This is an action-packed day out in the heart of Cornwall, suitable for all. It includes features specifically tailored to the needs of people with a disability, including wheelchair users.
Ideally located within easy reach of Helston, Redruth, Camborne, Penryn, and Falmouth, and set in beautiful surroundings, Stithians Lake is an ideal place to enjoy some time on the water. There are plenty of activities for all ages and levels, but our adventure focuses on activities that have been created for people with physical disabilities.
Wheelyboats
If you love to get out on the water but are unable to access a standard boat, Wheelyboats are ideal. Brought to Stithians Lake jointly by The Wheelyboat Trust and South West Lakes Trust, the boats have a ramp that enables people in wheelchairs to get on board easily, and is particularly suitable for disabled fishermen and women.
To drive the Wheelyboat you must first have some training, which can be done at the lake – the only cost for this is for the hire of the boat. It’s best to call in advance and book a Wheelyboat. Hire is £30 half-day or £45 for a full day. The team at Stithians can provide a captain (with notice) or you can drive the boat yourself.
For something a bit more active, why not try sailing?
Sailability sessions take place on Sundays from 15th May to 2 October from 11.30 to 12.30 and are £6.00 per person. During these sessions, the Drascombe longboat is available for trips on the lake and access can be provided for people via a pontoon hoist where necessary.
For experienced disabled sailors there are also two International 2.4 meter one-person keelboats that may be hired during these sessions and also at other times by arrangement. This boat is ideal for handicap integrated sailing because the sailor does not move in the boat, and everything is adjustable from right in front of the sailor. Both hand-steering and foot-steering are possible.
After a couple of hours on the water, you will have worked up an appetite, so a trip to the Golden Lion Inn, situated almost next to the Watersports Centre is a must. Voted St Austell Brewery Wine House of the Year 2009 and winner of many other awards, it boasts a restaurant overlooking the reservoir and a more traditional oak-beamed bar area, along with a heated outdoor area and garden.
The menu features some great local produce such as Rodda’s, world-famous for their clotted cream, and delicious Cornish ice cream from Callestick Farm, near Truro, made with milk from their own herd. St Austell Brewery supplies a full range of their award-winning Cornish-brewed beers along with wines selected from their Walter Hicks range.
There is level access from the car park and ramps at the front steps. Once inside you’ll find no steps, there are disabled toilet facilities in the main bar area and higher tables for wheelchair users.
If your action on the water hasn’t completely exhausted you, just a few miles away you will find the brand new Heartlands project, which has transformed an industrial wasteland leftover from Cornwall’s tin mining days into a fascinating place to while away a few hours.
Learn about the county’s valuable mining heritage and its influence on Cornwall’s contemporary culture – a story never properly told until now – in a free interactive visitor center set among bijoux shops and landscaped walks. For the hungry, the Red River Café offers a range of meals and snacks with a Cornish flavor and there’s also a licensed bar. All areas except the inside of the engine house are easily accessible and mobility scooters are available.
