At Our Bench our New Forest holidays provide step-free, private cottages, with complementary equipment to make your stay easier, and a web site with comprehensive information.
But at Our Bench we know that holidays don't just start with accommodation, they start with confidence:
- Confidence the journey will work
- Confidence that will be somewhere suitable to visit
- Confidence that equipment can be hired if needed
- Confidence that the information is accurate
No single business can provide all of those answers alone. That's why we believe accessibility works best when businesses, attractions and tourism organisations share knowledge and work together.
Sharing experience
Over the past year we've had the pleasure of meeting several times with the team at Go New Forest CIC to discuss accessible tourism across the New Forest.
Rather than focusing solely on accessible accommodation, our conversations have explored the whole visitor journey. The questions disabled visitors ask don't stop at "Can I stay there?"
They also ask:
- Where can I hire a wheelchair?
- Which beaches have step-free access?
- Where are the Changing Places toilets?
- Which walks are suitable?
- What equipment is available locally?
- How do I know somewhere is genuinely accessible for me?
As a family business that welcomes disabled guests every week, these are questions we're already helping people answer.
If sharing that experience helps improve information for everyone visiting the New Forest, that's something we're proud to support.
When better information helps real people
Recently, Go New Forest received an enquiry from a gentleman whose wife needed a wheelchair during their stay.
Instead of outdated information or incomplete signposting, the updated accessibility resources enabled the team to direct him to current wheelchair hire providers, accessible walking routes and their Accessibility Statement, giving the family practical information before they even arrived.
It might seem like a small interaction.
For that family, it could make the difference between staying in their hotel wondering what was possible, or confidently getting out to enjoy the New Forest together.
Another recent enquiry asked about step-free beach access. Drawing on our own experience, they were able to suggest Barton on Sea as a suitable option.
These are exactly the kinds of conversations that improve accessible tourism one visitor at a time.
Small improvements create a bigger impact
One of the accessibility improvements we've been delighted to see is the introduction of an interactive map showing Changing Places toilets across the New Forest.
Within its early launch it had already been viewed hundreds of times, demonstrating just how valuable this information is for visitors planning their trip.
For many disabled people and their families, knowing where a Changing Places facility is located isn't simply convenient. It determines whether a day out is possible at all.
You can view their visitors guide here: Accessible New Forest
Accessibility belongs to everyone
We don't see other tourism businesses as competitors.
Every accessible attraction, every accurate information page and every business that improves its accessibility makes the New Forest a better destination for everyone.
When visitors have a great experience, they return.
They recommend the area.
They stay longer.
Everyone benefits.
We're grateful to Go New Forest for being willing to listen, collaborate and continue developing their accessibility information, and we're always happy to share our experience whenever it helps make the New Forest more welcoming for disabled visitors.
Accessibility isn't something any one business owns.
It's something we build together.
Last updated: June 2026