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Emma | Disabled Travel Blogger | Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@simplyemmablog

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Accessible Travel, Lifestyle & Disability
🏡 Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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We went to see Two Doors Down Live recently at the @ovohydro. It was brilliant and the whole cast was incredible.

We've known about Two Doors Down the TV show for years, but it was only in the last few months that we've started watching it. It quickly became a comfort show for me during the most difficult time. It was an warm, easy watch when I wasn't really in the mood to watch anything else or when everything else seemed to be a trigger for me. We watch the episodes on repeat now. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend you give it a try. And if you're also a fan, let me know who your favourite characters are? For me, it's Christine, Cathy and Gordon.

If you're going to any of the Two Doors Down Live shows this weekend, then you're in for a treat. Enjoy!

When we were at the Hydro, it was cool to see the accessible area now has a Food and Drink ordering service available. You just order what you want via the QR code and it's brought to you. I've seen this at festivals, but the first time I saw it in the Hydro. Now, I'm not sure if this service is available for all accessible seating at the Hydro or just the section we were in (block 206). There was a VIP Terrace seating behind us, which might have been the reason our accessible area had the service. Interested to know if you've been recently and sat in a different accessible section and this was available? by @simplyemmablog

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7 days ago

Today is Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day. As some of you may already know, I have LGMD2D/R3. 💚

LGMD is a progressive muscle-wasting condition that causes wasting (atrophy) and weakness of the muscles around the hips, thighs and shoulders. It can also affect other muscles, such as the heart and breathing, and it has over 30 different subtypes, with varying symptoms and onset.

For me, I started showing symptoms around 7 years old, a few years after my older sister was diagnosed with LGMD as well.

As a kid, I loved being active and doing things like karate, dancing, and hill walking, but as the condition progressed, I began using a manual wheelchair outside of the house due to tiredness and the risk of falls (I’ve had various broken bones and torn ligaments from falls).

Nowadays, I cannot walk and use a power wheelchair full-time and I need help with most tasks, as arm weakness means I can't lift my arms or hold heavy objects. I really miss not being able to hug my family properly, especially my nephews. But they still hug me which is the best 🥰

When I was growing up, I didn’t know many disabled people other than my sister.
We didn’t see anyone like us with the same condition.

One of the main reasons I started my blog was to raise awareness about LGMD. It’s my wee corner of the internet where I can share my experiences of living with #LGMD and connect with the amazing disabled community.

Let me know if you have any questions. 💚

#LimbGirdleMuscularDystrophy #LimbGirdleMuscularDystrophyAwareness by @simplyemmablog

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16 days ago

Loved every minute of seeing @nicotinedolls at @thegarageglasgow last night. They were absolutely incredible. Sam’s voice is phenomenal and he is such a funny, engaging, and high-energy performer. I’ve been waiting years for them to come to the UK and they did not disappoint 😍

Accessibility-wise: this was my first time at The Garage (you know the one with the iconic yellow truck that sticks out the front of the building), so I wasn't sure what to expect, especially since it's a small nightclub. But it was better than I expected. When I initially bought my ticket, I emailed the venue to request access to the accessible area and a free companion ticket. They responded quickly with a detailed guide, including directions to the accessible rear entrance and general information about access at The Garage.

The accessible rear entrance was step-free, with only a small threshold that my wheelchair managed fine. When we left, the security staff even put down a plastic ramp for me. Inside, the staff took us to the Raised Platform (it's a booth), which has two steps, but they placed a ramp down for me to access the platform. A rope barrier kept people from standing on the step and blocking our view. We were so close to the stage and my view was great. My sister was sitting next to me on a high stool, so she had the best view in the house.

Since the venue is small, the gig felt very intimate. When the hall is full and the band is playing, there isn’t much room for the ramp to be brought out, making access on and off the raised platform, such as going to the toilet, limited and tricky. But the security said to let him know if we needed anything at all and he’d get the ramp for us. There is an accessible toilet, but I didn’t see it because I didn’t need to use it. All the staff we interacted with were great and really helpful. The supervisor even asked me to email them any feedback, good or bad, as they are keen to keep improving access and the overall experience for disabled customers.

