HMS Unicorn Unique Ship / Remarkable History Access Guide for HMS Unicorn 2018 HMS Unicorn Victoria Dock Dundee DD1 3BP www.frigateunicorn.org For SAT NAV directions please use our postcode 01382 200900 mail@frigateunicorn.org Photograph of exterior of Unicorn 1
This Access Guide does not contain personal opinions as to our suitability for those with access needs, but aims to describe, as accurately as possible, the facilities and services that we offer to all our visitors. HMS Unicorn Scottish Hospitality Awards Most Entertaining Team of the Year 2018! At nearly 200 years old, HMS Unicorn is one of the world s most remarkable historic ships. HMS Unicorn is a 3 star tourist attraction and exclusive use evening events venue berthed in Dundee, Scotland. She is the 3 rd oldest ship in the world afloat and the oldest ship in Scotland. She is Scotland s only example of a wooden warship and has four atmospheric decks for visitors to explore. Unicorn is one of Dundee s top tourist attractions (TripAdvisor 2017-18). So step back in time and learn about life at sea, the Navy in Dundee, and the Golden Age of Sail We aim at making the visitor experience as accessible as possible at HMS Unicorn. Our Welcome & Help Desk and Gun Deck are accessible for wheelchair users or those with specific access needs. Entry is via South Victoria Dock Road. Paid parking is available just outside the ship. If you require any further information about specific access, need advice on planning your visit, or have any suggestions to improve accessibility on the ship, then please contact us on: Tel: 01382 200900 or via email at: mail@frigateunicorn.org 2
CONTENTS ON THIS ACCESS STATEMENT 1. General Information - à About us à Getting here à Why visit the HMS Unicorn? à Why visitors love HMS Unicorn 2. Accessibility Guide - à Pre-arrival à Arriving at our Welcome & Help Desk à Tours à Facilities for families à Wheelchair users à Buggies à Assistance dogs 3. The tour à Unicorn tour (displays/exhibits) à Weather deck à Gun deck à Captain s Cabin à Mess Deck & Wardroom à Orlop/Hold 4. Feedback & Contact Information 3
1. GENERAL INFORMATION About us We aim to provide the best possible customer experience for everyone. Our friendly staff and volunteers are always happy to help and can provide guidance on your visit. Scottish Hospitality Awards -Highly Commended Family Venue of the Year 2018 Winner of Scottish Hospitality Awards Family Venue of the Year 2017 Autism friendly ship (Angus Autism 2017) Unicorn is also a World Host organisation and training provider. For opening times please see our website: www.frigateunicorn.org A visit to Unicorn will typically take around 1 hour We have toilets located inside the ship at a short distance from the Welcome and Help Desk. Getting here Picture locating toilets inside the ship You can arrive at Unicorn by car, taxi, bicycle or on foot Parking is available, on street, with a dropped kerb, just outside Unicorn Taxis can be called from Unicorn, please ask staff to do this if you require 4
photograph of parking just outside the unicorn Why visit HMS Unicorn? HMS Unicorn is truly unique Launched in 1824, Unicorn is #ScotlandsOldestShip The best preserved Georgian warship in existence over 90% original 2 nd oldest ship afloat in Europe 3 rd oldest ship afloat in the world 4 th oldest British Ship in existence Covered with a roof and never fully rigged, Unicorn is the last remaining 19 th century ship placed in ordinary One of the last ships remaining from the Age of Sail A unique example of the transition from wooden warship to iron At nearly 200 years old she is one of the oldest structures in Dundee Why visitors love HMS Unicorn: HMS Unicorn is an all weather attraction Family tickets available and under 5 s go free! Treasure hunts, dress up areas and lots more! Well stocked gift shop at pocket money prices Friendly staff and volunteers Close to both Railway and Bus Station 5
Close to a selection of restaurants Unicorn is Scotland s national animal! 2. ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE Pre-arrival We are located a short distance from Dundee City Centre and only a few minutes walk from Dundee Railway Station (15 min approx.) and Dundee Bus Station (10min approx.) Map situating HMS Unicorn, train station and bus station - By rail The nearest railway station is Dundee (South Union Street). This is 0.7 miles from Unicorn. There is a taxi rank outside the station - By bus The nearest bus station is Dundee (Seagate). This is 0.5 miles from Unicorn. There is a taxi rank outside the station - By car For SATNAV our postcode is DD1 3BP. Follow signs for Frigate Unicorn or City Quay. Parking (on street) is available adjacent to Unicorn, with six parking spaces. - By taxi There is a dropped kerb adjacent to Unicorn 6
Picture of parking and dropped kerb space Arriving at the HMS Unicorn On arrival at Unicorn you will find our Welcome and Help Desk immediately after entering the ship Tickets can be purchased for Unicorn from the Welcome and Help Desk, or in advance online via https://www.gammabookings.com/frigateunicorn/ 7
Ship s entrance, measuring 152cm height x 108cm width Please note: Unicorn is berthed in a tidal dock therefore her entrance ramp rises and falls with the tide. This can mean a very steep entrance to Unicorn. We recommend you consult BBC Weather Tide Tables for tides on the day of your intended visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/tide_tables/7/236#tide-details or telephone Unicorn closer to your visit. Please allow a few days for us to provide information. Gangway at high tide, the gangway can reach up to a 50 angle at high tide 8
Gangway at low tide Photograph of gangway step into Unicorn 9
