Access Statement for Swallow Barn

Introduction

Swallow Barn is a 6 bedroomed bed and breakfast facility.  It is a barn conversion, adjacent to the main farmhouse at Mullacott Farm, in Ilfracombe, Devon - a five-minute drive from Ilfracombe High Street. Located within North Devon and near to Exmoor. The B&B comprises of 6 letting en-suite bedrooms, and a dining room.   The B&B is set in the farm grounds. It is privately run by the farm and Mullacott Farm will assist you in any way possible during your stay.  

 Pre-Arrival

We are located on the A361, on the outskirts of Ilfracombe, near Mullacott Cross roundabout.  Our location is peaceful but accessible for people traveling by car, bus, and train or cycling.  
The nearest shops are just under 1/2 a mile away.  
The nearest bus stop is just under 1/2 a mile away at Mullacott Cross. Buses run every half hour and the service stops early in the evening. There is a limited service on a Sunday.  The grass verge is not easily accessible, but this moves into a public footpath that cuts through our neighbours’ horse field, having climbed down a step/stile.

 
The nearest railway station is Barnstaple, which is approximately 10 miles away. Taxis are usually available at the station.  
There are several local taxi companies, mentioned on this website.  

We regret that dogs are not allowed in any part of the B&B under any circumstances. 

Brochures can be provided in large print if required. We do not actually have a brochure but print off the web page.  We regret we do not have facilities to prepare documents in Braille.  

Our website www.mullacottfarm.co.uk provides pictures of our accommodation and further information about the services we provide.  

You can contact us by telephone, text, e-mail or fax. Please see the Contact Information section of this document for full details.    

 Arrival & Car Parking Facilities

Please advise us of your anticipated arrival time so that we can be sure we are here to welcome you.  
To ensure your accommodation is ready we ask that guests do not normally arrive before 4.00pm.

On arrival to Ilfracombe please follow the directions from our website, www.mullacottfarm.co.uk rather than using satnav, as they aren’t programmed very well around here, and some makes take you to our neighbor’s house, which is annoying for them.  
Please follow the signs to the farmhouse to let us know of your arrival, and we can then point out where to park and check you in.  
There are two parking spaces right outside the B&B, or 10 more unmarked spaces 10 meters away.  All are tarmac and on a slight slope. 
The car park is large, to enable access to the front and rear of vehicles, including mini buses. 
There are no speed bumps or barriers in the car park area.  
The car park is illuminated during the hours of darkness.    
For guests with mobility difficulties, with steps there is a space, near the farmhouse, that has a sloped path, leading to the 2 ground floor rooms.
The Farm contact number is displayed on the window at the main door to the B&B.  
We are able to assist guests with luggage if this is required.  
All signage is in large font, clear, pictorial (where appropriate) and placed at a suitable height.  Diagrams have been used where possible.  
On arrival person who booked the B&B must come to or contact the farmhouse and check in.  
 
Main Entrance & Reception

There is an alternative entrance - if the guest needs to access the building without steps.  From the farmhouse parking area go up the shallow slope to the patio and go through the bedroom door.
We will provide assistance if requested.
A pad and pen are available on arrival.
There is an entry phone, if the guest has gone straight to the front of the B&B, but we like guests to come to the main farmhouse on arrival, for checking in. The entry phone is 1m high.
The lighting at the porch of the B&B is a bright, energy saving bulb.  Inside the hallway the lighting is halogen strip lighting.
There are additional keys to rooms or facilities available on request.
Seating can be available in reception/entrance.
A familiarization tour or escorted visit is offered if requested.
The main entrance door is a single leaf, side hung door with an automatic closer on it.  It is 75 cm wide.  The lock is 133 cm high, to the side of the door.  
There is a lip step from the main outside steps, 4 cm high, and 15 cm wide. The lighting is overhead and bright, with good daylight too.  Signs are large, bold and reflective outside, and large print inside.  The floor is tiled, in a buff colour and there is a contrasting dark blue floor mat at the main front door.  The floor is level throughout.  The walls contrast with the natural wood.
The opening times / manned hours for reception and main doors are 9.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m. 
Provision is made for service dogs. Water bowls, stable area to sleep, and a walking facility is available.   
The signage is clear, and reflective.   
The area available in the reception and main entrance is 114 cm x 394 cm.
The reception leads into the dining room, and then into the 2 ground floor bedrooms.  The dining room door is held back via magnets and is connected to the fire alarm system and will close when the fire alarm sounds.  It is 70 cm wide.
The main entrance, and associated corridors are level and all on the ground floor.
There is total colour contrast between critical surfaces as the walls are light, and the wood is dark, natural wood.
There is no actual reception area in the B&B; guests fill in their details at a dining room table in the dining room or pre-register online before arrival.