Getting to the gig didn’t go so smoothly, though. It was like the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Maybe that's a story for another day 🙃

#NicotineDolls #Glasgow taken in The Garage by @simplyemmablog

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16 days ago

Memories from a few days in Durham 💚

I'll share a little more soon about where we stayed and the things we did while in Durham.

#Durham #WheelchairTravel #AccessibleTravel Emma sat along the Riverside in Durham with the Durham cathedral partially visible behind her taken in Durham by @simplyemmablog

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a month ago

Great night at Edinburgh @smmrsessions seeing @deftones

The @dfconcertsandevents accessibility team is awesome, and always looking for ways to make things even better! We got invited for an Accessibility Site visit to check things out ahead of the event. It was great to have a look around and provide feedback, etc., on the accessibility experience from start to finish. Huge thanks to Nina, Hannah, and Lisa for showing us around.

I can honestly say it was another amazing event, and I loved seeing all the improvements since last year when we were there for Sam Fender.

The accessible parking has moved to a new location on tarmac, which is much better.

The Accessible Entrance is right next to the accessible parking and the Accessible Box Office, where we picked up our tickets and wristbands. We entered the Highland Hall, which had a Changing Places and Sensory rooms. There's also a really nice Changing Places toilet in the Pavilion building in the VIP area.

The Highland Hall and the paths to the accessible area were sectioned off just for accessible ticket holders. It didn’t feel crowded at all, which really helped with getting around.

Another cool improvement this year is that the raised platform has two levels and is much wider. This was so much better. There’s even a ground-level viewing area and portaloo toilets in the accessible area.

A mobile ordering service for food and drinks was available through a QR code, although it didn’t work on my phone, but others seemed to manage fine. Free tea and coffee were offered in the Accessible Areas, which was lovely given the weather 🥶

The event had a live captioner on the platform as well. It was the first time I’ve seen this in person, and I think it's great for those who require it.

Exiting was much smoother this year! It was quick and easy, thanks to that sectioned-off area for accessible ticket holders. No waiting for crowds to clear out or trying to squeeze through. Stress-free exit! Loved that!

Overall, it was a great night with excellent accessibility. I really appreciate how DF Concerts keeps working to improve events like Summer Sessions and can’t wait for the next one!

#EdinburghSummerSessions Emma, a while female powerchair user with long black hair, wearing a black top, black leather jacket, jeans and black Converse shoes. She is on the viewing platform at Edinburgh Summer Sessions and is smiling at the camera. The stage is behind her and people can be seen on the platform and in the crowd. taken in Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston by @simplyemmablog

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2 months ago

West Sands Beach is a beautiful, accessible beach in St Andrews. It has an accessible wooden boardwalk leading from the car park right down to the beach.

@standrewsbeachwheelchairs have a range of options available, including an all-terrain power chair, manual beach wheelchairs, and beach walkers. They also have a hoist available to assist with transfers.

Accessible toilets are available at the beach, and there is a @changingplacesuk toilet located at Bruce Embankment, making day trips to St Andrews and West Sands Beach possible for so many disabled people.

Have you been to West Sands beach? Have you given the beach wheelchairs a go?

You can read more about St Andrews Beach and the other accessible things to do in Fife in my recent blog post. The link is in my bio if you fancy checking it out.

#StAndrews #AccessibleTravel #WheelchairTravel #ScotlandExplore taken in St Andrews by @simplyemmablog

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2 months ago

Silverburn Park Beach Wheelchair 🏖️♿

Our family trip to Fife was such a well-needed break for us all ❤️‍🩹 It was about spending quality time together and creating special memories while exploring the beautiful Fife coastline and beyond.

