Access Statement for Juniper Cottage

This statement provides details about Juniper Cottage, which some guests may need for deciding whether the accommodation is suitable for them. Measurements are provided where appropriate, such as the clearance width through doors and details of the stairs. People with restricted mobility or other impairment may need such information to confirm suitability.

Introduction

Juniper Cottage is a 2-storey mid-terraced house, one of a set of 7 holiday cottages arranged around a level tarmac courtyard providing off-road parking. Easy access from a main road, with space for turning round in the courtyard. Unlike some cottages in the Lake District, road access is not a problem at any time of year.

From the cottage it is an easy mostly level walk into the centre of Ambleside, giving access to shops, Tourist Information, Post Office, cinema, local buses and taxis. There are many good eating places, pubs and takeaways within walking distance.

Bookings and Enquiries

All bookings and enquiries are handled by Lakelovers, who will provide you with the key for the cottage and will be available to help with any concerns you may have during your stay.

• Lakelovers telephone: 015394 88855
• Lakelovers website: www.lakelovers.co.uk

Arrival and Parking

• Ambleside is 4 miles north of Windermere on the A591
• Click here for roadmap
• Entering Ambleside from the south (400 m beyond the "Ambleside" boundary sign):
  • Bear right at the traffic lights, staying on the upper road (to the town centre)
  • 1 km (½ mile) beyond the traffic lights, the road turns sharply left into Wansfell Road
  • Just after this turn, the courtyard is the second opening on the left
  • Drive into the courtyard and park in bay 4
• Note there is a one-way system around the centre of Ambleside, and Wansfell Road is one-way
• Note that on-road parking is restricted around the town centre

Main entrance

• Entrance is just 10 m level walk from the parking space
• Door keyhole is 100 cm above courtyard
• Door handle is 105 cm above courtyard
• Single stone step 3 cm up from courtyard
• Further 3 cm up over metal threshold
• Entrance door opens inwards, hinged at right, clearance width 70 cm

General Internal

• All rooms have high ceilings, making the cottage feel quite spacious
• Walls and ceilings are light colours, carpets are darker colours
• Decorations generally neutral with most woodwork as natural medium/light wood, but contrasting dark wood furniture in lounge & dining area.
• Skirting (except bathroom), doors, stairs, handrails are natural wood
• Door handles and fittings are solid brass
• Lounge/dining room, stairs, landing and bedrooms are fully carpeted
• All carpets are short pile
• All furnishings and bedding are non-feather
• Extra duvets available for each bed (stored in cupboard in second bedroom)
• Blankets available (stored in cupboard in second bedroom)
• No smoking in the cottage
• We do allow pets, along with considerate owners. Pets are not allowed on any furniture or beds. Dog hairs must be cleaned up before departure.
• Ground floor is open-plan lounge & dining area with kitchen at rear. Click here for ground floorplan.
• Upstairs are 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. The only toilet is in the bathroom. Click here for upstairs floorplan.
• Room heating is by overnight electric storage heaters plus fan heaters
• Water heating is by overnight electric tank immersion heater with daytime top-up
• Most light switches are modern rocker type, typical height 135 cm
• All electrical sockets are switched, typical height 35 cm (except kitchen)
• 2 audible smoke alarms, one at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top
• Instruction leaflets in the cottage for all electrical appliances

Entrance Porch

• Coathooks height 195 cm
• Storage shelf height 75 cm, with racks underneath for shoes and boots
• Wall map of the Lake District and also sketch map of Ambleside town
• Door into lounge opens inwards, hinged at left, clearance width 71 cm

Lounge & Dining Area

• Easy seating (2 armchairs plus 2-seat sofa) with seats 45 cm from floor
• TV (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Ch4) with Teletext. Video recorder. DVD player. CD/radio/cassette stereo. All with remote controls.
• Various board games and cards, plus books and several videos, DVDs, CDs
• Dining table is to one side, with restricted access to seats
• Dining table is 120 cm x 75 cm and is 76 cm high
• Dining chairs have padded seats, 46 cm high
• Separate light directly over dining table

Kitchen

• Good lighting from suspended ceiling spotlights and also lights under cupboards and over cooker hob
• Kitchen units are cream colour with top and bottom bands of natural wood colour, recessed handles
• Kitchen flooring is wood laminate, quite dark wood
• Worktop height 93 cm, worktop colour is medium/light natural wood colour
• Kitchen sink has bowl to right, drainer to left
• Electric cooker has 4 hotplates and 2 ovens:
  • Hob height 92 cm, with ovens below the hob and control knobs at the front
  • Control knobs 90 cm above floor
  • Main oven door is hinged at left
  • Top oven/grill door hinges down
• Switch for hob light is concealed underneath adjacent cupboard, switch height 135 cm but also 60 cm back from front of worktop
• Some cooking fumes may trigger smoke alarms: you may need to open windows and doors
• Refrigerator and separate freezer located beneath kitchen worktop
• Washing machine below worktop. Front loading. Small machine due to restricted space. No drying machine.
• Walk-in storage cupboard (with light): door opens outwards, hinged at left, clearance width 55 cm

Stairs

• Stairs are in 2 sections, with a flat square half-landing part-way up
• 12 steps up to half-landing, then turn right and further 5 steps up to landing
• Width of each tread is 79 cm
• Half-landing is flat, 90 cm x 90 cm
• Handrail to left for both sections of stairs

