Otter Pool Barn

Otter Pool Barn is a magnificent imposing property which has been renovated to a high standard and is in an enviable location within the Devon countryside. it is surrounded by farmland and a private 5-acre field and lake. It is also only a few miles away from the golden beaches of Woolacombe, Saunton and Croyde and within easy reach of the market town of Barnstaple. The thoughtfully renovated conversion includes many accessibility friendly adaptions which will suit both able bodied and disabled guests. Bookings are encouraged from groups where a member of the party has a disability, the barn is fully accessible throughout and guests can access the higher floor via wheelchair lift. Outside areas, the pool and the adjacent land towards the lake are also accessible. The barn is extremely well equipped with all the amenities you would expect in a luxury home. Within the property guests will find the Great Hall, snug lounge, large kitchen/diner, six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Outside the property there is a children’s play area and a south facing sheltered courtyard with a barbecue and seating.  

There are six accessible bedrooms two downstairs and four upstairs. In total there are four profiling beds available, two of them in bedroom 1 with the additional use of the X-Y white ceiling track hoist. Two more profiling beds can be found in separate bedrooms upstairs, and guests can make use of the mobile hoist if required. Guess will need to bring their own slings.  Doors throughout the property have been designed to slide internally into the walls which minimises obstruction and enables easy use for wheelchair users. The floors are all level and consist of non-slip surfaces. The external doors have been fitted with flush door sills which enables easy access.  Careful consideration has also been given to additional fittings such as press button showers and rain heads with hand spray facilities, shower curtains are available and the taps are lever operated. The power sockets have been fitted throughout to enable easy access.  Bathrooms are spacious and all consists of level access showers. The bath in the family bathroom is also suitable with the use of a mobile voiced for toilet seat riser is available and grab rails are provided in all the bathrooms. Accessibility has been thoroughly catered for throughout. The pool is suitable to be used in the form of a hydrotherapy pool, and a sling stroked chair hoist has been installed to enable access for guests who are unable to get into the port unassisted. Provisions can be made to allow delivery of specialist equipment in time for your arrival.

Accommodation:

The Great Hall - The Great Hall with its vaulted roof, huge inglenook fireplace and log burning stove is a wonderful place for the family to get together. Guests can relax among the fantastic choice of chairs and sofas some with manual or electric recliners and or rise features. The old threshing doors of the barn are fully glazed and add into the dramatic, yet comfortable feel of this room. The reclaimed stained-glass door under the stairs leads to a handy toilet and cleaning store.

The Snug Lounge - The snug lounge is accessed through a pair of double-glazed doors that can be covered with thick curtains. This allows some peace and quiet, especially if you are away with a noisy group! The snug has been equipped with a large TV, more comfortable chairs and sofas and a fireplace with electric stove. Preview TV, DVD player and iPod docking station.

The kitchen/Diner - The well-equipped 30ft kitchen/dining room has an oak stable door to the courtyard pool and nearby car parking areas. At one end of the room there is a large wood dining table which can comfortably seat up to 12 people, ideal for large parties of friends and families. The kitchen has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as an electric range cooker, a large American style fridge freezer with ice maker, microwave and Dolce Gusto coffee machine. The large kitchen features several storage cupboards for your own food and plenty of kitchen worktops, allowing guests to cook fantastic meals in a large stress-free environment.

Bedrooms - The barn has a wheelchair suitable lift to the upper floor making all six bedrooms accessible. All bedrooms feature sliding solid oak doors, luxury oak flooring and Freeview TVs. The three King size double beds can be configured as twin beds, please let us know if this is something you will need at the time of booking.  Bedroom 1. This large ground floor room has his own door to the rear courtyard it is fully equipped for those with limited mobility being fitted with a ceiling mounted X-Y electric hoist leading through into the large wet room with shower and toilet. The two electric profiling beds have a height change feature and options to raise the back and feet.  Bedroom 2 Adjacent to bedroom one on the ground floor, this room has a King size bed.  Bedroom 3 A large upstairs room with a King size bed (or twin) sharing a Jack and Jill en suite room with bedroom 4.  Bedroom 4 This upstairs room features one profiling bed and one single bed. The room also has access to the shared Jack and Jill en-suite shower room.  Bedroom 5 Adjacent to the upstairs family bathroom, this bedroom has one profiling  bed and one single bed.  Bedroom 6. This room is equipped with a King size double bed which can be arranged into twin beds. This bedroom is also next to the upstairs family bathroom.

