The UK countryside is opening up, but is it truly accessible for disabled people? From new walking routes to ongoing barriers, here’s what’s changing in 2026.

The UK Disability Action Plan (2024) aims to improve accessibility and inclusion for disabled people across many areas of everyday life. While the plan introduces positive steps—such as raising awareness of accessibility needs, promoting inclusive public spaces, and considering disability in environmental policy—it offers limited focus on countryside access. For many disabled people, barriers such as inaccessible trails, limited infrastructure, and poor rural transport

Some moments change the direction of your life. For me, one of those moments happened in 2012 , when I first discovered the TerrainHopper. The Moment It All Began I was watching television when I saw an interview with Sam Dantzie , who had just won an award for innovation. He was talking about the TerrainHopper – an incredible off-road powered wheelchair designed to tackle terrain that most mobility devices simply couldn’t. I remember feeling giddy with excitement  seeing foo

Tucked away in the heart of North Yorkshire, the Nidderdale National Landscape  is one of those places that quietly takes your breath away. While neighbouring national parks often steal the spotlight, Nidderdale offers something wonderfully different: dramatic rock formations, sweeping reservoirs, peaceful abbey ruins, and miles of accessible walking routes through some of Yorkshire’s most varied scenery. From quirky follies and ancient monasteries to family-friendly trails a

There is something quietly powerful about walking in a landscape that welcomes you exactly as you are. In the Yorkshire Dales, gentle paths follow rivers, curve around limestone hills, and lead into wide open spaces where barriers fall away and confidence grows. Through the Miles Without Stiles routes and the carefully chosen walks in Walks Without Stiles, every journey becomes an invitation rather than a challenge.

A clear review of the UK powered mobility devices consultation, highlighting proposed legal changes, key issues, how to respond, and the closing date of 22 April 2026.

After a year defined by illness, hospital stays, and major life changes, I discovered that vitamin D deficiency was contributing to my ongoing fatigue and anxiety. This post explores why vitamin D matters and how understanding my health has shaped my 2026 resolution to finally put myself first.

Sri Lanka may not yet have every ramp or accessible taxi, but it has something far rarer: a nation of people who open doors—both literally and figuratively—with grace and generosity.

As Disability and Access Ambassador for the Countryside, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact that time in nature can have on...

Discover how the Miles Without Stiles initiative is making UK National Parks like the Lake District and Peak District accessible for all. Learn why statutory guidelines are essential to ensure safe, inclusive walking routes and equal access to nature.

I am proud to be the founder of Access the Dales, a charity that is working to improve disabled access to the countryside in the north of England

I had the opportunity to go for a walk and talk with Mark Richards and David Felton on the North York Moors. It was great to be out once...

In September 2022 I was appointed by the Cabinet Office as Disability and Access Ambassador for the Countryside. This is a three year...

32 of the best stile-free walks in the Yorkshire Dales Love the Yorkshire Dales but don't like stiles? Co-written with my good friend,...

It sound like something from Monty Python sketch. And probably it will be with Heidi. Within a few minutes of meeting with Heidi, her...

Having a dog has changed my life.

Tramper hire at Whinlatter Forest

Even though County Durham is only an hour and half from home, it is a place that I have never explored. And now that I have been, I ask...

This 20-minute film, which will be launched on the 3rd October 2021, is a celebration of what the Westmorland Dales has to offer for...

It was Andy's wish that we raise the money to buy an all terrain wheelchair for children with disabilities for use in the Yorkshire...