Best Places to Visit with Your Elderly Parents for Quality Time in North Devon
Coming up with elderly day trips, which will bring pleasure and relaxation for both your parents, you, and any grandchildren, can be tricky. Day trips for senior citizens need to take in to account specific considerations. We’ve drawn up a list of the most suitable elderly day trip for families in North Devon allowing you all to have quality time together.
10 Places To Visit With Your Elderly Parents
Families will be familiar with thinking of this trail for cycle enthusiasts. We’re not suggesting you head down this route! However, the stretch between Bideford and Instow is beautiful and particularly wheelchair friendly.
What’s more, you can enjoy an ice cream at Instow, looking out over the sea.
The RHS Garden, Rosemoor, is a wonderful spot to reminiscing the splendid scented floral displays. The paths here are level and well-maintained. Even if your parent doesn’t usually use a wheelchair, there are eight manual wheelchairs and two mobility scooters which can be used on the day if needed.
Strictly speaking over the border from Devon and into Somerset, is the West Somerset Railway. Nonetheless, we’re listing it here because it is in easy reach of our care homes in North Devon and really is ideal as far as day trips for senior citizens go.
There are three accessible coaches and while there is no need to pre-book, doing so will ensure you’ll be on the right service. Most of the stations are accessible, but we suggest staying on board at Doniford Halt.
This steam train ride will be a trip back to yesteryear and a wonderful way to see the area.
If you’re looking for elderly day trips that will also suit all ages of the family, then a trip to Exmoor Zoo is ideal. We often find that the opportunity to enjoy watching animals at play and relaxation is perfect for breaking down any memory barriers and reaching across generations.
Grandchildren will enjoy the play areas and the whole family will enjoy the animal displays. The slopes are gentle and tarmacked, and you can hire a mobility scooter if you wish.
There is a gentle path starting at Lynton, which takes you to the infamous Valley of Rocks. Perhaps your parent knows this place from their childhood, or would simply enjoy taking in some sea air.
This is a lovely walk but isn’t ideal for wheelchairs.
The whole family will love the opportunity to travel around the estate at Arlington on a horse-drawn carriage. There are plenty of wide gravel paths ideal for a gentle stroll or pushing a wheelchair. There is also a mobility buggy that can transport visitors from the main house to the carriage museum.
Don’t forget to pop into the wonderful kitchen tearoom for a blissful experience.
Depending on your parent’s ability, Exmoor is ideal for either a scenic drive with a stop at a tearoom or an easy walk. This interactive map is ideal for discovering suitable accessible paths. Even without a stroll, a drive through Exmoor is a wonderful experience and a chance to get away from the hubbub of usual life.
The beach at Westward Ho! is ideal for easy access. Here you can get on to the beach, enjoy a picnic as the grandchildren play and have some refreshments too. It’s a perfect spot for watching the world go by, or for people-watching. There are also disabled access toilets within easy reach.
Although many of the rooms in the main house at Hartland Abbey involve stairs, the grounds here are wonderful during the spring and summer months. The huge lawns are flat and dotted with plenty of benches. There is also access to the enjoyable tearooms as well as access to the exhibition, shop and museum.
Marwood Hill Garden has itself been on the TV several times. It is a peaceful and relaxing garden, ideal for all of the family. Many gentle paths are wheelchair accessible. It’s an idyllic spot to watch young children feeding the ducks, or head to the tearoom with its incredible views.
When planning a day out for your elderly parent, it is important to consider their ability but also their desires. Try to find places that are accessible and that are of significance for them. Stirring happy memories can be a wonderful link to the present, and enable conversation and quality time.
What are your favourite North Devon elderly day trips?
