May 5th sees the first mobility scooter ramble at Kielder, hosted by Disabled Ramblers.
(image from a Disabled Ramblers event last year on the North Yorks Moors)
Starting at Kielder Waterside lower car park at 10am (what3words: ///climate.costs.reseller) the ramble will follow Lakeside Way around Kielder Water, before setting off through the forest to the south side of the lake, where the ramblers will be joined by Forestry England Recreation and Public Affairs Manager, Alex Maclennan, who will give a short talk on the history of the forest and events being staged this year to mark its 100th birthday.
“The mobility scooter ramble is part of the forest’s ongoing evolution and improvement of access opportunities for everyone. Later this year, a new changing spaces room will be opened inside the castle, and currently we are preparing a fleet of four adaptive cycles to be on offer from Kielder Bike Hire, to give the full range of cycle provision - including to cyclists with disabilities,” Alex said.
In the afternoon the ramble will continue to the northern side of Bull Crag Peninsula, which offers far reaching views to Deadwater Fell. The ramble, which will cover 6.5 miles, will be supported by walking members of Disabled Ramblers, and riders’ families, friends and dogs, who are invited to join them.
Because of the sometimes rough and steep terrain the ramble is most suitable for Class 3 off road scooters, like the Tramper. You don’t have to be a member of Disabled Ramblers to take part, but riders are asked to register in advance with Ramblers’ Secretary, Jonathan Clark, at jonathan@disabledramblers.co.uk.
Jonathan can also advise on the suitability of scooters for the ramble. It’s £5 to take part, payable on the day. The route can be seen at https://out.ac/lg9nPO. Accessible toilets will be available at the start and finish, but there will be no facilities along the route.
Disabled Ramblers regularly hosts rambles for riders of mobility scooters around the UK. Jonathan recently made several recce visits to Kielder to ensure the route is suitable for off road machines. He’s also been scoping routes for several longer rambles to be held at Kielder next year, so this rare event could become a regular fixture in the park’s calendar.
The one-day Kielder ramble is being staged in collaboration with Forestry England and Calvert Kielder, which offers adventure experiences in the park for disabled people.
Jonathan said he was delighted to be able to host a ramble again at Kielder. “It’s a beautiful landscape which I know our members and guests will love. We hope our ramble will introduce Kielder to some mobility scooter users who’ve never visited the park before,” he said.
One Disabled Rambler, Judy, who lives near Alnwick, says she's excited to be taking part in her first ramble, in such a beautiful part of the country.
“Disabled Ramblers is truly trailblazing, giving mobility impaired people like me the chance to enjoy the countryside, to participate instead of just been passive observers, waiting in the car for their friends and families to return from their adventures. That is very disheartening. Being able to use a mobility scooter to explore the countryside is life changing,” she said.
Off road, all terrain mobility scooters are available for loan at a number of sites in Northumberland, including Wallington Hall, Belsay Hall, Howick Hall, Seaton Delaval, and Wall Town. And Northumberlandia, Druridge Bay and Kielder itself are considering how they might also offer mobility scooters to visitors soon.