Your visit

Your visit


2023 season


Open Sundays 12 to 3, from April to October.


Other days and times may be possible depending on availability of volunteers – give us a call to discuss.


Location


Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs are located in the Balmedie Country Park  in Aberdeenshire, about 10 miles north of Aberdeen. 


Our wheelchairs


We have a range of all terrain wheelchairs which are free to hire to people of all ages with disability or mobility issues. 


Each hiring sessions last up to 3 hours so you can really enjoy the beach and the park.


You can find out more about our wheelchairs, hoist, changing facilities and temporary beach pathways on the website.


Using the wheelchairs


We have a hoist to help you transfer between your own chair and our beach wheelchairs.  Please bring your own sling to use with the hoist. 


All our wheelchairs are manual, so they will need to be steered by a family member, friend or paid carer.  We strongly recommend chairs should be managed by two people.


We also have a desert nomad system which offers a platform so you do not have to leave your own chair. The nomad needs 2-3 people to accompany the person using it.  If you are interested in this system please discuss it with us especially if your wheelchair has extra equipment so we help advise you. 


We have a Mobi-Roll n Stow beach mat made by Deschamps.  This can be used to create a temporary pathway on the beach.  Our mat can be rolled out for group bookings and events at beach by our volunteers. There is a permanent wooden pathway from the Bunker through the dunes to the edge of the beach.


Help and advice


Our volunteers will be there when you pick up the chair you have booked.  All our volunteers are Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme checked.  They will issue the chair to you and they can offer advice and support. Please note, our volunteers are not responsible for any manual handling.


Facilities at the bunker


We are based in an old bunker in the Country Park.  At the bunker we have a hoist (please bring your own sling), an adult length changing table and a privacy screen, and a portable sink providing hot water for hygiene purposes.


Toilets


There are public toilets, including a disabled toilet in the Country Park car park, but not at the bunker itself. 


Changing places facility


We have a Changing Places facility, accessible with RADAR key in the Country Park car park.  The refurbished disabled toilet includes a ceiling hoist and adult size changing table and a wheelchair accessible sink. Access to the disabled toilet is with a RADAR key.


The Sand Bothy


The Sand Bothy (a community building next to the car park) provides tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks at weekends from March to October.  There are also picnic areas surrounding the Sand Bothy and in the dunes.  See The Sand Bothy website for more information about when it’s open and the facilities available. 


Play area


There is an inclusive play area next the Sand Bothy in the Balmedie Country park.  The play park includes inclusive swings, which have bucket seats and harnesses and a wheelchair accessible roundabout.


Opening hours


We are open from April to October on Sundays 12 noon to 3pm.   If you would like to come on another day, please let us know and if we have volunteers available, we will do our best to meet your needs.


Booking our wheelchairs


You can book our wheelchairs by calling 07864 350989 or 07541 112377

 

Please contact us to book your wheelchair(s) before your visit.  We cannot guarantee that there will be wheelchairs available without prior booking, but we will do our best to accommodate requests made on the day.


Pick up point for the wheelchairs


The wheelchair pick up point is the “Bunker” in the Country Park.  To find the bunker park at the main car park in Balmedie Country Park, near the Sand Bothy (the wooden community building). Follow the footpath signs to “All Access route to beach”, and you will find the Bunker on the left of the path.  We’ll have out Balmedie Beach Wheelchair boards out at the Bunker so we’re easy to spot.


More information


View of the sand dunes at Balmedie Country Park



Our wheelchairs are free to hire and

sessions last up to 3 hours

Family using the hippocampe beach wheelchair at Balmedie beach



Our volunteers are there to help

when you visit

The Sand Bothy community building in Balmedie Country Park


Open Sundays 12 to 3

from April to October.


Other days and times may be possible depending on availability of volunteers – give us a call to discuss.

 

Family leaving The Bunker using a hippocampe beach wheelchair