Forests with facilities for people with disabilities
Some public forests in Northern Ireland have facilities which are accessible to people with disabilities. These facilities include some caravan sites, car parking, toilets and lecture rooms.
Graded paths
Some forests have way-marked paths or trails which are graded according to the degree of accessibility of the facilities:
- white paths (all ability)
- blue paths (easy)
- red trails (moderate)
- black trails (strenuous)
More information about each of the paths can be found below.
White paths
- universally accessible
- level
- edges clearly defined
- no overhanging branches
- hard surface with few loose stones
- rest areas every 100 metres
- way-finding markers every 100 metres
- distance to go markers every 100 metres
Blue paths
- no steps or gullies
- slight gradient (1 in 12 maximum)
- edges generally defined
- no overhanging branches
- firm surface with some loose material
- rest areas generally every 300 metres
- way-finding markers every 300 metres
- distance to go markers every 300 metres
Red paths
- steps, gullies, tree roots
- moderate gradient (1 in 4)
- generally undefined edges
- overhanging branches
- broken surface material
- some rest areas at irregular intervals
Black paths
- steps, gullies, fences, streams, boulders
- severe gradients
- generally undefined edges
- overhanging branches
- all types of terrain
- some rest areas at irregular intervals
- way-finding markers at trail junctions
- distance to go markers at trail junctions
Forests with accessible facilities
|
Forest |
Accessible car parking | Accessible toilets | Path grade - best available | Other accessible facilities on site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belvoir Park | Yes | No | Blue (Easy) | Picnic area |
| Castlewellan | Yes | Yes | Blue (Easy) |
Picnic area Lecture room, must be pre-booked. Telephone: 028 4377 8664 |
| Drum Manor | Yes | Yes | Red (Moderate) | Picnic area |
| Glenariff | Yes | Yes | Red (Moderate) |
Picnic area |
| Gortin Glen | Yes | Yes | Red (Moderate) | Picnic area |
| Portglenone | Yes | Yes | Red (Moderate) | Picnic area |
| Somerset | Yes | No | White (All ability) | Picnic area |
| Tollymore | Yes | Yes | Blue (Easy) | Picnic area |