15 February 2019 by Jessica Boston
Disabled Accessible holiday homes so everyone can enjoy holidays in France!
If someone in your family has a physical or mental disability, going on holiday may seem like more of a chore than a pleasure, but with accessible travel on Brittany Ferries and self-catering holiday homes specially adapted to meet the needs of disabled guests, a family holiday in France with us might be an ideal solution!
Over 300 of the independently owned holiday homes listed with us offer Special Needs facilities from wheelchair accessible ground floor bedrooms and wetrooms to bespoke equipment or care and even sensory rooms. Our property owners are real people some of whom will have first hand experience of friends or family with disabilities; they understand how important it is to be able to relax and enjoy your holiday and they go the extra mile to make sure you all have a wonderful time.
We’ve chosen five of our accessible properties to give you a taste of what’s available; going on a French adventure might be easier than you’d thought!
1. Domaine du Sourire, Dordogne, Aquitaine
This unique complex of four gites is a great choice for any family with all types of disability carefully considered to offer accessible holidays for all. Three of the properties are suitable for wheelchair users and the whole site is fully wheelchair accessible. The gites share a heated pool, indoor playroom, sensory room, sensory garden and plenty of grounds where children can play safely and enjoy play equipment including a large trampoline, swings and wheelchair swings. They can also hire in specialist equipment as required – just get in touch to discuss your needs! If you’re looking for a holiday where you and your SEN children can relax and have fun, this is it! The owner Jacqueline says “The Domaine du Sourire is fully wheelchair-accessible; we do not discriminate and welcome everyone. We cater for the disabled, autistic and the able bodied…non judgemental, specially wheelchair adapted and with a sensory room and garden and swimming pool heated to a constant 28 degrees”
L’Hibou, 4 bed (sleeps 8, wheelchair accessible):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/AD006173/index.htm
L’Herrison, 3 bed (sleeps 6, wheelchair accessible):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/AD006178/index.htm
La Faon, 2 bed (sleeps 5):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/AD006226/index.htm
Papillon, 2 bed (sleeps 5, wheelchair accessible):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/AD006227/index.htm
2. The Old Cotton Mill, Cotes d’Armor, Brittany
This former cotton mill on the banks of the River Jaudy offers modern living in a traditional setting and has been converted into six wheelchair accessible apartments. The owner Jacqui say “Our property is accessible to everyone, whether you are a wheelchair user or just need access without steps or stairs. We live on-site and our door is open 24/7 for questions, queries or problems. We have a huge amount of experience within the disability sector but welcome non-disabled guests as well.” The owners have really made sure there are so many opportunities for disabled guests to enjoy holidays to the full, with options for fishing or sand yachting and tips for accessible beaches and local attractions. They can even arrange bespoke 1:1 support or specialist equipment so you’ll have everything you need for a relaxing holiday. Read more on their website
The Old Cotton Mill Apartments, 2 bed (sleeps 5, wheelchair accessible):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/BN002094/index.htm
3. Gite Eleanor, Vienne, Poitou Charentes
This large gite sleeps up to 10 guests and is ideal for a break with friends or extended family. As well as being disabled-friendly it’s very eco-friendly with a reed bed water filtration system and vegetable garden too. The owner Alyson says “We want to make the property accessible to as many different groups of people as possible, we have a wide front door and internal doors as well as the ground floor bedroom having an en-suite wet room for the less able/mobile. Please contact us to discuss your needs as we will do what we can to make your stay as easy as we can.”
Gite Eleanor, 5 bed (sleeps 10, wheelchair accessible):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/PV006790/index.htm
4. Le Chataignier, Charente, Poitou Charentes
This pretty gite has a lovely mix of period features and modern facilities. There are three bedrooms; a double with skylight and a triple bedded room upstairs and a wheelchair accessible downstairs bedroom with a wet room and wc. The spacious living area has flat flooring throughout and patio door access to your own sun terrace. Outside there is a raised garden with stunning views and a shared salt water pool.
A guest review reads “We had a most wonderful holiday at Le Chataignier. My husband, who uses a wheelchair, was very comfortable with all the access and facilities on the ground floor. Having the use of a swimming pool was marvellous and was used most days. There was one restaurant within a mile, which offered good food and also had wheelchair accessible facilities.”
Le Chataignier, 3 bed (sleeps 7, wheelchair accessible):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/PC004496_B/index.htm
5. La Grange, Cotes d’Armor, Brittany
Guergillès is a traditional Breton farm set in tranquil countryside near the Léguer valley, and close to the North Brittany coast and beaches. It’s the perfect base for exploring, walking, cycling, fishing and relaxing. La Grange is a renovated barn with an open plan living/kitchen area and three bedrooms. There is a large bedroom and a bathroom on the ground floor specially adapted for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.
Past guests say: “We took my mother who is disabled and she was very comfortable throughout the week. The shower room and chair provided were fantastic. The local beaches were extremely clean and accessible with most having hippocampe wheelchairs available for my mum to access them.”
“Excellent hosts, highly recommended property, suited me pretty well as a manual wheelchair user, with plenty of accessible places to travel to nearby.”
“We had a wonderful break as the gite met the needs of our disabled family member. We highly recommend a holiday at La Grange.”
La Grange, 3 bed (sleeps 8, wheelchair accessible):
https://www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/holiday-rentals/BN002505_C/index.htm
We hope you’ll consider an accessible holiday with your family or friends this year. Everyone deserves to enjoy a holiday spending quality time relaxing, discovering new places and having new experiences. Travel on Brittany Ferries is easy and staff are happy to help with your particular needs, you’ll find wheelchair accessible cabins and facilities onboard and in port to make your journey go smoothly. You’ll even get 20% off the cost of your crossings when you book accomodation with us!