  • From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a lift. From the lift to dining area, the route is 850mm wide, or more. The door is 1600mm wide.

  • To get to a table, there are no steps.

  • The dining area is self-service. If you need table service, staff can help you.

  • The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more. 

  • There is background music sometimes.

  • The table and plates have high colour contrast.

  • We cater for sugar-free (diabetic), vegetarian, gluten-free (celiacs), lactose-free (dairy-free), nut-free and vegan-specific diets.

  • Advice about allergens should be sought from restaurant staff. Vegetarian dishes are indicated on the printed menus.
  • There is a takeaway counter in the first floor shop for drinks and ice creams.
  • There is a balcony available to restaurant customers who wish to sit outside. Doorways to the balcony are 980mm with a low sloped threshold strip. The balcony surface is ridged wooden decking.

Getting around outside

Picnic area

  • The footpath is 1200mm or more wide. 
  • Access to picnic benches may be across grass areas. 
  • You can bring your own food and drinks to the picnic area.

Country Park and Children's Play Area

  • From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1000mm wide.

  • The Country Park is a 24 acre greenspace incorporating the Children's Play Area. In the summer months there is also an ice cream kiosk open here. There are alternative hardstanding car parks immediately adjacent to the Play Area and at various points around the Park although there are no specific disabled bays in this area. To access the Country Park parking take the left hand fork in the road after entering the site. 
    Access from the main tarmac car park is via zebra crossing. Access to and from the Visitor Hub is either via a sloped tarmac footpath with drop kerbs or via a gravel track. 
    The Play Area has a good range of swings, climbing frames and other equipment over rubberised flooring or grass mats.

Toft bird hide

  • At the hide entrance, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The door is 700.00mm wide.

  • There are low windows in the hide, so wheelchair users can see outside.

Reservoir Perimeter Walk

  • The trail is 8000metres long. The trail has a hard surface. There are a small number of low profile speed bumps along the track along the north shore section on the far side of the reservoir from the Visitor Hub.
  • The trail is sloped. The trail has seats. There are bird hides along the trail.
  • There is a tarmac track going around the perimeter of the reservoir. It's a shared user path between pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and hand-bikers. There are a small number of road vehicles that use part of the track along the north shore. 
  • The full perimeter is 5 miles with the north shore having some slopes. The path on the dams, of which there are six, is level tarmac and is flat - this accounts for around two-thirds of the route. Many people walk along the first two dams, which is about a mile, and then return the same way. Road vehicles do not use the track on top of the dams (except in rare circumstances). 
  • Blue-badge holders are allowed to drive the first mile to a small car park with views over the water. To do this they should visit the Rangers Office to get a security code to access the vehicle control barrier. Vehicles will need either a valid pay-and-display ticket from the main car park machines or an annual parking permit to access here. 
  • Dogs are not permitted around the Reservoir Walk except working guide dogs or guide dogs in training.

 

Customer care support

If you require any further information please contact the Draycote Water ranger team:

  • We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

  • Staff at the Visitor Hub will assist disabled visitors in the event of an evacuation.
  •  The public are asked to meet at the fire evacuation point located in the car park.

  • Some staff have disability awareness training.

PDF version

If you'd like a PDF version for printing you can find this below.

Draycote Accessibility guide PDF