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Living in Dorset means I’m ridiculously lucky when it comes to beautiful places to spend an afternoon with my Carer. We have beaches, gardens, pretty villages, farm shops, serene forests and lots of lovely little places to wander around – all whilst also having pretty good transport connections.
However, finding somewhere lovely to go when you have a disability or chronic illness isn’t always quite so simple as it is for non-disabled people. It’s often quite tricky to find accessibility information online about some of the cutesy little places around this area, and given that much of it is very old, the terrains aren’t the most accessible.
This guide isn’t intended to be an exhaustive directory of accessible attractions here. Rather, it’s more of a lovely collection of little days out around Dorset, Bournemouth and slightly beyond that I either enjoy already or am genuinely desperate to visit.
1. Explore Exbury Gardens (and ride a steam train!)
If you follow my social media accounts, you’ll know that I have a love affair with Exbury. Just over the Dorset boarder (only by a short distance) it’s the sort of day out I love. Taking photos in acres of beautiful gardens, seasonal colours, woodlands and plenty to explore without running out.
If you like steam trains, they have a miniature railway which takes me right back to summers spent in Devon with my Grandparents as a child. You just feel like a character from the Famous Five!
Now, when it comes to accessibility, Exbury absolutely excels. They have scooters available to rent, so you can get around the majority of the gardens without missing anything and there’s two trampers in their fleet, so you could even go with a friend like I did!
The Steam Railway has carriages specially adapted to accommodate wheelchair users and their companions – so you genuinely get to join in just as much as everyone else does.
The main route through the gardens includes a wide tarmac driveway, while some of the smaller paths are compacted gravel. They also have accessible toilets, Blue Badge parking, wheelchairs available to borrow and scooters available to hire.
It’s exactly what I want from an accessible attraction: some thought has gone into helping disabled visitors actually enjoy the place rather than accessibility stopping at the entrance. Genuinely, I’ve been twice and I can’t wait to go again.
2. Find the fairy doors at Furzey Gardens
I discovered Furzey Gardens while researching this post and immediately added it to my list of places I desperately want to visit… Maybe one for 2027?
Hidden away in Minstead in the New Forest, it’s a 12-acre garden filled with rare plants, winding paths, a beautiful thatched tearoom and, best of all, more than 40 tiny fairy doors hidden around the gardens.
Honestly, they had me at fairy doors.
Visitors say there’s something about Furzey that feels delightfully whimsical rather than like a traditional tourist attraction. It sounds like exactly my sort of afternoon: explore somewhere beautiful, find tiny magical things hiding amongst the trees and inevitably finish with tea and cake.
What also caught my eye is that it’s run as a social enterprise supporting people with learning disabilities, who help care for the gardens, nursery and tearoom.
Accessibility note: This is one I haven’t personally tested with mobility aids yet, so I don’t want to give it the official Mali & Me accessibility verdict until I do. Given its a woodland setting and the website mentions both a hill and winding paths, I am expecting it may be better suited to ambulatory mobility aid users. They do mention that there is an easier route around the gardens which they recommend for people with disabilities, but until I try it for myself, it’s hard to know what this will be like.
On the website they do mention blue badge parking and an accessible toilet at the tea room. So, if you’re open (and able) to have a bit of an adventure, I’d be very keen to hear how you get on with this one!
Furzey is firmly on my must-visit list.
3. Search for Mr Darcy at Kingston Lacy for the afternoon
Having been to Kingston Lacy more times than I can count, it really one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into the timeline of Pride & Prejudice.
The National Trust property near Wimborne has a beautiful house surrounded by gardens and parkland, and it’s particularly lovely when everything is in bloom. There’s a coffee shop that does cake year-round and I always remember the accessible toilet – because it is the fanciest accessible loo I have ever come across!
For wheelchair users, there’s Blue Badge parking and a choice of mobility equipment available to borrow, including mobility scooters, wheelchairs and all-terrain Mountain Trikes. I’d recommend booking equipment ahead, because especially when the weather gets nicer everywhere is busy.
There are not one, but two accessible toilets, including a Changing Places facility, which is always worth knowing about. Like I say, for me, the toilet at Kingston Lacy was an experience in itself – it’s like stepping into a spa!
The garden isn’t uniformly smooth: you’ll encounter a mixture of tarmac, concrete, gravel, grass and other surfaces, and the house itself is only partially accessible on the lower floor. But there’s enough here that I think it’s well worth considering for a slow afternoon of flowers, gardens and cake. It’s not the kind of trip where you’re going to be able to see everything if you have reduced mobility (in fact, I have never seen the upstairs of the house, as I can’t make it up the stairs) but the atmosphere makes it worthwhile. My favourite time of year to visit is during the spring, when the daffodils are poking through.
4. Pick your own at Sopley’s Farm
Whilst accessibility for some looks like easy terrains, for others, it’s not being forced in with crowds and having time and space to enjoy yourself – all things which Sopleys Farm is able to offer.
The idea is simple, several fields, close together with various pick your own available, near to a car park, picnic spot and small cafe. The amount of types of pick your own produce at Sopleys blows my mind – there were things I’ve never heard of (what’s a Tay-berry!?), as well as everything you’d expect such as strawberries, gooseberries, pumpkins in the autumn and the most stunning giant sunflowers.
The lovely thing here is that there is no entry-fee, no timers – you can take as long as you want and need and it’s nice and spacious, so you’re not near huge crowds.
