Property Name Access Statement

Plas Newydd House and Garden Property Name Access

Statement

Llanfairpwll, LL61 6DQ

T: 01248 714795

E: [email protected]

Introduction • The property is located amid lowland farmland in an 18th century landscaped park on

the south-east coast of the Isle of Anglesey, next to the Menai Strait (tidal).

• The site is partly open parkland, partly woodland and partly informal and formal

gardens.

• Garden areas are a mix of level and sloped areas, with a mix of gravel, tarmac and

grassed areas. There is a terrace garden with uneven steps.

• There is one play area and a Frisbee™ Golf course in Dairy Wood which is accessible

but as this is through woodland and the ground is uneven.

• Mobile phone reception is poor to average throughout most of the site. There is free

wifi to some areas at the front of the house. There is free wifi in the Old Dairy café,

Shop and Visitor Centre (near the car park).

• Dogs are welcome in the garden with the exception of the Italianate Terrace Garden,

dogs are not allowed in the house. Dogs must be on a lead at all times.

• Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the house, garden, café’s and shops.

• Light levels can be low in the house due to conservation reasons and particularly so

on very bright days when blinds are lowered or completely down.

• Care needs to be taken when entering the house on bright sunny days as light levels

immediately upon entry are very low.

• There are 4 manual wheelchairs available for use, 3 transit and 1 self-propelling which

can also be used as a transit wheelchair.

• The current entrance to the house is level, and there is ramped access on the exit

door

• All ground floor rooms are accessible with a ramp into and out of the Whistler Dining

Room. There is no lift access to the first floor but this is currently closed to all visitors

due to ongoing works in the house.

• There is no requirement to leave bags, prams, wheelchairs etc at the entrance but can

be left there if required. There are no facilities to hang wet coats or umbrellas in the

house. Bags are provided to carry wet umbrellas through the house.

• Powered Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) are allowed in the house at the discretion of the

staff due to the physical limitations of the building. PMVs used on the property at

user’s own risk and liability.

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Arrival & Parking Facilities • The visitor car park is located off the A4080 (Brynsiencyn Road) about one mile south

of Llanfairpwll. It is a quarter of a mile from the National Cycle Route NCN8. There are

buses from Bangor and Llangefni that stop immediately outside the car park on the

Brynsiencyn Road.

• There are brown signs on the A55 and on the A4080. There are issues with Sat Nav

bringing people to the utility areas of the house. Sat Nav can be followed until the

A4080 is reached, then follow signs into the main visitor car park. Entry to the car

park is flanked on each side by large welcome signage.

• The car park surface varies with part macadam, part rough stone and part grass. The

grassed areas can become waterlogged in wet weather.

• There are 6 designated tarmac spaces for disabled people, and enough designated

tarmac space for coaches or camper vans. Visitor reception is approx. 55m from blue

badge parking and there is a slight incline of just under 0.5m over a 30-metre distance.

before the area levels out.

• The car park is free and nearby grassed areas contain a few picnic tables and

benches.

• Cycle racks available in main car park. When entering the car park turn immediately

right, the cycle racks are on the right-hand side of this parking area.

• Coach parking is marked and at busy times this area will be coned to protect this for

coach use only.

• Overflow parking is on grassed areas and varies from 200m – 500m to the visitor

reception as this area becomes full.

• A golf buggy is on call during house opening hours to transport passengers to/from

the House. Buggy pick up point is at the cricket pavilion approx. 100m from visitor

reception, where the buggy should be requested.

• Specially adapted vehicles can drop off and pick up nearer the house upon request at

the visitor reception.

• An accessible with buggy with wheelchair ramp is available for wheelchair users or

visitors who cannot manage to step up on to the smaller golf buggy.

• Both buggies follow a designated route down a road with vehicular access then enter a

courtyard area where the entrance to the house is situated as well as the toilets (this

area is known as the ‘Grey Door’ area). All roads on the buggy route are tarmac.

• The buggy service only runs when the house is open so there is no service in winter

during the house closed season. Service starts at 11.30am, last pick up from house

4.30pm.

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• The visitor reception and shop and café are approximately 55m from blue badge

parking via a tarmac pathway, there is a slight incline of just under 0.5m over a

30metre distance.

Incline from car park to facilities & entrance to garden

Seating • There is seating to the side of the visitor reception which is a wooden bench. This is

approximately 55m from the blue badge parking area.

• The next bench is just prior to the cricket pavilion which is approximately 100m from

visitor reception.

