Gite accessibility for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility

When we say that Gite Loire is suitable for wheelchairs or those with limited mobility, what do we actually mean?

A picture paints a thousand words, so each of the following items is illustrated by a photo in the scrolling viewer so that you can see for yourself. Each of these items is explained in more detail below when appropriate.

The gite has a fully tiled wetroom shower suitable for wheelchair or commode access.
All taps are 'lever-type' mixer taps, there is a 'roll-under' basin in the bathroom and the toilet flush is push button.
The twin bedroom is 3mx5m (10ftx17ft) and we re-arrange as shown in the photo to allow maximum manoeuvreability around the door and second bed.
The front door to the gite, and the doors to the twin bedroom and bathroom are at least 83cm wide.
The gite has a dedicated flat car park area of nearly 100m², on which you can park at whichever angle suits you best.
There is level access from the car park to the gite, passing the pool entrance gate which has a short slope accessing the pool area.
The gite has level access to the garden / barbecue area.
The gite has ramped access to the front terrace from the pool area as it is not practical to provide ramped access to the terrace from inside the gite.
The gite has a 'roll-under' dining table and outdoor tables.
The pool has five roman steps down to the shallow area which is 1m20 deep (each step approx 20cm).
Before leaving the UK Kath was an instructor for Riding for the disabled (RDA) and is familiar with many mental and physical conditions.

The term 'Limited mobility' covers an incredibly diverse range of needs. We first made gite Loire 'level access' back in 2005, and since then we have welcomed many levels of need, learned that no case is the same, and continue to modify and add to the gite to make it as flexible as we can.

In almost all cases we find it's easier to talk on the phone before a booking is made, we can answer any specific questions you may have and if there are any specific requirements you have then we may be able to arrange them for you (e.g. Oxygen supplies).

Inside the gîte

Wetroom

The wetroom is easily accessible by wheelchair and we have a shower chair available if needed, this is shown in the photos.

The wc is standard height which means that a commode will roll over it while it is also practical for other members of the family.

Door sizes

Door widths between verticals:

Front door 83cm, 32in
Bathroom from entrance hall 88cm, 34in
Twin bedroom from central seating area 88cm, 34in
Double bedroom from central area 80cm, 31.5in
Pool access gate 93cm, 36in

The floorplan for the gite is on the main page for gite Loire.

Car park and accessing the gite

The car park has been specifically created to allow access as close as possible to the gite. The area shown in the photo is reserved for this gite and has been sized to accommodate as many different types of vehicle as possible. The majority of families or couples using the gite simply park in the space next to the lilac and benefit from the short, level access to the gite, but for more specialised cases we have previously welcomed:

Cars with strollers or manual wheelchairs where the user is a passenger. The car can be parked next to the lilac facing the bamboo allowing the passenger to get out of the car on the side of the path to the gite.
Cars with hand controls for the driver where drivers side access is most important. This type of vehicle usually reverses into the space next to the Lilac allowing the driver to access the car on the side of the path to the gite.
Estate cars with electric winch built in one side of the rear to lower an electric wheelchair to the ground. In this case rear access is the most important and the vehicle normally parks facing the right with the rear towards the lilac allowing the chair to be unloaded and driven straight to the gite.
Vehicles with modified suspension and rear access ramp for motorised wheelchair (VW transporter type). Also parked facing the right allowing rear access and easy three point turn for the chair user.

From the parking area access to the gite is level or gently sloped (within regulations).

Pool

The pool is 10mx5m and has five roman steps down to the shallow end.

The shallow end is flat and 1m20 deep over the full width of the pool and for a distance of about 3m from the bottom of the steps.

All around the edge of the pool there is a 30cm wide step at a depth of 1m20 and from this the pool slopes down to the deepest point in the middle at a depth of 2.00m.

Run this video to zoom in on us from outer space! Or click here for a map.

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