It’s the perfect place to spend a slow, wholesome afternoon. When you’ve picked your produce, you can take it back to the shop to be weighed, pay for it and then take it home.
Pick-your-own is obviously seasonal, so what you can pick will depend on when you visit, but that’s part of the fun.
Mali & Me note: Because accessibility at farms can vary enormously depending on weather, ground conditions and what is currently being grown, I’d always check conditions before travelling if terrain is an issue for you. The day we went the ground was hard and try, meaning it was quite bumpy so I took my crutches. In terms of sensory needs, the PYO fields are also quite exposed, so you do need to be aware of that.
5. Have a proper Bournemouth beach day
As a Bournemouth local, I’m going to be controversial and say I don’t recommend going to the beach on a main summer day. It becomes hideously crowded and outright unenjoyable when there’s too many people all squished. However, if you pick and choose you can go at the right moment and have a lovely time.
The promenade is concrete so it’s easy to walk or wheel on, and you can see the sea from there. For ease of access to the beach, there are also Cliff Lifts situated at West Cliff and Fisherman’s Walk.
Apparently, I hear that there’s a beach accessible wheelchair available from Bournemouth Beach office. Available May to September on a first come, first served basis but sadly there is no pre-booking service. I have never seen anyone use this, so I don’t know what it’s like but it sounds promising.
One thing I will say is that the pier is unfortunately made of wooden slats, which run vertically, meaning that if you are using wheels of any kind you have to play a game of trying not to fall down them! This has long been a hatred of mine, and definitely something to be aware of. However, as far as days at the beach go, Bournemouth is a high-ranking contender for me!
6. Play mini golf by the sea
One of the highlights of a day spent near the beach in Britain is a trip to crazy golf!
This is one of my favourites and so fun to do with a friend. Each of the 12 holes are accessible, and I have tried these myself! I will say that some of the ramps to each level of the crazy golf are quite steep, so you do have to do a bit of navigating but I think it’s really worth it.
The best part is, this is one of the only things in this life that is still cheap to do – so you can have a nice afternoon out for under £15.
Whether I’m any good at mini golf is information I shall keep between me and my opponent!
7. Enjoy the flowers (and coffee) at Brothers Farm
In my opinion, Brothers Farm is one of the counties best hidden secrets.
Home to one of the largest blueberry PYO fields come the summertime, Brothers farm has the flower barn cafe which is the perfect spot for a coffee with a friend.
They also frequently run flower workshops here, ideal for anyone looking to learn to work with seasonal and dried flowers to create beautiful displays for their home. You can also buy a bunch as a special gift for an occasion.
The terrain around the site is mostly compacted gravel, so off-road wheelchairs should manage the short distance between the car park and the cafe. The fields are more uneven, but I have managed with crutches.
8. Spend an afternoon pottering around Westbourne
An accessible day out doesn’t have to involve going to an attraction.
Sometimes I fancy a browse of the shops, looking at things I absolutely do not need, getting a coffee, and looking around a charity shop or two. Westbourne was absolutely made for this.
There are independent shops, cafés and little businesses to explore, and it makes a lovely low-pressure afternoon. The highstreet has fairly good pavements on both sides, and there’s lots of blue badge parking nearby.
I’d love to start documenting which lovely little businesses I can actually get into in my wheelchair, rather than assuming an entire high street is accessible, but it’s certainly one of the more doable locations for me with plenty of charity shops!
Bonus tip: If you love fish and chips then I highly recommend popping into Chez Fred – there’s an option to eat in or takeaway – these fish and chips will blow you mind!
9. Paint something beautiful at a pottery café in Salisbury
If the weather isn’t great, why not channel your creative side and get into some pottery painting?
Splash of Colour in Salisbury is a pottery painting café where you can choose something to paint, settle down with your colours and create something fun! This is a great sit down activity in the warm and one that a small or large group can enjoy together.
I haven’t visited this one myself yet, but it’s firmly on the list!
And while we’re over Salisbury way…
10. Put Wilton House on your spring list
Sadly, this one is now closed until Easter 2027 – but it’s definitely one I’d like to visit. This stunning house and grounds sit just outside Salisbury and include beautiful landscaped gardens and the ridiculously photogenic Palladian Bridge.
Their visitor information describes the house and grounds as wheelchair accessible, although wheelchair users will encounter ramps and gravel surfaces, and they recommend visiting with a companion.
There’s also a café, because I refuse to recommend a stately home unless there’s somewhere to get tea and cake (its a right of passage!).
I haven’t visited yet, so this isn’t a personal accessibility review. However. Wilton House, consider this my extremely unsubtle hint that I’m coming for you!
A little note about accessibility
One thing I’m increasingly conscious of when talking about accessible places is that accessible doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone.
I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user, but my access requirements won’t necessarily be the same as another persons. I don’t like it when places describe themselves as ‘fully accessible’ because nothing can live up to this standard for everyone with every type of disability.
I’ve also discovered over the years that the phrase “wheelchair accessible” can cover an enormous spectrum, from beautifully smooth step-free routes and Changing Places facilities to “technically there is a ramp if you can find someone with the key”.
Instead, as I visit these places, I want to try to share the things I’d personally want to know before going: surfaces, slopes, parking, accessible toilets, seating, fatigue, how much of the actual attraction I can experience and whether I enjoyed myself once I got there. That’s where I try to create videos to show you as I go.
I’ll keep updating this guide as I explore. If you visit any of these places before I do, let me know how you get on and what you think! Also, if you think of any others, tell me and I’ll add them to the list.
