ACCESS STATEMENT
This page is designed to help potential guests to understand our facilities and ease of accessibility during their stay. We hope that by reading this section you will know just what to expect when you arrive. We hope to have covered everything but if you need any more information please contact us and we will be happy to fill in any gaps.
Introduction to The Walls
The Walls is a Georgian Townhouse, built circa1750. It is built right on the medieval and Elizabethan walls that surround the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed; in fact the front of the house depends on the walls for its footings! It has 5 storeys, two are below the walls and three are above. The top storey is our living accommodation and the bottom storey is for services only.
- Sadly, due to the nature, age and positioning of The Walls, users of wheelchairs may find it unsuitable for their needs, though we are very willing to discuss and find a way to accommodate.
- The Walls overlooks the River Tweed with a south-westerly view and is in a peaceful location on the town walls but close to the centre of town. The walls attracts visitors and the walk around the town on them is a popular pastime, so people do walk past the house but the setting is very tranquil and hardly affected by the sounds of the town.
- We have recently renovated The Walls to a very high standard and tried to restore, re-introduce or re-create Georgian internal decoration tastes. There are generally colour contrasts between walls and doors and between adjoining walls.
- There are no induction loops fitted as yet.
- Large print material, e.g. menus and local information can be made available upon request but we have no materials available in Braille.
- The Walls is a non-smoking establishment.
- Sorry, we are unable to accommodate pets, we love them but our daughter who is our chambermaid is hyper-allergic to them!
- Additional door keys are available on request.
- We give all guests a familiarisation tour of your bedroom and all public rooms, additionally; there is a Guest Information folder in each room.
- There is a bell-push in the guest lounge which alerts us in our owner accommodation should you need to contact us. On the rare occasion we do not respond, you can ring us on 01289 330233, your call will divert to us.
Transport
By Car
Berwick-upon-Tweed can be approached by car from the north or south on the A1 or from the west on the A6105 and the A698.
By bus
Various bus companies run excellent regular services within the Borough.
For bus information please contact Traveline 0871 200 22 33 www.travelinenorthest.info
For local bus company contact numbers please call the relevant Tourist Information Centre, or for national coach travel please contact National Express on 08717 818 181 or on www.nationalexpress.co.uk
By train
Berwick-upon-Tweed is on the eastern mainline, with regular services running between Edinburgh and London.
GNER 08457 48 49 50 www.gner.co.uk
Virgin Trains 08457 222 333 www.virgintrains.co.uk
International Visitors
By air
The nearest airports to Berwick-upon-Tweed are;
Newcastle International Airport 0044 (0)871 882 1121 www.newcastleairport.com
Edinburgh Airport 0044 (0)870 040 0007 www.edinburghairport.com
By Sea
Regular Ferry services run to Newcastle from Holland, Germany, Norway and Sweden.
Fjordline Ferries 0191 296 1313 www.fjordline.co.uk
DFDS Scandinavian Seaways 0871 522 9955 www.dfdsseaways.co.uk
Approximate journey times by car to Berwick-upon-Tweed from:
Newcastle 1 hour
Edinburgh 1 hour
Carlisle 2 hours
Glasgow 2 hours
York 2.5 hours
Leeds 3 hours
Manchester 4 hours
Aberdeen 4 hours
London 5 hours
Birmingham 5 hours
Inverness 6 hours
Plymouth 7 hours
- The bus station is five minutes walk away and the train station is fifteen minutes away, however, with luggage, you may prefer to take a taxi (7AM until midnight) which stand at the station forecourt or just around the corner from the Bus Station in Marygate. Ask for Bridge Street Car Park.
- The Walls lies within the historic town walls which take just 40 minutes to circumnavigate by foot. The town with shops, cafes and bars lie mostly within the town walls so we are perfectly situated for access to town just a stroll away, yet in a quiet position.
- Berwick is a hilly town and there are many quite steep hills but this is not usually a problem for the moderately fit.
- Unfortunately, there is no Shopmobility scheme in Berwick-upon-Tweed, any Disability Equipment Hire shops or Radar Toilets.
- A2B Taxis have wheelchair access taxis and they can be contacted on 01289 387338.
Arrival and car parking facilities
- The main access into the building is from the town walls which is either a flat walk from Bridge End of about 100 metres or up a flight of stairs from Bridge Street car park. The front step is only a couple centimetres high and the hallway is wide and flat.
- To ensure your accommodation is ready we ask guests to arrive between 4PM and 6PM but we may be accommodate earlier arrivals, just ask when booking.
- Bridge Street car park is a tarmac shopper’s car park with spaces for about 50 cars. It is free to use and The Walls B&B backs onto it. Discs are available to put on your dashboard for extra parking through the day if required. As you drive into the car park, look straight ahead for a flight of stairs leading to the town walls.