 

Public Areas - Hall, Stairs, Landing, Corridors etc

All the hallway is tiled flooring, in a light buff colour, contrasting with the cream walls and dark woodwork.  The stairs and landing are carpeted in a buff colour.
Public areas: describe briefly:
Lighting is uniform, bright, and some natural.
The tariff can be shown in a bigger font, if necessary, but unfortunately, we do not have the facility to produce a menu in Braille.  
There are 13 straight stairs going up to a small landing.  Each stair is 20 cm high, and 25 cm deep.  The landing is 80 cm x 270 cm.  The handrail is 104 cm.  There is good florescent lighting in the hall and landing, and emergency lighting, in the event of a fire.
Provision is made for service dogs. Water bowls; stable area to sleep, and a walking facility is available.   No animals are allowed in the B&B.

Public WCs

The showers and toilets are 10m from the B&B.  
From the B&B, turn left, and walk to the toilet block.  
The men’s toilet has a 78cm doorway.  It is tiled throughout.  There are 2 cubicles, with 56cm doorways, and the WC is 42cm high.  There are 2 basins in the men’s at 81cm and 4 urinals, 2 at 68cm and 2 at 51cm.  
The ladies toilet has a 78cm doorway.  It is tiled throughout.  There are 4 cubicles, with 56cm doorways, and the WC is 42cm high.  There are 2 basins in the ladies at 85cm.  
Size of cubicles free floor space is about 50cm squared.  
The tiling is non-slip tiling throughout.  
Doors - single leaf with a sliding lock
 
Dining Room

The lighting is florescent, bright lighting, with back up emergency lighting, when required. 
The aisles can be made any width, by moving tables, if necessary.  The flooring is buff coloured tiles.
The seating & tables are moveable.  There are 6 tables, identical, stable tables with 4 legs, and are 76 cm high positioned around the outside of the room, with one that can be moved in the middle.
The menu can be shown in a bigger font, if necessary, but unfortunately, we do not have the facility to produce a menu in Braille.  There are always staff available to help.
Allergies are considered with hypoallergenic bedding, non-bio washing powder etc.  We will cater for any special dietary requirements especially when we have notice of them.
Smoking is only permitted outside, and the butts disposed of in the buckets provided.  The building is totally non – smoking, including vaping.
The patio area, for the ground floor rooms is straight outside of the bedrooms.  The tables are 73 cm high, and the benches, with arms are 43 cm.  The patio is paved, and level, with solid furniture.
The signage is clear, and reflective.   
The dining room is the first door in front of you, when entering the main front door.  If the guest is in the ground floor rooms, the dining room is next to it.
There is a colour contrast of critical surfaces and crockery/glassware.
The entire cutlery is thick handles and balanced with a quality feel.
 

 Outdoor Facilities

There is a table and benches in the lower patio, next to the front paddock, adjacent to the B&B for all guests in the first-floor rooms.   
Picnic area/BBQ area. The area is located at the far end of the camping field.  Out of the main door, then right, up to the camping field, and follow the tarmac track for 20m.  Through the wooden gate, and onto the firm stone track for another 100m.  Picnic/BBQ area is on the left and is a grass area.  The tables are wooden, traditional pub table benches, 75cm high.  
The nearest WC available are the main ones, near the B&B, 250m

