Accessibility
We welcome all visitors and aim to provide best possible access to everyone in order that they enjoy their visit.
The entrance to the installation is at the meeting point, Coastwatch Scotland Unit, immediately adjacent to the Beach Drive Car Park, KA12 8PP.
There is a set of smooth concrete stairs with railings or a slight slope leading onto the beach, which is sandy and depending on weather and foot traffic, the going can be uneven. Thereafter, the beach is flat and the sand is relatively hard and compact.
Beach Wheelchairs have been loaned to us to ensure that our event is as accessible as possible from the Scottish Charity, Beach Wheelchairs. We will have a Sandcruiser and a Hippocampe manual beach wheelchair available for free hire. These wheelchairs are specially adapted for the beach with large rubber wheels that travel well over the sand. They can also go into the water! More information is provided on the wheelchairs below to allow you to decide whether these wheelchairs might be suitable for you. Please note that we can’t help you to transfer into the wheelchair and you must have someone with you of good general health to push the manual beach wheelchair.
Hippocampe
The Hippocampe is low to the ground, so perfect for getting close to the sand and sea. However, the fixed front wheel may make it more difficult for some people for transferring and it is most suited to children and small adults. Our chair has an arm rest, leg rest, lap strap, chest harness and head rest. More information can be found on the manufacturer’s website.
Sandcruiser
The sandcruiser moves really well on the sand. The armrest lifts up to help with transfers. Unfortunately the footplate is fixed so transfers can’t be done from the front. The leg rest can be altered. The wheelchair has a simple lapstrap. More information can be found on the supplier’s website.
About Beach Wheelchairs
Beach Wheelchairs is a Scottish Charity that has projects in North Berwick (East Lothian), Portobello (Edinburgh) and at Haven Seton Sands (East Lothian). Beach Wheelchairs is a Scottish charity which believes that everyone has the right to enjoy our beautiful beaches. We have a range of manual beach wheelchairs at all our sites and a power wheelchair at North Berwick that are available for free hire to anyone that needs them. We have a hoist to assist with transfers at North Berwick and Portobello. Since we started in July 2015 we have hired out our wheelchairs over 1000 times. Each hire is unique and allows families and friends to spend special time together on the beach. Find out more at beachwheelchairs.org or follow us on Facebook. You can also email us if you have any queries: info@beachwheelchairs.org
