After a busy 2019, I wanted to kick off the New Year on a much slower pace. What better way to do this than a relaxing weekend away in a cosy lodge.
We loaded up my Ford Tourneo Connect WAV with our suitcases, food supplies and equipment. Off we went on our two and a half hour drive to the heart of Kielder Water & Forest Park.
Having enjoyed two previous holidays at Calvert Trust Kielder in Northumberland, we decided to return again. The facilities have always been good and the surroundings are spectacular.
Calvert Trust offers self-catering holidays, respite care, activity holidays and activity days. It’s a fantastic place to visit whether you have a disability or not.
We stayed in a beautiful accessible lodge called The Bradbury. It was ideal for myself and my partner as well as my sister and nephew.
The lodge was wheelchair accessible with level access throughout, an accessible bathroom and ceiling track hoist in the master bedroom.
There is a hot tub outside the lodge, although, there isn’t a hoist which can make getting in and out difficult/impossible for disabled people. However, the hydrotherapy swimming pool onsite is accessible with a pool hoist.
I love going to the hydrotherapy pool as the warm water is great for my muscles. It feels amazing to be able to move my arms and legs without much difficulty. The only time I go to a swimming pool is when I go on holiday to Calvert Trust. I feel my time at Calvert Trust enables me to create special memories with my nephew as I otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience going in a swimming pool.
It just so happened that it was my sister’s birthday that weekend so we enjoyed celebrating the occasion with a day trip into Newcastle.
First, we headed to the intu Metrocentre for something to eat. We were happy to find a disabled parking bay easily and near the entrance. There was so many space inside the Metrocentre and the smooth floors make it a wheelchair users dream.
There are so many restaurants in the Metrocentre to choose from that it can be difficult to decide. We opted for something quick and easy so went for a KFC. This was our first time trying the new vegan burger and we were pleasantly surprised how good it was.
After lunch, we headed back to our WAV and drove ten mins to the Great North Museum. This was a good accessible museum with interesting exhibitions of natural history and ancient civilisations in Newcastle upon Tyne.
There was a wheelchair platform lift that brought me from ground level up to the museum entrance. Inside was level access with a lift to the other floor and an accessible toilet.
It was then time to head back to the lodge. We had a birthday dinner for my sister complete with party poppers and birthday cake.
Afterwards, we enjoyed another soak in the swimming pool followed by the hot tub and then a few board games. Nothing like some family bonding to bring out the competitiveness in us all.
It was a great weekend away and I can’t wait for the next one.
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