Bedrooms & Sleeping Areas

There are 2 rooms on the ground floor, which may be suitable for wheelchair users.  Both have a double and single bed, and a large seating area.
There is a fire bell, outside the bedrooms.  The emergency lighting turns on as soon as the fire alarm sounds.
All the Televisions are smart TV’s, and infrared remote controls.
The armchairs are upholstered with wooden arms and are 46 cm high.
The doorway is 75 cm, single leaf, and side opening.
The flooring is fitted carpet.
The lighting is made up of energy saving centre lights, and bedside lights next to the beds.
There is a double and a single bed in each room, which enables the room to be used as a double, twin, or family room.  All the beds are divans.  They are standard sizes, 3' for the singles and 4'6 for the doubles.
The ground floor rooms are straight off the dining room, and the upstairs rooms are immediately off the landing up a short flight of stairs.  The stairs are in the main hallway.
All the rooms are pale colours, with a dark wood detail.
The signs can be shown in a bigger font, if necessary, but unfortunately, we do not have the facility to produce a menu in Braille. 
There is a corded kettle with a viewing line, to see how full it is.
There is a fridge for all the rooms in the hallway.
 
Bathroom, Shower-room & WC ensuite

All the bathrooms are en-suite. 
If the fire alarm sounds, then the emergency lighting turns on too.
The bathrooms have available, unobstructed clear floor space of 94 cm x 50 cm, with the appliances outside of this area.
The floor surface is a non-slip lino.
The door is a single leaf, fire door, opening into the bathroom with regular door furniture.
The shower tray is 70 cm x 70 cm, with a 30cm step into it.  There is a glass door, one showerhead and a thermostatic mixer with a twist turn switch.
The basin is a pedestal basin, with a hot and cold tap, and is 83 cm high.
The WC is a low-level system, 43 cm high.
The walls are tiled gray, in contrast to the suite, which is white.
 
Grounds and Gardens

This is a working farm and the majority of the public areas are also livestock areas at some time of the year.  All gates are suitable for livestock, first and foremost.  
There is a good path down to the bottom fields, made from pressed stone that is fairly smooth on a slight incline.   
Signage around the farm is colour coded and reflective.  
The public toilets are located opposite the camping barn.  
 
Additional Information

All Fire Evacuation procedures are listed in the Fire Risk assessment, displayed on the website, on the Swallow Barn App,on the back of the bedroom door and in the B&B reception area. 

Service dogs are welcome, but not in the main building.    Dog bowls can be provided, and a dog-walking route will be discussed on arrival, depending on where the stock is.  
There is No Smoking throughout the B&B, this includes vaping.  Smoking is permitted outside, and a metal sand filled bin is provided for butts to be disposed in.  
Signage is reflective and in large print. 
There is no background noise.  
No concessions are made for carers.  

A fridge is available in the hallway for storing medication, and dietary foods.A microwave is available in the hallway.
There is usually someone on site who can offer reasonable assistance.  

Emergency call procedures are listed in the B&B.  
 

Mullacott Farm
Ilfracombe
Devon
Ex34 8NA

 Telephone:  01271 866877

 Email:  relax@mullacottfarm.co.uk

 Website:  www.mullacottfarm.co.uk

 
Grid reference: 

SS513452

What three words:   Marine.Mixer.Brave

 
 

 

Hours of operation:  

Every Day 
     
9.00 am – 8.00 pm.  

 Emergency number:

01271 866877  
 
or  
       
07813196995  

 Local carers: 

NEWCROSS HEALTHCARE (BARNSTAPLE)
Independence House   
Bear Street  
Barnstaple  
North Devon  
EX32 7DX   
     
Tel: 01271 328783  
Fax: 01271 329069  
    
www.newcrosshealthcare.com 

 Local equipment hire companies: 

Speedy Hire Centers 
    
Mr. Kevin Furs   
Unit 2  
Old Station Road  
Barnstaple  
Devon  
EX32 8PB   
        
01271 344911   
       
http://www.construction.co.uk/company_224888.htm

 

 

 

 

Local public transport numbers: 

Train (about 13 miles away) 
 
First Great Western  
Barnstaple Station  
Station Road  
Barnstaple  
Devon  
EX31 2AU    
       
0871 200 49 50   
       
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/BNP.html  
     

Bus  
       
Stagecoach  

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/about/national  

 
Local accessible taxi numbers: 

 

A2B Taxis  
01271 867788

 

“A” Taxi

01271 865321 
   

Future Plans

The B&B has recently been refurbished and there are no other plans for the moment.

 Contact Telephone and Email Address

We welcome your feedback to help us continually improve if you have any comments please phone 01271866877 or email relax@mullacottfarm.co.uk

Created: 05.09.2023