Bathrooms - All the bathrooms have been designed with wheelchair users in mind, with roll in showers. The family bathroom also includes a free-standing bath. In addition to the en-suite bathrooms there is a further toilet / basin under the stairs in the Great Hall.

Outdoors - The fantastic courtyard is south facing, meaning guests can enjoy the sun from sunrise till sunset. The yard has facilities for alfresco dining, the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a family barbecue at the end of a busy day. The heated 5.5 metre pool is suitable to be used as a hydrotherapy pool lap pool, or fun swimming pool, the pool temperature can be set to suit guests needs. The linked hot tub allows access for everyone, with removable partition to move from one part of the pool to the other. When the pool is not in use there is an electric operated pool cover, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of guests during their stay. A warning light will show in the kitchen when the pool is not covered. Adjacent to the swimming pool is a changing room with shower and WC.  The paved parking area has enough room for up to six cars, and a movement activated light allows safe access at night. There is a gentle paved slope which gives access to the barn and the courtyard. For extra security, a CCTV camera is positioned over the car park area.  Guests will find a path leading from the courtyard into the large field which slowly meanders towards the private lake. At the end of the path there is a seating area for picnics and barbecues allowing guests to take in the picturesque views over the lake.  The lake which is sometimes visited by wild otters can be used for boating, canoeing, kayaking and many other water sports to keep the family entertained. The owners have conducted cleanliness checks on the water, but use of the lake is taken at your own risk.

Facilities and Services: Linen and towels. Pool towels also provided. Oil fired CH. Wi-Fi Broadband (slow rural speed). No smoking. Up to 4 pets welcome. Highchair, stair gate and travel cot.  Hot tub and hydro/spa pool . Patio furniture and charcoal BBQ. Private lake with additional BBQ area. Children's climbing frame. Private parking for up to 6 cars. Short breaks available. Arr/Dep for weekly bookings is Friday.   

Additional accessibility information: Ceiling hoist. Wheelchair lift. Mobile hoist. Pool hoist. 2 profiling beds. High pressure relief air mattress available.

Please note: Otter Pool Barn has been graded by the National Accessibility Scheme achieving 'Access Exceptional' grading for accessibility and meeting the standards required for visual and hearing-impaired guests.

FURTHER ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION:

Wheelchair lift: The wheelchair lift is suitable for wheelchair and seated use. It operates quietly with motors situated outside the property, to minimise disturbance for adjacent bedrooms. It is rated for 225Kg. http://wessexlifts.com/lifts/VM-Home-Lift

Ceiling Hoist: An X-Y electric hoist is fitted in Bedroom 1 and has a fully integrated gate through into the en-suite bathroom. It is rated for 200Kg. Plan is of Bedroom 1. http://www.opemed.net/what-is-an-xy-ceiling-hoist-system/Slings are not provided, so please bring any slings you need.

Mobile Hoist: Two identical electric mobile hoists are available (one upstairs and one downstairs.) They are suitable for use for bath transfer. They are rated for 175 Kg. Slings are not provided, so please bring any slings you need.

Pool Hoist: This manual hoist has a wheeled chair (allowing changing in the warm and dry), this then then clips to the hoist for transfer into the pool. It also has a sling bar, but you must bring your own slings. It can be located for transfer into the main section of the hydrotherapy/spa pool or the hot tub section. (The pools are linked and in-water transfer is possible by removal of a panel). The hoist will be left in position for the hot tub unless otherwise requested. (It can be moved on request). It is rated for 140 Kg http://www.opemed.net/product/dipper-pool-side-hoist/

Profiling Beds ( 1 & 2) - Bedroom 1: Two electric profiling beds of different styles are available in this bedroom. Bed (1) Standard profiling bed, with height raise, rated for 180 Kg and fitted with side rails. Bumper cushions are available at the property to be fitted if required. Fitted with waterproof mattress. Bed is similar to: https://glebehealthcare.co.uk/products/the-encore-classic-beech-electric-profiling- hospital-care-bed Bed (2) Height adjustable profiling bed. No side rails. Temporary side rails are available at the property. It is rated for 180Kg. This bed has no foot board, so suitable for taller visitors. This bed has a standard pocket sprung mattress. A waterproof additional bed topper is available at the property.

