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Accessibility Guide
Knepp offers camping, glamping, self-contained accommodation, vehicle-based safaris and guided walking tours. We aim to be as accessible as possible and look forward to welcoming you!
If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone 01403 713230 or email safaris@knepp.co.uk
This accessibility guide does not contain personal opinions as to our suitability for those with disabilities but aims to accurately describe the facilities and services that we offer all our visitors.
Car Parking (for camping, glamping and safaris)
Walkers – please see “Car Parking for Walkers”
Our car park at Knepp Wildland Safaris is reached down a single farm track (with passing places) 1km (0.6 miles) long. The track consists of two concrete strips and incorporates six speed bumps. Free-roaming animals often wander across the track, but they cannot access the car park.
The car park is free for customers of Knepp Wildland Safaris and has capacity for at least 50 cars. The surface of the car park is Copswell 20mm stone chip which is suitable for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility or who are visually impaired. Distance from the car park to the Go Down (reception) is 18 metres (59 feet) with a small stretch of woodchip path from the car park to the concrete in front of the Go Down. There is a step of 10cm (3.9 inches) from the concrete pad through the main door. Please inform us in advance if you would like our temporary ramp put in place here for your arrival. The Go Down door is lightweight wooden & glass panel door, manually operated and opening inwards. There is 106cm (41.7 inches) door width clearance, which is accessible for all wheelchairs.
Safari Access
This section explains the facilities we have in place to promote access on our safaris.
Go Down (reception & shop) – Throughout the reception and shop a main route of over 1m (39.3 inches) wide is in place throughout to allow ease of access for people with reduced mobility. The floor is polished concrete and level throughout. Seating is a mixture of armchairs and sofas. Shop prices are displayed in large, mainly white, print on blackboards and slate boards.
Our campsite manager can usually be found in the shop and is available to explain or read out the information.
Cow Barn
This building is used at the beginning of most safaris. The building is 75 metres (246 feet) from the Go Down along a Copswell 20mm (0.7 inch) stone chip surface. There is a step into the Cow Barn of 15cm (6 inches) and the double-door width is 127cm (50 inches). Please inform us in advance if you would like our temporary ramp put in place here for your arrival. The flooring is wooden floorboards and level throughout. Seating is a mixture of wooden dining chairs, armchairs and sofas. There is also a toilet next to the Cow Barn which has a step of 1cm (0.5cm), followed by a step of 6cm (2.5 inches). The door width is 71cm (28 inches).
Granary
This building is used at the beginning of most workshops. The building is 60 metres (196 feet) from the Go Down along a Copswell 20mm (0.7 inch) stone chip surface. There are six steps into the Granary. Five are 15cm (6 inches) and one is 19cm (7.4 inches). The double-door width is 127cm (50 inches) and there is a lip of 26cm (10.2 inches). The flooring is wooden floorboards and level throughout. Seating is a mixture of plastic folding chairs and armchairs.
Toilets- Go Down
Two toilets are located in the Go Down including a designated disabled toilet (width of room 146cm/57.5 inches x 309cm/121.5 inches long) suitable for wheelchair users, with a door width of 82cm (32 inches). The height of the toilet is 49cm (19 inches) and the washbasin is 72cm (28 inches). The second toilet is 42 cm (16.5 inches) high, with a washbasin 80cm (31 inches) high.
Both toilets have tiled flooring and a flat surface throughout.
Toilets- Siloo
Five toilets are located in the Siloo, next to the Granary and accessed by a ramp with Copswell 20mm (0.7 inch) stone chip surface. The main door is 87cm (34 inches) wide with a lip of 10cm (3 inches).
There is a designated disabled toilet (width of room 223cm/87.7 inches x 165cm/64.9 inches long) suitable for wheelchair users, with a door width of 106cm (41.7 inches). The height of the toilet is 49cm (19 inches) and the washbasin is 72cm (28 inches). The other four toilets are 40cm (15.7 inches) high, with a washbasin 72cm (28.3 inches) high.
All toilets have a flat surface throughout.
Vehicle Safaris
We use open-sided, all-terrain Austrian Pinzgauer troop carriers.
The larger Pinzgauers (13 passengers) are used for regular safaris:
There is a step of 29cm (11 inches) into the passenger part of the vehicle with a door-opening of 80cm (31.5 inches). One person is allocated a seat width of 45cm (17.5 inches). The vehicle is fitted with lap fitting seat-belts. Please inform us in advance if you require more space so that vehicles are not overcrowded. The height from floor to roof in the passenger area of this vehicle is 128cm (51 inches). Entering the vehicle requires stepping up and simultaneously ducking your head.
The little Pinzgauer (9 passengers) is used as an extra vehicle on bespoke safaris: There is a step of 50cm (19.5 inches) into the passenger part of the vehicle with a door opening of 83cm (32.5 inches). One person is allocated a seat of a width 45cm (17.5 inches). The vehicle is fitted with lap-fitting seatbelts. Please inform us in advance if you require more space so that vehicles are not overcrowded. The height from floor to roof in the passenger area of this vehicle is 132cm (52 inches). Entering the vehicle requires stepping up and simultaneously ducking your head.
