Access Statement

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Harbour Lights
Bed and Breakfast
Access Statement

Introduction

This statement is produced as part of our commitment to meeting the needs of guests with any special access requirements. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Our home is set in the centre of the fishing village of Craster. The house is some thirty years old and whilst we aim to meet the needs of all our guests there are some features which might make access difficult for people with special access requirements. We are located in an elevated position, so that our breakfast room overlooks the roof of the lifeboat station just below. As a result, access to the house by foot involves climbing a short hill. Our ground floor rooms are at different levels, with steps into the house and between rooms. Doors are of standard dimensions and rooms are of typical modern proportions and unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs.

Craster is a small village served by a good bus service and the nearest bus stop to Harbour Lights is about 150m away.
We are happy to meet guests and help carry luggage from the bus stop.
The coastal bus service gives direct access to locations from Berwick in the north to Alnmouth in the south, with links to Newcastle. Many of our guests use this service to facilitate walks along the coast.
The nearest railway station is Alnmouth, which is approximately 8 miles away.
Our website provides links and telephone numbers for the bus and train companies that serve Craster.
We are located at the end of a short cul de sac on a gravelled, unmade, road. However, the village is accessible from the house to users of wheelchairs and/or motorised buggies.
The Shoreline Café/Shop, Craster Fish Restaurant and the Jolly Fisherman public house are within 150m.
All of these serve food during the day and the Fish Restaurant and the ‘Jolly’ serve evening meals.
There is a cash machine in the ‘Jolly’.
The Tourist Information Centre is within 100m of the house.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate dogs.
Brochures and menus can be provided in large print if required. We regret we do not have facilities to prepare documents in Braille.
Our website provides pictures of our accommodation and further information about the services we provide.
We can be contacted by telephone, text or e-mail. Please see the “Contact Information” section of this document for full details.
Mobile phone reception in Craster is poor to the point of being unavailable. The mobile signal is available at the top of the hill on the approach to Craster. There is a public telephone near the harbour and we are happy to offer our land line for emergency calls.

Arrival and Car Parking

Accommodation is normally available on the day of arrival from 4.00pm onwards in February, March, April and September, October & November and from 5.00pm onwards in May, June, July and August.
Guests are welcome to drop off their car earlier and if you would like to discuss alternative arrangements for arrival, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We would be grateful if guests would let us know when they expect to arrive so that we can ensure that we are available to greet them.
Parking is on a gravelled, private car park in front of the main door. There is space for two cars parked side by side. We ask that guests park as close as possible to one side and at the bottom of the car park to allow space for vehicles to turn as they leave the car park.
We are happy to offer assistance with luggage.

Main Entrance

A gate, opening outwards, gives access to a concrete path to the front door, which is set in a small, gravelled patio garden.
The front door is normally locked and we ask guests to lock it as they come and go.
Outside the front door is a light, triggered by a PIR during the hours of darkness.
There is one step of 13cm (5 inches) up to the front door, leading to a small, tiled porch, with a further step of 20cm (8 inches) to the carpeted entrance hall.

Guest Accommodation – Public Areas

The porch also leads into the breakfast room and there is a raised threshold between the tiles of the porch and the polished floorboards of the breakfast room.

From the entrance hall up to the first floor, where the guest bedrooms are located, there are 13 carpeted steps, with a solid hand rail fastened to the wall on the left going upstairs.
We regret that there is not a downstairs toilet for guests.
The house is centrally heated throughout and thermostatically controlled radiators allow temperatures to be adjusted in each room to suit individual requirements.

Breakfast Room

Breakfast is served in the breakfast room, which is furnished with two tables, dining chairs and a sideboard. It is floored with polished wooden floorboards.
We do not have a lounge for guests, but, by arrangement, guests may use the breakfast room during the day.

Bedrooms

Our bedrooms, one a double and the other a twin, are on the first floor and are carpeted throughout.
In both rooms there are:

beds are made up with synthetic, anti-allergenic duvets and pillows and 100% cotton sheets. They are also equipped with mattress and pillow protectors.
wardrobes equipped with shelf and basket storage in addition to hanging space.
at least two chairs and a table.
TVs with Freeview and DVD/CD player.
facilities to make hot drinks (tea, coffee (also decaffeinated), fruit & mint teas and hot chocolate). Locally produced biscuits are also provided.
a range of toiletries, hair dryer, hot water bottles, a fan heater with a ‘cold blow’ option and additional blanket are provided.
en-suite facilities, with tiled floors featuring, a shower, WC and wash basin.
folders of guest tourist information, which contains further information about the house and details of emergency contacts including doctors and hospitals.
current magazines of local interest.

A sewing kit, first aid materials and an iron and ironing board are available on request, but at no extra charge.
The cupboard on the landing houses a selection of local guide books and magazines.

Double Bedroom

Located to the right at the top of the stairs and overlooking the wooded valley at the front of the house.
This room has a 4ft 6in double bed with access from both sides.
The ensuite shower has a lip 14cm (5.5 inches) high. It is 1000mm (39inches) square and fitted with a bi-fold door. There is a standard W.C. and no bath.

Twin Bedroom

Located at the top of the stairs and overlooking the harbour.
The room is set up as a twin room; both beds are 90cm (36inches) wide and can be accessed on both sides.
The ensuite shower has a lip 14cm (5.5 inches) high. It is 900mm (36inches) square and fitted with a bi-fold door. There is a standard W.C. and no bath.

Gardens

Guests are very welcome to enjoy our gardens.
The patio garden at the front is equipped with a table and chairs and looks out over the harbour and woodland.
Our larger garden, three quarters of an acre, is below the car park and incorporates the stream that runs through the wooded valley at the centre of Craster. Access to this area is difficult because it is on a steep slope. This garden is a wildlife garden and is a ‘work in progress’ with uneven ground and rustic steps.

In the Event of Fire

In the event of a fire we will shout ‘fire’! Please advise us if you have a hearing impairment and might not hear this.
The arrangements for evacuating the building are described in the guest handbooks, which are provided in both bedrooms.
There is a fire extinguisher in the entrance hall at the foot of the stairs.
The building can be evacuated via the front door. In an emergency the windows in both bedrooms provided an exit, but both would involve a drop to the ground from the first floor.

Additional Information

Smoking on the premises is illegal. This is a non-smoking home and smoking in our patio garden is also not allowed.
We service the rooms every day after breakfast and thus access is appreciated at this time. In the event of a guest not feeling well, we are happy to make other arrangements for servicing the room.
Guests are welcome to come and go as they wish during their stay.
We cater for special diets. Please advise us in advance of your stay.
If guests are caught in the rain we are happy to offer to dry clothes in our tumble drier.
Alnwick Infirmary, 7 miles away, has a minor injuries unit that is open 24/7.

Contact Information

Address: Harbour Lights, Whin Hill, Craster, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3TP.
Telephone number: is 01665 576062. The answer phone is always on and we will return any missed calls.
Text messages can be received on our home phone number.
E-mail address: info@harbourlights-craster.co.uk
Website: www.harbourlights-craster.co.uk
We are closed in December and January for accommodation, but may still be contacted during these months.

If you require further details or have any comments about this access statement or the services we provide, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Reviewed March 2012

Dunstanburgh Castle