Profiling Bed (3) – Bedroom3: As Bedroom 1, Bed (1)

Profiling Bed (4) - Bedroom 5: As Bedroom 1, Bed (1)

Ola Classic Air Pressure Relief Mattress: This mattress is available at the property and can be substituted for one of the other mattresses if required.

Shower Chairs/Stools: Two shower stools (different designs/height adjustment) and one wheeled shower chair are available at the property. They can be moved around the bathrooms to suit need. There is also a wheeled shower chair/commode at the property.

Bathrooms: All three bathrooms have wet room showers with flat access. There is a turning circle of at least 1.2m in all bathrooms. Toilets and basins meet NAS specifications. Handles are fitted in all three wet rooms/bathrooms in accordance with NAS recommendations.

Taps: All taps are ¼ turn lever taps.

Doorways: Doorways to bedrooms and bathrooms are fitted with pocket sliders (door slides into wall cavity). The aperture for each doorway is approx. 900mm wide. All other doorways are wider than this. Wheelchair approved sills are fitted to external doors.

Seating: There are a variety of comfortable lounge chairs and sofas in the house and plenty of space for wheelchair users to join them. Two of the chairs are electric rise/recline. Some dining chairs have arms.

Kitchen adaptations: Units under the sink are removable allowing easy wheelchair access at the sink. Oven and fridge/freezer doors open wide, allowing easy access for those with less mobility. There is plenty of space for additional seats at the large dining table.

Electric Sockets: The barn is equipped with many electrical sockets. These have been installed at dual heights and to allow easy access, no matter how furniture, such as beds, are configured.

Telephone: A ‘landline’ telephone that accepts incoming calls and allows emergency calls out is available at the property, to ensure contact can always be made, even when there are power cuts or interruptions in mobile phone service.

Lighting: All bedrooms and the snug lounge are fitted with multi-source, dimmable lights. Additional portable lights are available throughout the house, enabling lighting to be adapted to your needs.

Hearing Induction loops: The snug lounge TV and three of the bedrooms are fitted with TVs with hearing induction loops.

Assistance Call Systems: All 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms are fitted with assistance call cords. Upstairs rooms have a visual/audible alert panel on the Minstrel’s Gallery, visible from the Great Hall. Downstairs rooms are visible from the kitchen/diner. Please note red cords may have been tied for safety, up as young children also stay at the property. Please check cords are in the lowered position at the start of your stay.

Fire Alarm Systems: The property is fitted throughout with fire and CO 2 alarms. Activation sets off an audible and visual alert. A vibrating pad is available at the property for those that need an additional method to alert them to the alarm. This can be clipped into the alarm box in bedrooms as required.

Hydrotherapy/Spa Pool: The pool is divided into a hot tub area and a larger area for swimming/exercise. There is a fixed partition between the two. The hot tub will be pre-set at 37 o C and the pool at 29 o C. For those desiring to complete hydrotherapy in the pool, the temperature can be raised to about 34 o C. Temperatures can be adjusted while you are staying at the property, but the pool will take several hours to change temperature. https://www.catalinaspas.co.uk/swim-spas/dual-temperature-swim-spas/relay/

Pool Cover: The pool cover is fully automated and can be operated easily. It can be locked to prevent access for safety reasons. http://www.covana.com/swim-spa-cover-legend

• If you require a bed linen change this is payable to Holiday Cottages £85 and we will notify the Homeowner.

Power Generator: An automatic-start generator is installed at the property to ensure that there is always a power supply, even when the mains power service is interrupted. This will allow all normal functions of the property to continue to run (eg heating, lighting, hot water, charging sockets.)

Crash Mat: A tri-fold crash mat, to be placed alongside a bed, is stored at the property for your use if required.