Padstow - The Accessible Woodlands Country House, Rick Stein's Restaurant Empire & Some Nearby Culinary (& Inclusive) Delights

You would be hard placed to find a better, more welcoming place to stay in north Cornwall. The Woodlands Country House Hotel is perfectly located between Padstow and St Merryn, offering easy access to any of the “7 bays for 7 days” that make this part of Cornwall so brilliantly distinctive. This oasis of calm is a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle that surrounds summer in Cornwall. We can also surmise that a winter stay, without the crowds and therefore able to hunker down, would be equally sublime.

Woodlands Country House, Padstow, Has 2 Accessible Ground Floor Rooms that They Are 'Proud Of". — Woodlands Country House, Padstow, Has 2 Accessible Ground Floor Rooms That They Are ‘Proud Of”.

For 38 years, Hugo and Pippa have been the proprietors and their formula works because their MO is to provide their guests and their dogs (yes, it’s dog friendly!) with a serene and pleasant visit. On their website they say they are

“proud to offer two ground-floor rooms for wheelchair users, disabled and infirm guests. The rooms are at the back of the guesthouse overlooking the countryside sloping down to Trevone….”

In fact the 2 rooms are connecting and the one accessible room works. There is ramp access from the car park, and the room happens to be conveniently located, right next to the breakfast room! There are grab bars in the toilet and flat access into a shower that includes a shower chair plus grab bars. There is even a small fridge just outside the room if you need to keep anything cold. As for breakfast, if you like breakfast, this will not disappoint. Everything is on offer from fresh fruit to homemade lemon curd. I had perfect scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and cream, knobbly toast and cafetiere coffee and went away sated and more than ready to face the day.

Woodlands Accessible Room WC..... — Woodlands Accessible Room WC…..

The vibe is quiet and the grounds and views are terrific. In the main part of the house, there is a comfortably appointed sitting room, well stocked with current newspapers and periodicals. An added feature of this agreeable place is the lovely, well stocked honour bar! We grabbed cocktails and went outside to sit. Reading quietly, we watched the sun go down. A splendiferous escape to magical Cornwall! We’ve awarded Woodlands 2.5 BBS Ticks.

Ramp Access To Rear of Woodlands Hotel — Ramp Access is Also Possible in Older Buildings.

Rooms Look Out Onto Beautiful Countryside….

If you’re looking for places to dine/drink near Padstow, here are three that we’ve already reviewed and all get the maximum of three 3 BBS Ticks for accessibility with style:

Nathan Outlaw, 2 Michelin Star and located in St Enodoc, a 31 minute drive

St Moritz Hotel, well appointed and where disabled visitors are not an after thought, in Trebetheric, and a 29 minute drive

Fifteen Cornwall, Jamie Oliver’s award winning restaurant, where all profits go to charity, is at Watergate Bay nr Newquay, a 20 minute drive

If that isn’t enough you may have heard about Rick Stein and his restaurants being a dominant presence in this neck of the woods. We asked about the accessibility of his restaurants and these are their replies:

“The Seafood Restaurant is the most accessible. There is ramp access to the restaurant and has a disabled toilet. Nice and spacious to move around. (3 BBS Ticks)

St Petroc’s Bistro is up a hill, we also have ramp access to the restaurant and a disabled toilet. (2.5 BBS Ticks)

St. Petroc's Bistro With Its Courtyard Casual Dining — St. Petroc’s Bistro With Its Courtyard Casual Dining

Don't Worry There's Ramped Access - Somewhere! — Don’t Worry There’s Ramped Access – Somewhere!

Our other restaurant, Rick Stein’s Café, is not accessible.” (So only 1.5 BBS Ticks here as it is ambulant accessible with good casual dining).

Rick Stein’s Cafe ‘Not Accessible’ Not Sure Why?? (We Suspect Stairs Outside)

If this is too difficult you can always get a takeaway st Rick Stein’s Fish & Chips – an easier way to sample his delicious cooking! BTW there’s also an accessible Rick Stein in Barnes, London that we recently reviewed and awarded them 2.5 BBS Ticks – their toilet was also up for a Best Loo, BBS Award.