Passengers face into the vehicle. We do our best to ensure that both sides get a good view of any interesting wildlife or scenery, but you may need to swivel round in your seat and/or turn your head to get a view of wildlife, particularly to catch a fleeting glimpse. The tracks can be bumpy.
Walking Safaris
You’ll need a level of fitness that enables you to walk at a gentle pace, with numerous stops to observe things of interest, for 2-3 hours. The ground can be deeply rutted and sometimes pathways, especially where narrow, can be encroached upon by thorny scrub and nettles. We do our best to keep the main pathways clear but in the growing season we are not always able to keep up with the vegetation.
Sturdy shoes/walking boots with ankle support are recommended, long trousers and sleeved shirts, and a walking pole or stick if desired. A pre-visit email will list other things you may like to bring, depending on the weather and time of day.
Food & dietary requirements
We can cater for all common dietary requirements eg gluten-free/ vegetarian/vegan/lactose-free etc. Please inform us of your requirements at least one week in advance.
Health & Safety
Guides carry a rucksack with spare binoculars, first aid kit, walkie-talkie, GPS safety beacon, sunblock, spare hats etc. A health & safety briefing is given at the start of each safari. All our guides have received off-road training to drive the safari vehicles and are qualified in first aid.
Our 12+ Policy
Knepp Wildland Safaris and Campsite are all about the quiet and patient observation of nature. Some of the species we are likely to encounter are shy or can be frightened by loud noises or sudden movements. Others may take time to find. For this reason our safaris are suitable only for children of 12 and over.
Our campsite with open-air fire-pits, wood-burning stoves and an on-site pond is unsuitable for small children. We welcome guests with responsible children of 12 years and over but would also advise we do not provide additional entertainment for them.
We offer bespoke safaris for schools and younger children featuring activities designed to engage them, such as pond-dipping, bug-hunts and dung-beetle foraging.
Camping & Glamping Access
This section explains the facilities and access at our camping and glamping site.
Go Down (reception & shop) – please see section above.
Campsite ground – The Pitch Your Own camping area is in an undulating but predominantly flat wildflower meadow. Pitches and pathways are kept mown.
Two glamping bell tents, one shepherd’s hut and two treehouses are situated in the woods, over a bridge of 103cm wide/ 180cm long (40.5/70.8 inches). We make every effort to keep paths in the woods clear but after high winds they may be scattered with twigs and debris.
Paths – Paths throughout the site are covered with a thick layer of woodchip and vary in width from min 70cm (27.5 inches) to max 3m (118 inches).
Toilets – As well as the three conventional toilets at the Go-Down, Siloo and Cow Barn, mentioned above, there are three other loos located around the campsite.
The first, is a composting loo located in the wood, a 30m (98 feet) walk from either treehouse. The toilet has two steps up, 20cm and 24cm (7.8 and 9.4 inches), and a door width of 70cm (27.5 inches). The height of the toilet is 47cm (18.5 inches) and the washbasin height is 93cm (36.5 inches).
There are also two flushing toilets located on the pitch your own campsite. They have a shingle entrance with a 5cm (1.9 inches) step up onto polished concrete. The doors are both 69cm (27.1 inches) wide. The toilets are 42cm high (16.5 inches) and the washbasins are 80cm high (31.4 inches).
Indoor showers – At the main Go-Down we have two indoor ‘wet-room’ showers tiled floor, walls and ceiling, with an even floor throughout and underfloor heating. The entry door width to both showers is 73cm (28.5 inches). The width of the shower rooms is 146cm (57.5 inches) x 309cm (121.5 inches) long. The height of the washbasins is 80cm (31 inches).
Outdoor showers – There are three hot water showers on the Pitch Your Own campsite. The open-air shower has an entrance 50cm (19.5 inches) wide at the narrowest point and a floor base of shingle, with a standard wooden pallet with slip-proof strips on which to stand for showering.
The two undercover showers located at the far end of the camping field have a large step up (35cm/13.7 inches at highest point), plus a step of 22cm (8.6 inches) through the doors. One door is 66cm (25.9 inches) wide; the second is 75cm (29.5 inches) wide. There is a step up of 9cm (3.5 inches) into the shower; the shower area is 71cm (27.9 inches) by 58cm (22.8 inches). The height of the wash-basin servicing both showers is 90cm (35.5 inches).
The Bathenon – There is an outdoor bath house on the campsite for use by both camping and glamping guests, with two free-standing enamel baths, each with an overhead shower rose, in separate open-air rooms with shingle floors punctuated by stepping stones. There is a step up of 10cm (3.9 inches) onto the main platform where there is also a large hand basin that stands 93cm (36.5 inches) high. The doorway into both bathrooms is 72cm wide (28.3 inches).
