Nestled within the idyllic West Dorset hamlet of Lower Wraxall and the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty hides Wraxall Yard. A development of five award-winning, beautifully restored barns, designed as a peaceful retreat specifically for holidaymakers who require disabled access.
Wraxall Yard, a restored dairy on an organic, family farm is all about inclusivity and accessibility which it achieves through thoughtful design. A not-for-profit holiday accommodation operating solely with the aim of providing equal access for all in a serene, restorative setting. Here accessibility is clearly the core principle in design and operation.
The entire site is single-storey and step-free, so that every visitor has the same experiences available to them. Winner of numerous accessibility and architecture awards including a 2024 Civic Trust award and a 2023 Blue Badge Access award, this property continues to leave a lasting impression on both judges and guests.
Wraxall Yard is available to book with Dorset Hideaways, one of the county’s most knowledgeable and experienced holiday letting companies.
Wraxall Yard is not the only accessible and disabled friendly property available in the area, as Dorset Hideaways also offer Monymusk House, a wonderfully spacious, contemporary, detached house, situated within a peaceful equestrian estate just two miles outside of the county town of Dorchester. This property sleeps 6 from approximately £1,000 for 3 nights.
Conscious that disabled people often have to put up with more hospital-like or institutional environments, great care has been taken by the designers of Wraxall Yard to avoid features that feel clinical, while also ensuring that guests’ safety and comfort is a priority.
From the moment you enter the courtyard it’s clear that Wraxall Yard has thought about access as well as aesthetics. Curving paths wind through lush gardens to each cottage’s doorstep, providing a seamless transition from the outdoors to the cosiness within.
Five properties surround a shared courtyard garden, with three barns accommodating four people, one barn for three and one barn for up to six people. There’s plenty of options for families and groups of all sizes including booking the entire site for larger groups (up to 24).
Inside, the cottages blend countryside charm with modern and innovative accessibility features, perfectly combining comfort, style and convenience for all holidaymakers. Each cottage offers slightly different specifications for disabled access, with sociable open-plan living areas, dining spaces and well-equipped kitchens featuring rise-and-fall worktops.
Guests can enjoy the on-site community space, complete with a large fully equipped kitchen, a wood-burning stove and an overhead projector – perfect for movie nights served with wood-fired pizza!
When visitors are ready to leave the comfort of their cabins and explore the great outdoors, a timber wheelchair-friendly boardwalk leads them through a newly planted orchard to the banks of a gorgeous nearby chalk stream, ideal for sunny picnics and paddles for pooches (yes, Wraxall Yard is also very much dog friendly!).
The property is the perfect opportunity to unwind in nature, both in the cottages themselves and in the surrounding accessible wilderness.
The original farmyard and barn have also been restored to enable guests to take part in farming activities and meet some of the farm’s friendly animals. Numerous quaint villages, market towns and Dorset pubs are also very close by and The Jurassic Coast is within easy reach.
In a world where accessibility is often an afterthought, Wraxall Yard serves as a shining example of what is possible when inclusivity is prioritised.
The importance of creating spaces where visitors feel welcome and valued can never be undermined; Wraxall Yard truly provides the perfect break for everyone. A stay at Wraxall Yard starts from £394 in one of their 2-bed properties with a full site booking (24 people) possible from £2700 for 3 nights.
The team at Dorset Hideaways are friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to help you work out the best stay for your needs. Bookings can be made at www.dorsethideaways.co.uk or by calling 01929 448580.
Subscribe to Ucan2 magazine today.