One of my favourite things we did was hire a beach wheelchair at @silverburnpark

They don’t have all-terrain power chairs available yet, so I used the manual sandcruiser with balloon wheels, and my family took turns pushing me - my nephews loved being in control...me not so much, especially the closer I got to the water 🫣😂

The beach wheelchair can go a little bit into the water, so I was even able to join my nephews while they played at the water’s edge, which was so nice 🥰

The route to the beach is a few hundred metres long, and there are some slopes and sand dunes, so I’d suggest bringing one or two people who can manage the push and the slopes. It was definitely worth it! It's a beautiful beach! 😍

The team don't have a hoist available at the moment, but I believe they are hoping to get one in the future. Fingers crossed! And Adam, the volunteer, was fantastic and so friendly and helpful.

After the beach, we stopped at The Cottage Window Café in Silverburn Park for cheese toasties and homemade cakes. They even had a wheelchair accessible picnic table next to the café, which I love to see. Inclusion matters!

We had a lovely time at the beach and will definitely visit again!

Have you been to Silverburn Park in Leven and tried their beach wheelchairs?

#Fife #AccessibleTravel #WheelchairTravel #ScotlandExplore #DisabledAndCute Emma, a white female is sat in a manual sandcruiser beach wheelchair with large balloon wheels. She is wearing jeans and pink cardigan. She is smiling as she looks out to the sea taken in Silverburn Park, Leven, Fife. by @simplyemmablog

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2 months ago

We had such a lovely time staying in the Largo lodge at @homelandstrust (ad) in the Fife coastal village of Lundin Links 😍

Homelands holds a very special meaning for my sister, Claire, and now for me and my family, even more so after her passing. That special connection made our stay quite bittersweet for us as a family. I wish more than anything that Claire could have been there with us, like she was meant to be ❤️

I thought I'd share a little more about the lodge and a few photos...

The lodge is nestled in mature woodlands overlooking the Firth of Forth and is one of nine purpose-built accessible lodges.

Largo lodge sleeps up to eight people, with two accessible bedrooms on the ground floor, and each has an electric profiling bed with an airflow mattress, and a ceiling-track hoist. There are also two bedrooms upstairs.

The spacious wet room has a roll-in shower, a Closomat wash and dry toilet, a bath and an H-frame ceiling track hoist.

Homelands provides a wide range of specialist equipment free of charge. You just need to request it when booking your stay.

The weather was beautiful, so we spent a lot of time outside on the level-access patio. My nephews loved playing in the garden and we enjoyed a BBQ one of the evenings. It's so peaceful and we loved the sea views in the distance.

You can read more about our stay at Homelands, what the accessibility is like and everything we did in my blog post linked in my bio or let me know and I'll send you the link directly.

Have you been to Homelands? Would you like to stay there? Let me know in the comments below ☺️ Emma is with her sister and mum, sitting outside on the patio at the garden table eating BBQ food. by @simplyemmablog

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2 months ago

ad Accessible holiday in Fife, Scotland ♿️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I recently stayed @homelandstrust in one of their accessible self-catering lodges, called Largo. It was perfect for our family trip.

Nestled in mature woodlands in a beautiful coastal village overlooking the Firth of Forth, the lodge has amazing accessibility features, including ceiling track hoists, electric profiling beds with airflow mattresses, and a spacious wet room with a Closomat wash and dry toilet.

The main living area is all open-plan with a big kitchen, dining, and lounge area. So we had lots of room to spread out and enjoy our time together, with plenty of space for the kids to play and comfortable seating for the whole family to relax.

The weather was lovely during our stay, so we made the most of it and enjoyed all our meals outside on the level-access patio. One of the highlights of our stay was having a family BBQ in the evening sun with sea views. What more could we ask for?

Our family trip was all about spending time together and making memories along the stunning Fife coastline.

One of my favourite things was hiring a beach wheelchair @silverburnpark. The beach wheelchair can go a little into the water, so I was even able to join my nephews right by the water's edge, which was really nice.

