Accessible Glamping Holidays made easy! Since the site began welcoming guests in 2017, fantastic lakeside holidays have been enjoyed by couples, families and groups with a broad range of mobility needs. Whilst everyone’s needs will be different, accessibility to the countryside and wonderful views is so important to us as a family and a business.
You’ll get a very personalised service to fulfil your perfect accessible glamping break. You will have our full support prior to booking your ideal stay, usually this contact will be with Jo, we will be happy to provide any measurements and photos, answering any questions you might have.
Our journey into accessible glamping began when a lovely couple, June & Richard contacted us as they’d heard about the beautiful lakeside experience at Kingfisher Lakes. June (a powerchair user) & Richard had enjoyed camping trips in their younger years (before accessibility was a consideration for them) and of course still had the urge to get back to nature whenever they could. We wanted to make their dream of Safari Tent Glamping work for them for their Summer break. Jo spoke to June and sent photos of the distance/route from tent to washroom and videos of the way in from the car park and images of inside the tent. They loved their first stay, had a marvellous time sleeping under canvas in the comfortable beds at Hare’s Hideout Safari Tent and experiencing campfire nights whilst stargazing…bliss! They’ve become great friends of Kingfisher Lakes and have returned year after year.
Another family came to stay with their 3 kids and 3 other families as a group. One child was a wheelchair user, although of course didn’t let this get in her way, she joined her friends out on the lake kayaking…and LOVED it! They have also been to stay numerous times and worked with us to make improvements to accessibility along the way.
Jo shared a special, heartwarming experience with another young adventurous guest; who happened to be blind, taking her out on a kayak around the lake so she could feel and hear what it was like being out on the water. There were lots of splashes, lily pad fishing and giggles along the way! Mabel said it was “one of the best holidays I have ever had in my life” …magic!
Mobility requirements can also be temporary as one guest found out when she unfortunately suffered a broken leg just weeks before her planned glamping trip with the extended family, including the kids and grandkids. We were able to move her booking to the accessible Hare’s Hideout Safari Tent so she could still come along and be involved for the family’s glamping trip with use of her wheelchair.
There is a private accessible bathroom located at the front of the main washroom building. This has a permanent ramp access off a large paved area, so it’s ideal for us to offer this Doc M set up as the bathroom your wheelchair user will use during their stay. Simply let us know prior to your arrival that you will need to make use of this facility.
Hare’s Hideout Safari Tent is the largest accessible tent here (sleeps up to 6), closest to the Doc M bathroom (10 metres over a paved area), and with an inbuilt ramp access up to the raised decking area. The large deck is perfect for you to enjoy views of the lake, the sunsets and abundant wildlife. It’s a covered canopy area so even if it rains you’ll be kept dry!
Inside this tent, there is space in the living area for manoeuvring and a larger doorway is provided to one of the bedrooms with super cosy beds & bedding. You’ll have a cosy log burning stove, electric lighting, fridge and kettle, plenty of home comforts when glamping!
Barn Owl Bell Tent is a great choice if you want more of a ‘camping’ experience to your holiday. This lovely, spacious tent is available only during the warmer Summer months (it has no log burner inside). It’s pitched directly on the grass at the very edge of the site, gets amazing sunsets, and has a feeling of being ‘away from it all’.
This tent is furthest away from the washroom/ car park areas, which may be a consideration you have when choosing this tent. However, depending on your mobility equipment/ assistance from family members you will have no problem getting to and from this tent along the fairly flat, grassed site.
Some more recent friends we had the pleasure of hosting were Jamie and his delightful daughter Winnie, who stayed in the bell tent during Summer 2024. Jo liaised with Jamie prior to making the booking to check a few things out. During the busy school holidays the site can be full of almost 50 guests, which means a rather full car park, so we reserved a convenient parking place for Jamie’s car so he could get straight onto the paved area leading onto the grass field down to the tent. His **motorbike** chair attachment made light work of whizzing around the site and he also took the bridlepath to the village shop and back (1.5 miles away) in super-quick time!
As there is no raised decking at this tent, there’s no obstruction for wheelchairs to wheel straight into this one, and once inside you’ll have ample space for your chair and turning circles. There are two double beds, a small sofabed, storage for clothing items, electricity, fridge and kettle are provided inside the open plan round space. Outside you have a picnic table with benches, a charcoal kettle BBQ, plus you can hire a firepit/logs package for your memory-making campfire nights.
Jamie & Winnie loved using the firepit each evening, toasting marshmallows… enjoying an authentic camping holiday without the hassle – camping is made easy here at Kingfisher Lakes!
Get in touch with Jo, we will always ensure your chosen accommodation and facilities will work for you before you book and can’t wait to welcome you on your accessible glamping getaway!