Access Compass guide
Accessible countryside: routes and all-terrain equipment
Find Miles without Stiles routes, detailed wheeling information and Tramper hire, then check surfaces, gradients, gates, facilities and equipment before travelling.
Published by Access Compass · How we research and check guides
Who it's for: everyone, Families, Parents & carers, Children & young people, Adults, Professionals
✓ Verified Last checked 19 Jul 2026. Always confirm details with the service before relying on them.
The road travelled
Where we came from
Stiles, narrow gates, steep or unstable surfaces and vague ‘easy walk’ descriptions excluded wheelchair users and people with limited mobility from countryside routes, often without providing enough information to judge risk independently.
Where we are now
Disabled-led groups, National Parks and mobility schemes now publish wheeling routes, Miles without Stiles information and all-terrain scooter hire. Coverage and grading remain fragmented, and a route suitable for one chair, scooter or person may not suit another.
Where we are heading
The next step is consistent, current route detail covering surfaces, widths, gradients, cambers, barriers, rest points, toilets, parking and seasonal change. Accessible equipment networks also need wider geographic coverage and reliable advance booking information.
People and campaigns that moved this forward
- Disabled Ramblers — Combines disabled-led countryside participation with campaigning for better access and route information.
- UK National Parks — Brings together accessible routes, activities and equipment links from individual parks.
- Countryside Mobility and Disability Together — Operate an audited Tramper-hire network across the West, Wales and partner regions.
- Ramblers and local access groups — Publish wheeling experiences and press for routes that work for more bodies and mobility equipment.
Step by step
-
Start with specialist route sources
Use National Parks accessibility pages, Miles without Stiles routes, Disabled Ramblers and detailed local access guides. A generic walking-app difficulty rating may omit barriers that determine whether a wheelchair or scooter can pass.
-
Match the route to the person and equipment
Check distance, surface, gradient, crossfall, path width, gates, cattle grids, drop-offs, passing places and turning points. Confirm whether the information relates to a manual wheelchair, powered chair, mobility scooter, all-terrain chair or assisted walking.
-
Check seasonal and live conditions
Mud, flooding, erosion, livestock, forestry work, broken gates and temporary closures can change an otherwise suitable route. Contact the land manager or visitor centre for essential journeys.
-
Book all-terrain equipment directly
Countryside Mobility and partner schemes require direct booking with the hire site; membership, induction, photo identification, admission, parking or a small hire charge may apply. Equipment normally stays on the approved route and cannot be taken off-site.
-
Plan facilities and battery range
Check accessible parking, toilets or Changing Places, shelter, seating, charging, mobile signal, assistance availability and the distance from facilities to the route. Keep a reserve for detours and gradients rather than using the advertised maximum range.
-
Share precise updates
Report changed barriers, surfaces or facilities to the route publisher or land manager with a date and location. Detailed factual updates help other users more than a single ‘accessible’ or ‘not accessible’ label.