Start with the route, not the story

It is tempting to begin planning a heritage walk by listing the buildings you want to show people. In practice, the most successful walks begin with the ground underfoot. A route that is genuinely open to all abilities is designed around surfaces, gradients, widths and resting places first, and the stories are then woven into what the route allows.

This is not about lowering your ambitions. It is about being honest with yourself about what a wheelchair user, a parent with a pushchair, someone recovering from a hip replacement or a visitor with a lung condition can realistically manage on a Tuesday morning in February. Get that right and you will find your audience grows far beyond the people you originally had in mind.

Choosing a step-free route

Walk the route yourself, slowly, and ideally with somebody who uses a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Take notes as you go.

• Surfaces: smooth tarmac and firm, well-compacted paths are best. Loose gravel, wet grass, mud and cobbles are all difficult, and even a short stretch of them can make a route unusable.
• Gradients: aim for gentle slopes no steeper than about 1 in 20. Short ramps up to 1 in 12 are acceptable in exceptional circumstances, but they need handrails and a level landing at the top.
• Crossfall: a path that tilts sideways is exhausting and can tip a scooter. Keep crossfall shallow, and warn people about any long cambered stretches.
• Width: look for at least 1.5 metres of clear width so two wheelchair users can pass, and check that pinch points, bollards and café furniture do not narrow it in practice.
• Obstacles: stiles and kissing gates are non-starters. Look for gaps of 900mm or more, level thresholds, and dropped kerbs at every crossing point. Check that dropped kerbs have not been blocked by parked cars.
• Temporary works: roadworks, scaffolding and pavement licensing change from week to week, so reccy the route a few days before the walk, not just a month ahead.

If a key site genuinely cannot be reached step-free, say so plainly rather than quietly leaving it out. Better still, plan an alternative viewing point nearby.

Maps and route information that actually help

A decorative map is not an accessibility aid. What people need is a route plan with clear, honest detail.

• Number each stopping point and mark distances between them in metres.
• Use a consistent symbol key for seating, toilets, refreshments, slopes and crossing points.
• Give written directions as well as a map, so people with a visual impairment can follow the route with a companion or a guide dog.
• Provide the route in large print, and offer an easy-read version with short sentences and simple photographs.
• Include a grid reference or a clear written landmark description for the meeting point, plus a contact number for the day.
• Note the total distance, the estimated duration including stops, and whether the pace will be leisurely.

Aim to publish the route at least a fortnight ahead so people can judge whether it suits them, and invite questions before the day.

Seating, toilets and comfort

Rest is not a luxury. Plan a bench or a place to sit roughly every 100 to 150 metres on a level route, and always at the top of any slope. Where permanent seating is missing, ask a café, church or library whether chairs can be borrowed for the duration.

Useful details to check on seating include a seat height of around 450 to 475mm, a backrest and armrests for people who need help standing up, and a firm surface beside the seat for a wheelchair or scooter to pull alongside.

Toilets matter just as much. Confirm opening hours rather than assuming them. Look for an accessible toilet with a wide doorway, grab rails and enough turning space, and check whether a RADAR key is needed. For visitors with complex needs, a Changing Places facility within reasonable reach of the route is worth highlighting explicitly.

Think about refreshments too. A stop with somewhere to sit, warm drinks and a straightforward menu gives people a genuine chance to rest and chat, and often produces the best conversations of the day.

Getting there and getting home

The walk starts long before the meeting point. Check the journey.

• Public transport: note which nearby stations are step-free to platform and train, and how far the bus stop is from the start. Include the walk between them in your distance calculations.
• Parking: identify accessible bays, ideally around 3.6 metres wide with space to transfer, and mention any parking charges or time limits.
• Drop-off: name a specific point where a car can stop close to the start without blocking traffic.
• Arrival and finish: make sure the route ends somewhere with seating, shelter and a clear route back to transport.

Leading the walk well

Brief everyone at the start about the route, the pace and where the toilets and seats are. Appoint a back marker so nobody is left behind, and be willing to shorten the route or skip a stop if the group needs it. Give people permission to turn back early without fuss.

Small touches make a real difference: a hearing loop for indoor stops, a printed glossary of local terms, a quiet moment away from traffic noise for anyone who finds busy streets overwhelming, and a leader who speaks clearly and faces the group. Finally, ask for feedback afterwards and keep a note of what worked. Accessibility is not a one-off effort; it is a habit that improves every walk you plan.