Main Bedroom

• Door opens inwards, hinged at right, clearance width 72 cm
• Solid wood double bed with slatted base and centre supports
• Firm mattress (new in 2007) width 135 cm, length 190 cm, top of mattress 60 cm above floor
• Non-feather duvets and pillows
• Wardrobe and small chest of drawers for storage
• 1 small bedside unit for personal items, small corner shelf other side of bed
• Furniture is natural wood, with wood knob handles of the same colour
• Bedside light and spotlights give choice of illumination
• Clearance width around bottom and both sides of bed is restricted, 17 cm at narrowest point
• Largest free space clear of furniture and door is 150 cm x 60 cm, at left side of bed

Second Bedroom

• Door opens inwards, hinged at right, clearance width 71 cm
• Solid wood bunk beds, one above the other, each with slatted base
• Firm mattresses, width 75 cm, length 190 cm
• Each bed has individual wall-mounted reading light
• Lower bed:
  • Top of mattress is 50 cm above floor
  • Easy access, but with limited headroom of 55 cm above mattress
• Upper bed:
  • Access using wooden ladder, which some people may find difficult
  • Top of mattress is 130 cm above floor
  • Wooden safety rails to prevent falling out
  • Good headroom due to high ceiling
  • Small shelf for personal items
• Non-feather duvets and pillows
• Chest of drawers of natural wood, with wood knob handles of the same colour
• Storage cupboard, providing wardrobe space. Double outward-opening doors with clearance width of 71 cm, but with high step up of 75 cm.
• Clearance width along one side of beds is at least 61 cm
• Largest free space clear of furniture and door is 110 cm x 90 cm

Bathroom

The bathroom has been fully refurbished to give a bright, clean, modern look. There is a wide bath with an electric shower over the bath and a folding glass shower screen, giving plenty of room for showering. The bathroom includes the only toilet in the cottage, along with a washbasin. Floor area is quite small, but the high ceiling makes the room feel bigger.

• Door opens inwards, hinged at left, clearance width 63 cm
• In emergency, bathroom door lock can be opened from outside with a coin
• Pull-cord light switch, cord 125 cm above floor
• Fully-tiled white with several contrasting narrow vertical strips of dark tiles
• Light-coloured laminate flooring. White skirting. White bath, basin and toilet.
• Toilet seat height 43 cm, limited gap to right of toilet of 13 cm
• Toilet is dual flush: push buttons on top of cistern, height 80 cm
• Basin height 82 cm, basin is quite small
• Wide bath 57 cm high, inside width 70 cm at shower end
• Bath and basin taps are smooth white ceramic, may be slippery to turn when wet
• Grab handle on back wall above bath, 110 cm above base of bath
• Grab handle in showering area, 70 cm above base of bath
• Electric shower is "Mira Sport", highest control 140 cm above base of bath
• Shower head is adjustable height and can be detached. Head has adjustable spray settings.
• Pull-cord shower main switch, cord 145 cm above floor
• Electric heated panel for drying towels and warming bathroom
• Pull-cord fan heater, cord 145 cm above floor
• High 'Velux' skylight can be opened for ventilation using a long wooden pole. Requires some coordination to engage pole's hook into window's eye to open and close the window.

Grounds

The cottage does not have a garden, but 2 deckchairs are provided (stored in the walk-in under-stairs cupboard) for use in the courtyard. View of Fairfield mountain range from the courtyard. Road traffic can be noisy.

Transport

Ambleside is centrally positioned in the Lake District so being a good base for exploring in any direction. The roads can become congested at peak times and many roads are winding and require care. In winter, some minor roads and high level passes may become unusable. However, good roads north to Grasmere and Keswick, south to Windermere and Kendal, west to Consiston and Hawkshead. Local buses and taxis provide an alternative to using the car, and allow the many country pubs to be enjoyed at leisure.

• Car:

  You must turn left when leaving the courtyard as the road is one-way. At the bottom of the bank, turn left to go south (Windermere) or West (Coniston), turn right to go north (Keswick) or to continue round the one-way system. This junction requires care: two-way traffic to the left, one-way traffic going off to the right.

• Bus:

  Main bus stops are in the centre of Ambleside, 200 m from the cottage

• Taxi:

  Taxi rank in the centre of Ambleside outside the Tourist Information office, 400 m from the cottage

• Train:

  Nearest station is 4 miles south at Windermere, which joins the main line at Oxenholme near Kendal

• Boat:

  Scheduled services on Lake Windermere from Waterhead at the south end of Ambleside, 1 km (½ mile) from the cottage

Local facilities

Ambleside has become a thriving tourist centre, providing many shops and services for visitors as well as for the local community. As the town centre is an easy walk from the cottage, all these facilities are readily accessible. Most walks are level or gently sloping.

• Tourist Information: in town centre, 400 m (phone: 015394 32582)
• Post Office: within Tourist Information
• Banks and hole-in-the-wall cashpoints: in the main street, 300 m
• Petrol station: at the top of Wansfell Road (only 50 m from the cottage, but you will have to drive round the one-way system)
• Nearest shop for simple provisions: at the petrol station, 50 m
• Food shops, outdoor shops, gift shops etc: mostly around 400 m
• Nearest supermarket: Booths in Windermere, 4 miles south (015394 46114)
• Cinema: Zeffirellis in Compston Road, 400 m (015394 33845)
• Garden centre: Hayes, 400 m south (015394 33434)
• Nearest Internet access: at the public library in Kelsick Road, 200 m (015394 32507)
• Lakelovers local office: opposite garden centre, 300 m south (015394 33481)
• Doctors: Ambleside Heath Centre, 800 m north (015394 32693)
• Nearest open area for exercising dogs: Rothay Park, 500 m
• Nearest RADAR public toilet: Rothay Park (and also at the main car parks)

This statement updated: April 2008