• The next bench is approximately 100m further on to the side of the wooden structure –

There is another bench within 50m and thereafter at regular intervals around the

garden and vicinity of the house

WCs - Old Dairy/Reception area • Accessible toilet near main car park, visitor reception building and Old Dairy café.

There are no accessible toilets at the house.

• The accessible toilet is 1450mm x 2900mm and is left hand transfer.

• The main entrance doorway is 900mm wide, the doorway into the accessible toilet is

870mm wide.

• There is no natural light in the accessible toilet, it is lit by a fluorescent strip light.

• All toilets have paper towels facilities.

• The non-accessible toilets have a mix of natural lighting with one window in both the

ladies and the gents along with fluorescent lighting in each of these areas.

• All toilets have non-slip linoleum on the floors with plastered walls painted a pale grey

shade.

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• All toilets have baby changing facilities.

WCs – House

• Toilets are situated near the current house entrance (Grey Door area)

• Entrance door into the house is 820mm

• Entrance door leading to the toilets is 750mm

• The doorway into the gent’s toilet is 740mm

• The doorway into the ladies toilet is 560mm

• There are no accessible toilets at the house.

• All toilets at the house have paper towels

Visitor Reception and Retail The visitor centre and retail shop are both located in the same building known as the Visitor

Centre, they share the space but have separate till points.

• The visitor reception and shop are approximately 55m from blue badge parking via a

tarmac pathway, there is a slight incline of just under 0.5m over a 30-metre distance.

(photo above).

• The flooring is tiled, the walls are plastered. There is sunken coir matting in the

entrance and a mat on the approach to the reception desk. Additional mats are put

out as required on particularly wet days. The entrance is level.

• There are 2 doors on both the entrance and exit routes. All doors are manual opening.

The outer doors open outwards but are always open and fastened back with a catch

when the visitor centre and shop are open for business. The inner doors open inwards

but again are generally kept open on a foot catch. On inclement days and during the

winter staff are on hand to assist with opening these doors. All door widths in this

building are 900mm.

• The visitor reception desk is 760mm high and is open at one end for wheelchair

access. Staff will come around to assist if required.

• The retail desk is 760mm high. Staff will come around to assist if required.

• There are 4 historic windows and 2 full length glazed doors allowing some natural

light. There are 8 lighting tracks with halogen bulbs.

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Suspended lighting in shop

Historic windows in shop

• Due to Covid procedures there is currently no seating in this area but can be provided

on request either with or without armrests.

• There are no induction loop systems at any of the till points.

• Retail display stand circulation areas vary between 800mm – 1000mm due to a one-

way system having to be adopted for Covid government guidelines. All stands are

portable and can be moved by staff.

• Items on high shelfs can be lifted down by staff for visitors to view.

• Staff can assist with POS and price lists.

Catering – Old Dairy Café

• The Old Dairy café is approximately 60m from the blue badge via a tarmac pathway,

there is a slight incline of just under 0.5m over a 30-metre distance (photo above

under arrival and parking facilities).

• Access into the café is level.

• There are 2 doors on both the entrance and exit routes. All doors are manual opening.

The outer doors open outwards but are always open and fastened back with a catch

when the café is open for business. The inner doors open inwards but again are

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generally kept open on a foot catch. On inclement days and during the winter staff are

on hand to assist with opening these doors. All door widths in this building are 900mm.

• The exit door is currently in use due to a one-way system being introduced for Covid

procedures. This leads to a grassed area which is not suitable for wheelchairs. Staff

are on hand to assist with making the area safe for visitors to exit via the entrance

door.

• Flooring is Karndean, there is a non-slip mat at the entrance

• The walls are plastered.

• There are 4 historic windows and 2 full length glazed doors allowing some natural

light. Lighting is via low energy bulbs inside a large shade.

Lighting in old Dairy cafe

Historic windows in Old Dairy café

• The counter is 870mm high with a lower section at one of measuring 820mm.

• Staff are on hand to offer assistance if required.

• Due to social distancing and Covid guidance tables and chairs are 2m apart.

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• There are no induction loops at any of the till points.

• Large print menus are available on request.

• Paper straws are available.

Sun-Room kiosk

• This is located outdoors in the sunroom courtyard, adjacent to the house

• Access is level.

• Doors are on a sliding track similar to a patio door and are kept open when the kiosk is

open for business. The doors open to a width of 2500mm.

• There is currently no seating for the

kiosk due to Covid guidance. There are 3 garden benches in this area.

• The counter is 920mm high with a separate table which is used for payment this table

is 750mm high.

