Access Statement for Venn Farm Cottages
Introduction
Venn Farm is a small (50 acre) farm with fields surrounding the farm house and cottages. The entrance drive is an unpaved farm track which should be driven on at slow speeds only. The farm is on the side of a hill and roads leading away from the farm all have relatively steep slopes. Some of the public access areas on the farm have some mild slopes to negotiate and the surfaces are not all even.
There is a pond for the ducks, which is unfenced.
Pictures of the farm and its facilities can be found on the web site (www.vennfarm.com) or you can telephone for any more detailed information that you require. A large print version of the brochure can be provided on request.
The nearest village is Kings Nympton and the nearest significant town is South Molton where most day to day shopping requirements can be met. South Molton is just over 3 miles from the farm and the journey requires access to a car. Taxi services are available but are quite expensive. We are able to provide occasional transport to and from South Molton for shopping for guests who have no vehicle. Local supermarkets provide delivery services for groceries and Tesco’s service for online ordering and delivery is available from the Barnstaple store.
Barnstaple, 11 miles away, is the nearest major shopping town and is the location of the nearest acute hospital.
Car Parking and Transport
The farm is not served by public transport directly but there are railway services available to Kings Nympton and Eggesford stations which are connected from Exeter and Barnstaple. Both stations are between 10 and 15 minutes drive from Venn Farm and arrangements can be made to collect visitors from the stations. There is a national coach service connection to South Molton which connects to London. Local bus services to Barnstaple, Tiverton and some villages can be picked up in South Molton.
There is adequate car parking on site for up to two cars per cottage. The car park is accessed up a small hill approximately 50 yards from the cottages. Depending on weather and ground conditions, arrangements can be made for parking in the yard. Cars can be brought close to the cottages for packing, unpacking or to allow guests with mobility difficulties to get in and out.
The surface around the cottages is gravel at the front and paving at the rear. There is a single step up to the paved area from the gravel.
External lighting is provided around the immediate vicinity of the guest areas which provide lighted routes from the car park and give light to the main areas near the cottages. Each cottage has an external door light for late night entry and exit.
Telephone and Communications
Mobile telephones generally have a reasonable signal from the farm but usually outside the cottages. We have a land line in the farmhouse which can be used by guests in an emergency.
We can send and receive e mails on behalf of guests and can print them out as required. We do not have broadband services in the cottages or general internet access for guests.
Laundry Facilities
The laundry is accessed by a single step and consists of a single washing machine and a tumble dryer. Laundry baskets and pegs are provided and the exterior drying area with rotary clothes lines is approximately ten yards from the laundry. Laundry washing materials and conditioner are provided free of charge to guests and there is no charge for use of the laundry equipment. There are seats provided in the laundry.
Leisure Facilities
A play area for children is provided adjacent to the car park and includes slides, swings, monkey bars and climbing walls. The surface is wood chips. A giant trampoline is provided for guests with a safety net all around it to prevent accidental falling from the trampoline. There is a fleet of small ride on tractors and trailers provided for children (up to ten years old). These are in a barn with a concrete floor which allows all weather use.
Children and guests have free access to all areas of the farm but adults should supervise when allowing children to access barns with equipment or stacked hay bales. Children (and adults) are encouraged to help with feeding and caring for the animals. This activity is always supervised by one of the proprietors.
Cottages
The cottages are a conversion from a large threshing barn. One of the cottages has a bedroom and toilet on the ground floor and has ramped access to the entrance door of the cottage. This cottage is suitable for persons with minor disabilities only. Wheelchair access is possible but the facilities in the cottage are not designed for persons with disabilities. Elderly people with moderate mobility can manage well in this cottage but access to the shower/bath is up a flight of stairs.
The remaining three cottages have four or five external steps (with handrail) to access the front door and one or two small internal steps to access the rear door.
All cottages have bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor.
Floors are carpeted, except in the kitchens and bathrooms which are linoleum.
Lighting in the cottages is good and there are additional standard lamps available in each sitting room area. Surfaces are bright and help lighten the cottages.
Televisions, DVD players and video players have remote controls and from the beginning of the 2009 season will have ‘digiboxes’ with access to normal digital services and information.
The main farmhouse is occupied most of the time and assistance is available overnight if required.
Kitchen areas have good clear access to all surfaces and cupboards but are standard height and not well suited for guests in wheelchairs.
Emergency
All cottages have smoke alarms and suitable fire equipment for the kitchen areas. In the event of emergency the proprietors will provide assistance to guests if evacuation is required. Transport can be provided to local doctor’s surgeries and hospitals in emergency.
Pets
Pets are welcomed but cats and dogs may not be left unattended in the cottages. There are many fields suitable for exercising dogs. We can provide a hutch for smaller pets; rabbits, guinea pigs etc.