We also had some delicious cheese toasties and homemade cakes from The Cottage Window Café in Silverburn Park, which we enjoyed at the wheelchair accessible picnic table next to the café.

@craigtouncountrypark was another great spot with over 40 acres of gardens and woodlands, an accessible play area, a miniature railway, and more. Plus, they have a Changing Places toilet.

We also visited West Sands Beach in St Andrews, where there's now an accessible boardwalk right down to the beach. I’d definitely recommend @standrewsbeachwheelchairs - they even have an all-terrain powerchair and a hoist, plus there’s a Changing Places toilet right at the beach.

@thescottishdeercentreofficial is a wildlife park with deer, wolves, bears, lynx, Scottish wildcats, and birds of prey. They also have playgrounds and fun activities for kids, like tractor rides.

#Fife #WheelchairTravel #AccessibleScotland taken in Fife, Scotland by @simplyemmablog

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2 months ago

I love Botanic Gardens, so we recently visited @dawyck and had such a lovely time wandering around. It’s close to Peebles in the Scottish Borders and has some of the oldest and tallest trees in the UK 💚

Dawyck is beautiful and peaceful. It was nice being surrounded by nature and just relaxing while exploring the garden. Even though not all the paths are wheelchair accessible since some have steps, I managed fine in my wheelchair following the signposted wheelchair accessible route.

They have accessible parking, a nice café, a gift shop, and an accessible toilet. Plus, there is free entry for carers, and there is a concession for disabled visitors.

Have you been to Dawyck? I'd love to know some of your favourite gardens to visit?

#DawyckBotanicGarden #ScottishBorders #AccessibleScotland taken in Dawyck Botanic Garden by @simplyemmablog

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3 months ago

ad. Accessible day out in Glasgow by train 🚆 ⤵️

We enjoyed a day out in Glasgow and took full advantage of my @national.rail Disabled Persons Railcard, saving a 1/3 off our rail fares for both of us 🙌🏼

Our train journey looked like this:

🎟️ I used my railcard to purchase discounted train tickets.

♿ I booked assistance in advance through the @passengerassistanceuk app, requesting ramp support for getting on and off the train, a wheelchair space, and a companion seat.

🚆 We took a direct train to Glasgow Queen Street Station.

Our day in Glasgow included:

🎨 A walking tour of the Glasgow Mural Trail
🖼️ Browsing more art at the Gallery of Modern Art
🛍️ Enjoying a bit of retail therapy
🍜 Finishing the day with dinner at Lychee Oriental.

We had such a good day out and found the entire train journey smooth, accessible and affordable. We feel more confident taking spontaneous trips on the train and exploring different cities.

#DisabledPersonsRailcard #PassengerAssist #TravelWithConfidence #AccessibleRail #AccessibleTravel taken in Glasgow, Scotland by @simplyemmablog

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3 months ago

AD - Did you know you can save 1/3 on train fares with a Disabled Persons Railcard for you and a friend? @national.rail 🚂

We recently took advantage of the cheaper train fares with a spontaneous day out in Glasgow.

I booked assistance in advance using the @passengerassistanceuk app, but you can also just "Turn Up and Go" without booking, which is great for last-minute trips or when your plans change.

Before heading out, I checked out the @national.rail accessibility map for step-free routes and how to navigate the stations, so I knew what to expect when I arrived.

Here’s what we did in Glasgow:

🎨 Explored the vibrant Glasgow Mural Trail

🖼️ Visited the Gallery of Modern Art

🛍️ Did a bit of shopping

🍜 Ended the day with a delicious dinner at Lychee Oriental

Using my Disabled Persons Railcard makes these outings more accessible and affordable.

Let me know where we should go next time! Have you checked if you’re eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard to enjoy 1/3 off your fare?

#DisabledPersonsRailcard #PassengerAssist #TravelWithConfidence #AccessibleRail #AccessibleTravel taken in Glasgow, Scotland by @simplyemmablog

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3 months ago