• Shallow steps lead down to the Sunroom courtyard with a further 8 steps with a

handrail on the left hand side when. There is an accessible route avoiding these

steps.

Accessible route to house

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Shallow steps to house and sunroom courtyard

Sunroom courtyard steps

Café and Retail (situated at the House) These facilities are currently out of use, awaiting refurbishment. These areas are

known as Plas Café and Siop Newydd and are not currently being used by visitors.

House • Approximately 500m from visitor reception

• Gravel paths around the house and in the sunroom courtyard area as well as the

entrance to the house and the toilets.

• Level entry to the house and toilets, entrance door is 820mm and propped open at all

times when the house/toilets are open.

• Last entry to the house is 3.30pm

• Toilets at the house close at 4pm

• There are no accessible toilets at the house

• Gothick Hall exit has 3 steps and a ramp which is in place at all times.

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• The Gothick Hall doors are manual and either propped open or opened by a member

of the team.

• All rooms in the house are carpeted with the exception of the following four rooms: -

1. Gothick Hall has a stone flagged floor.

2. The Music Room has a sprung wooden floor.

3. Lady Anglesey’s bedroom has wooden floorboards (not currently open to visitors)

4. Whistler Dining Room has wooden floorboards.

• Access to the upper floors is not currently part of the visitor route due to ongoing works

within the house.

• Lighting throughout the house is LED, there is natural light but light levels vary due to

conservation reasons. On very bright days blinds will be lowered.

• All doors are over 750mm wide.

• Ground floor rooms are on one level and are wheelchair accessible with turning space.

• Ramp replaces steps into and out of Whistler Dining room.

• Team members are in some rooms throughout the house but not in all rooms.

• Seating is available in all rooms with the exception of the following 2 rooms as these

are too small to accommodate additional seating:-

• 1. Ante Room

2. Study

• All chairs are without armrests.

Around the garden

The garden may be thought of as divided into 12 distinct areas, as listed below. “BR” in the

text below indicates that the path is part of the buggy route.

Cowshed and Macrocarpa Walk

This area is situated at the confluence of several routes to the garden, mansion and parts of

the estate closed to visitor access i.e. the Conway Centre. Paths are either tarmac or firm

gravel. Where paths cross Dock Road (BR) and North Drive (BR), visitors should be aware of

vehicular traffic to the mansion and particularly between the Conway Centre and the Dock.

Large parties of school children also use Dock Road to access the Dock for sports activities.

There is a speed bump at the blind spot at the top of Dock Road.

Around the Mansion

Paths around the mansion are firm, level gravel. Running north along the eastern facade is

the path that eventually leads to the Rhododendron Garden. Between the mansion and the

Italianate Terraces is the entrance to the Menai Courtyard up a shallow gravelled slope. The

courtyard is stone flagged throughout with level access to the coffee shop.

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The Italianate Terraces are situated about 30m north of the mansion. There are roughly

hewn, stone steps up to and within the Terraces, although there is step-free access to each

of the terraces at their northerly ends, albeit approached by a sloping, uneven gravel track.

There is an unguarded pond on the lower terrace, and there is a limited amount of seating

available on each of the terraces.

Below the main path and opposite the Terraces is the Rill, approached via a sloping gravel

path with a handrail. Running on both sides of the Rill are woodchipped steps without

handrails. These join the path that links,

via some rough-hewn stone steps, to the flat path that runs adjacent to the sea wall.

South of the mansion is a relatively steep path of fairly loose gravel down to the Seaside

Garden. This path also leads to the Dock, which is only open to the Conway Centre. Routes

to the West Indies, Church Walk, the Arboretum and other parts of the gardens also lead

south from the mansion.

Church Walk (BR)

Running north-south from the mansion along the top of a wooded cliff above the Menai Strait

is a broad tarmac path, linking at its south end with Long Walk and Church Bank Wood. The

path is potholed in places and in wet weather may have water passing crossing it. On its east

side Church Walk gives access to three cliff top viewpoints:

• Harbour View, a seat at the end of a short, bark chip path;

• the Turret, an 18th masonry structure at the end of end of a short, bark chip path and

down a small flight of original, very irregular stone steps with a handrail at its side; •

“Cilfor”, a timber viewing platform with a steel railing at the bottom of a steep,

zigzag stepped ramp, which is currently closed for renovation.

A landslip occurred roughly half-way along this path in 2017, and at present there is a

temporary, sloping path around this area, which can be muddy in wet weather.