Additional needs tours HMS Unicorn can provide personal tours. However, these must be agreed by prior arrangement. To arrange a personal tour and discuss additional requirements, please contact our Learning & Engagement Officer at learning@frigateunicorn.org. Facilities for families Buggy parking area for visitors whilst on ship. The area can store a maximum of three buggies at the same time Seats available throughout the ship for a rest Toilets on board near our Welcome and Help Desk Wheelchair users Step to enter the toilets Please note, Unicorn is an old ship, and whilst her Gun Deck is accessed via our gangway her other decks are only accessible via a series of ladder stairs 10
Welcome & Help Desk on Gun Deck Our toilets on the ship are currently not equipped to meet the needs of visitors with complex disabilities. Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa, at 0.2 miles from the ship, are the nearest accessible toilets and can be used by the public. Buggies Buggies are welcome on board Unicorn, however these can only access our Gun Deck (entrance). We have an area where you can safely leave your buggy Assistance dogs We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs 11
3. THE TOUR HMS Unicorn operates a complimentary ticket policy for carers HMS Unicorn has four decks to explore: 1) Our Weather Deck located at the top of Unicorn 2) Our Gun Deck where you enter the ship 3) The Mess Deck located below the Gun Deck 4) The Orlop and Hold which is located below the Mess Deck Wheelchairs and buggies can access the Gun Deck. The other decks are only accessible via a series of ladder steps. Unicorn tour (displays/exhibits) There is background music when you enter Unicorn on her Gun Deck. Some temporary exhibits will include other music and sounds, please contact the ship in advance for further information There are no permanent displays that use flashing lights however lighting is quite dark on our Mess Deck Unicorn staff and volunteers will be most happy to help with any queries or requests as you explore our ship A printed deck-by-deck guide will be provided for your visit at the Front Desk Weather Deck Above the Gun Deck can be found the Weather Deck. This can be accessed via a set of steep ladder stairs located at the centre of the ship Photograph of stairs to/from Weather Deck 12
On this deck you will find the Ship s Bell, Capstan, Ship s Wheel and other displays on Unicorn s rich history Weather Deck seen from aft end Weather Deck seen from front end 13
There are two sets of stairs on the weather deck. Both are steep and include a small step signalled with yellow high visibility tape. Single staircase with step measuring 9cm height Double staircase with step measuring 10cm height, Weather Deck 14
Gun Deck (head height 185cm) The Gun Deck is located as you enter the ship. This is where you will find the array of cannons, or guns, typically found on a Frigate Gun Deck from the front end, with the Welcome & Help Desk in the middle Photograph of Gun Deck and entrance into captain s cabin 15
Captain s Cabin (head height 185cm) Right door to Captain s cabin The Captain s Cabin can be accessed from the Gun Deck. This is located at the rear of the ship and is accessed through a small doorway (165 cm height x 73cm width) and over a small step (8cm high) Photograph of Captain s Cabin doorway step, signalled with high visibility tape 16
Mess Deck & Gunroom Photographs of Mess deck with the benches on the right Below the Gun Deck you will find the Mess Deck and Gunroom. There are three sets of ladder stairs which will take you to the Mess deck. This deck is best accessed via the double ladder stairs located in the centre of the Gun Deck. There is a step of 12cm high on this stair. Single ladder stair leading to the Mess deck, with a step of 26cm high 17
Single ladder stair leading to, with a step of 26cm high seen from Mess deck Double ladder stairs to Mess Deck, situated in the middle of the Gun Deck 18
Single ladder stair leading to the Mess deck, with a step of 10cm high Mess Deck (head height 168cm) The Mess Deck is where sailors would spend their leisure time it was mainly an area for eating and sleeping. Please fee free to sit at the Mess Benches Mess deck photographs with mess benches 19
Gunroom Most commonly known as Wardroom (head height 166cm) Gunroom table and entrance doors leading to the Mess Deck To the rear of the ship you will find the Gunroom. This is where the Officers of the ship would eat and sleep. This is located at the rear of the ship and is accessed through a small doorway (148 cm x 63cm left door, 146cm x 59cm right door) and over a small step (11cm height of step). Please fee free to sit at the Gunroom table Photograph of Gunroom entrance 20
Orlop/Hold (head height varies from 158cm to 127cm) The Orlop can be accessed via a set of steep ladder stairs at the fore and aft of the Mess Deck. This area is where the ship would house its stores of provisions for long journeys View of the Orlop from the stair area View of the Orlop walking space, with narrow walking spaces and steps 21
Photograph showing the different head height and areas of the Orlop Photograph of Orlop Stairs 22
4. FEEDBACK & CONTACT INFORMATION If you would like to provide us with any feedback on this Access Statement, we would welcome your comments We would be interested to hear if there is any information we may have missed that would be of interest Please email us: mail@frigateunicorn.org or by telephone 01382 200900 or simply speak to a member of our team when you visit Unicorn Contact information HMS Unicorn Victoria Dock Dundee DD1 3BP Email: mail@frigateunicorn.org Telephone: 01382 200900 Website: www.frigateunicorn.org 23