Glamping Kitchen – The main cooking area for the glamping guests has canvas openings 245cm (96 inches) wide. The building is 10m long (32.8 feet) with a step up of 15cm (5.9 inches). The floor, made from reclaimed wooden marsh boards, is slightly uneven. Seating is on high stools at cable reel tables (100cm/39 inches high) or on low benches around the sides (47cm/18.5 inches high). The washing-up sinks are 90cm (35.5 inches) high; the hand-washing basin is 82cm (32 inches) high; and the outside butler sink is 65cm (25.5 inches) high.
Accommodation (glamping) – we have video clips of each accommodation page on YouTube, giving good visuals of the interior space of all our units, and of the campsite itself. Our website contains dimensions of beds, bedding etc. Hypoallergenic bedding is available on request.
Shepherd’s Huts – These have a double bed raised to a height of 30cm (11.8 inches), with walls on three sides. There are three steps up to door level (14cm, 19cm and 19cm/5.5, 7.4 and 7.4 inches) plus a step into the hut of 10cm (3.9 inches). The door width of the Longhorn and Exmoor huts is 65cm (25.5 inches) wide. The Tamworth hut has double doors, 130cm (51 inches) wide.
Luxury Tents & Yurts – These have king-sized beds, min 12cm (4.7 inches), max 42cm (16.5 inches) off the ground. There are two steps up to the door level, 15cm (5.9inches) and 30cm (11.8 inches). The doors range from 58cm (22.8 inches) to 2m (78.7 inches) wide.
Treehouses – The Peregrine has a king-sized bed and the Tawny Owl has a double bed, both min 12cm (4.7 inches), max 42cm (16.5 inches) off the ground. The Tawny Owl Treehouse has 15 steps, each 22cm high (8.66 inches) to deck level. The Peregrine Treehouse has 26 steps, each 17 cm high (6.69 inches) to deck level. The Peregrine also has a bath platform access by a set of 10 steps, each 10cm high (3.9 inches). The free standing Hikki bath is 66cm high (25.9 inches).
The Pitch Up – This is designed like an open-air beach shack to provide cover in bad weather and a place to sit out and watch the sunset. The main covered area has openings either side to step up into. The building is 7m (22.9 feet) long with a step up onto a 16cm (6.2 inches) pallet, followed by another step of 30cm (11.8 inches). The openings are 77cm (30.3 inches) wide. It is equipped with tables and chairs of various heights and styles on slightly uneven wooden floorboards. The area in front of the upcycled wood-burning drum stove and handwash basin is shingle edged with logs 10cm high (3.9 inches). The hand-wash basin is 84cm (33 inches) high, and kitchen counters are 95cm high (37.5 inches). The open-air washing-up sinks, located at ground level on a shingle base nearby, under a corrugated iron roof, are 108cm (42.5 inches) high.
Self-Contained Accommodation Access
This section explains the facilities and access at our self-contained accommodation.
The Dairy
The Dairy is accessed by a step of 5cm (1.9 inches) and a double door 104cm (40.9 inches) wide with a lip of 16cm (6.2 inches). The kitchen counters are 90cm high (35.4 inches).
The bathroom contains a toilet, shower and basin. The height of the toilet is 43cm (16.9 inches) and the washbasin height is 78cm (30.7 inches). The shower area is 87cm (34.2 inches) by 118cm (46.4 inches) and is accessed by a step of 20cm (7.8 inches).
The bed is accessed by a 13 steps, each 18cm (7 inches) high. There is a double bed max 60cm (23.6 inches) off the ground.
The Bothy
The Dairy is accessed by two doors. One has a step of 16cm (6.2 inches) and a single door 81.5cm (32 inches) wide with a lip of 10cm (3.9 inches). The other door (into the kitchen) has a step of 39cm (15.3 inches) and a double door 109.5cm (43.1 inches) wide with a lip of 1.7cm (0.6 inches). The kitchen counters are 91.5cm high (36 inches). There is an internal door that connects the main area to the kitchen. The internal door width is 83.7cm (32.9 inches) with a lip of 4cm (1.5 inches).
The bathroom contains a toilet, shower, bath and basin. The height of the toilet is 45cm (17.7 inches), the height of the bath is 68cm (26.7 inches) and the washbasin height is 83cm (32.6 inches). The shower area is 107cm (42.1 inches) by 107cm (42.1 inches) and is accessed by a step of 6.5cm (2.5 inches).
There is a king-sized bed max 72cm (28.3 inches) off the ground
Public Access
Car Parking (For Walkers)
The walker’s car park costs £5 per car and has capacity for at least 50 cars. The surface of the car park is Copswell 20mm stone chip which is suitable for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility or who are visually impaired.
Public Footpaths
The public footpaths at Knepp are can be deeply rutted and sometimes pathways, especially where narrow, can be encroached upon by thorny scrub and nettles. We do our best to keep the main pathways clear but in the growing season we are not always able to keep up with the vegetation. There are some hard tracks which are wheelchair accessible.
If you require further information, including specific measurement or photos, or would like to discuss your requirements, please do not hesitate to call us on 01403 713230.