Long Walk (BR)

At the south end of Church Walk, and climbing a steep slope, is the tarmac-surfaced Long

Walk. At its midpoint, where the very steep slope levels out somewhat, are the entrances at

one side to the Arboretum and the West Indies, and at the other an entrance into the top of

Church Bank Wood. The steep part of Long Walk is very treacherous in icy weather.

West Indies

A very large, grassed area with parkland trees and diagonally traversed by a broad, tarmac

path (BR) with a moderate gradient. There is free flow access across the lawns – in wet

weather some parts can be slippery. A major attraction in the West Indies is the tree house -

access to this is up a set of 16 steps with a handrail at both sides. The north, west and east

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boundaries of the West Indies have paths that link to adjacent areas. The south boundary is

formed by the Ha-Ha, an 18th century ditch with an abrupt 1.5m deep masonry retaining wall

on the inner side, which here is situated behind shrub beds and is more or less inaccessible.

The Arboretum

This area runs along the western side of the southerly half of the garden, a 200m long belt of

large trees bordering the West Indies. It is criss-crossed by dirt tracks which can be slippery

in wet weather. The ground throughout is uneven and tree roots appear above ground level

in many places. Due to the evergreen nature of the tree canopy, light levels can be low even

during sunny weather. Running along the west boundary is a rough, farm-like, track (BR).

Church Bank Wood

At the southern end of the garden beyond Long Walk lies Church Bank Wood. At its eastern

edge, along the top of the Menai Strait cliff, is a wide dirt track. This track is uneven, and very

frequently wet and muddy. At the end of the track is a bird hide with some steps leading up to

it. From the hide and turning uphill and west is a very narrow and steep dirt path that loops

back to a point midway along Long Walk.

Dairy Wood

A mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland lying between the car park and Macrocarpa

Walk, Dairy Wood is the venue for a play area and a Frisbee Golf course. It is also the

secondary entrance from the Welcome Centre to the whole of the park and gardens.

Paths throughout are covered with bark chip and generally even and level, although in wet

weather parts can become muddy.

Some 50 metres from the Welcome Centre the path crosses a ditch in two places on timber

bridges with a handrail. In the Frisbee Golf course a ditch is crossed in two places by timber

bridges without a handrail. The north part of Dairy Wood contains a large former quarry that

is used by the Conway Centre for adventure activities by visiting school children. All parts of

the quarry, and the high-ropes equipment and other paraphernalia associated with adventure

activities are out of bounds to National Trust visitors. A “dead hedge” marks the quarry

boundary.

Coronation Meadow

To the south of Dairy Wood and bordered to the west by Brynsiencyn Road is the Coronation

Meadow. Open to visitors from May to July, access is via a relatively level, mown path. A

limited amount of seating is available along this path. At other times the meadow contains

livestock and is closed to Trust visitors.

Path to the Rhododendron Garden

This path runs north from the Terraces, eventually reaching the Rhododendron Garden after

approximately 1km. It is a broad, tarmac path for around 50m beyond the Terraces, but then

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becomes uneven gravel after about 200m, where it is closed off by a farm gate and cattle

grid. Visitors may not proceed beyond this gate.

However, around 50m before this gate, the path turns right, continuing on to the

Rhododendron Garden. This is a very rough track, uneven and stony in parts, wet and muddy

in others, that more or less follows the clifftop north for about 900 metres. In a few places

there are steep drops at one side and care should be taken. Numbered waymarkers indicate

how far along the path visitors have walked. The Crux House, a basic wooden shelter with

some seating and views over the Menai Strait, is located approximately 300m along the path.

Following a landslip in 2017, a section of the path about half-way to the Rhododendron

Garden has been replaced by a short section of sloping gravel path and quite a long set of

wooden steps.

Marine Walk

At several points along the path to the Rhododendron Garden, there are steep routes down

the cliff face which join Marine Walk, a gravel path atop a retaining wall that follows the shore

line more or less at sea level. The retaining wall, and the cliff above Marine Walk, are

unstable in places as a result of tidal action and rainfall. Consequently, parts of Marine Walk

and some of the access paths down to it are permanently closed off and occasionally,

particularly after storms, the whole of Marine Walk is closed off. Visitors are advised to ask

about the status of this path at the Welcome Centre, but at all times they are advised to use

these routes with the care.

Rhododendron Garden

The five-acre Rhododendron Garden is threaded with a complex network of footpaths and

ditches. All the paths are narrow, many are uneven, and some can be very muddy. There are

also low hanging branches in many places and the small bridges across the ditches can be

slippery.

Map The 2 maps attached showing accessible route to the house and accessible paths around the

garden.

Property Name Access Statement

Documents

Transcript of Property Name Access Statement