- We can usually assist with baggage.
- After parking, go up the 18 Stone stairs (with a break and right turn half-way and follow the very gradual slope, we are the second house along with 2 pink doors. There are railings on the stairs and slope.
- The footpath is made from stone flags. The front step is only a couple centimetres high and the hallway is wide and flat.
- Ringing the door bell on the left of the second pink door will alert us. In the unlikely event we have had to go out, please ring on 01289 330233 and we receive your diverted call.
Public areas
- The Guest Lounge is on the ground floor and the dining room is on the floor below ground floor.
- Original doors are generally wider than normal and are panelled pine. Fire doors are standard sizes, fitted with automatic closers and fire/smoke barriers.
- There are no lifts in the Walls, access between floors is by stairs some of which are uneven, and it would seem the Georgian builders did not have spirit levels!
- Floors are carpeted in bedrooms, hallways and stairs. The dining room is stained floorboard and the guest lounge is polished floorboard with a central rug.
- Lighting is varied throughout the house, mainly central or wall lights with some bedside lights in rooms. All hallways and stairs have emergency lights which are permanently illuminated.
- There are manual fire doors located throughout the building.
- We do not allow smoking anywhere in the building.
- The Walls is protected by the most up-to-date fire detection system and every room and corridor has heat and smoke sensors which also detect removal (so you can't take them out to have a crafty cigarette anywhere)!
- There are emergency notices and procedures in all guest rooms in the guest information folders.
Dining Room
- Tables in the dining room are made of solid oak and have 4 legs and chairs are high-backed and, have no arms and are leather-covered. The room is normally set apart for three separate groups but can be arranged in a number of ways to suit the party.
- We can cater for special diets and allergies by prior arrangement. Our menu has a regional slant, we use only the highest quality produce, where possible locally sourced and in some cases Fair Trade.
- Cutlery is stainless steel but not wide-handled but if you do require them we may be able to provide, please just ask.
- Food is served by waiter or waitress and menus are available in large print.
- Our Dining Room or Guest Lounge can be used as a meeting room by prior arrangement
- There is a high-chair available in the dining room.
Guest Lounge
Our guest lounge is a comfortable and beautifully decorated room in the Georgian style.
- There are two large sofas and two armchairs and guests are welcome to sit here and enjoy the facilities or browse the information. Brochures and maps are available and we are currently building a library of local information for you to enjoy. There is no television or radio services in the lounge.
- There is a well-stocked wine cooler and fridge along with a few snacks should you want to enjoy a quiet drink, which works on an honesty basis. We are not licensed so we just ask for reimbursement of costs as appropriate.
Outdoor Facilities
With Berwick’s past being so turbulent and sometimes very violent, many people sought protection within the town walls so outside space e.g. gardens are very rare. The Walls does not have a garden or outside space but it is wonderfully situated overlooking the River Tweed and within easy walking distance of river, seaside, country and cliff-top panoramas.
Bedrooms
We have three very spacious and beautifully appointed bedrooms, one on the ground floor (Walls Walk) and two rooms on the first floor (Swan and Tweed) all of them en-suite. One room (Cygnet) is a family room and has an adjoining but separate two bed room for children.
Walls Walk, Swan and Tweed bedrooms have walk-in luxury showers, WC and wash hand basins and illuminated shaving points
Swan Room has a super-king sized bed and Walls Walk and Tweed rooms have king sized beds.
All rooms have:
- 32 inch, remotely operated flat screen TV with full Sky package, complimentary Wi-Fi internet
- Hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities. The kettles have a mains cord connection.
- Our beds are normally made up with synthetic- filled duvets. Please ask, prior to arrival, if you prefer blankets, we are happy to provide these
- Comfortable seating, luggage space and clothes storage and hanging spaces
- Crabtree and Evelyn body lotion, shower gel and body wash.
- A guest information folder with useful facts and suggestions.
- The Cygnet room is for accompanied children and is only let with Swan and Cygnet guests use Swan’s facilities.
- A pad and pen, writing paper and envelopes.
- Baby-changing facilities can be arranged upon request and there is a travel cot available.
Leaving us
- Payment is by cheque or cash please.
- We need to prepare the bedrooms for the next guests so please vacate rooms by 11AM on the day of departure. You can usually leave baggage in the Guest Lounge to collect later; just ask us sometime during your stay.
Contact Information
Suzanne and Eric Deighton
The Walls B&B
8 Quay Walls
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Northumberland
TD15 1HB
Telephone: 01289 330233
Web site: thewallsberwick.com
Future Plans
We hope to be able to offer a snooker table and relaxation room with TV and music facilities and a bar very soon. We are also planning a Jacuzzi/ Hot-tub facility when funds allow!