THE SITE: Access statement for The Scottish Deer Centre Our site consists of a wildlife centre set in 55 acres of parkland along with amenities such as toilets, coffee shop, gift shop, retail shopping and a farm shop. The parkland area contains grassland, woodland and freshwater pond habitats. Along with 14 different species of deer and wolves, bear, lynx, red fox, otters and birds of prey. FINDING US: By Car: We are located just a 5 min drive from Springfield and 10 mins from Cupar and Ladybank. Postcode for the SAT NAV: KY15 4NQ. Bus & Train times: are available from the Traveline Scotland website or on Tel: 08712002233 (24hrs daily). Taxis A & J TAXIS in Cupar Tel: 01334 654049 ON ARRIVAL- OPENING TIMES Park - 10am-4.30pm daily & extends till 5.30pm in July - August. Coffee shop - 10am-4.30pm & extends till 5pm in July-August. Retail shopping - 10am-5pm & extends till 5.30pm in July & August. MAPS Hand held maps of the park are available free at the ticket office. A large map is displayed in our courtyard and another in the park.
PRICES Adult- 8.50 Concession (60 years +, student or blue badge holder)- 6.70 Child- 5.70 Family ticket: 2adults +2 children= 26, 2 adults +3 children= 31 Carers go free. WHEEL CHAIR USERS: There are two manual wheelchairs available. Please ask any member of staff to hire these. GROUP ENTRY: Groups of 10 or more can qualify for group entry rates. Adult- 6.70 Concession- 5.70 Child- 4.50 Please contact the centre within at least 10 days prior to your visit to book. E mail address for our booking form- info@tsdc.co.uk
CAR PARKING Free car parking is available next to the site this is within 35m of our courtyard. The main car park has a loose pebble surface and the pedestrian walkway and blue badge area have a firm tarmac surface. The main car park consists of 3 large parking bays. There is also a grass field used as an overflow car park available. The middle bay contains 3 blue badge spaces. The middle bay and upper bay have a marked pedestrian walkway. This is not present in the lower bay (nearest to the main road does not). DROP OFF: A suitable spot is next to the large white entrance sign. This sign can be seen from the main car park and is located at the other end of the lower bay to the driveway. APPROACHING THE MAIN ENTRANCE: The access path from the car park into the courtyard is via only one path. This is a firm tarmac path with a steep downhill gradient.
THE COURTYARD: On entering the courtyard the gradient levels off to a flat and the path changes from hard tarmac to flat concrete slabs. The concrete slabs create a perimeter path around the courtyard and the rest of the inner courtyard is filled with loose pebbles. The entrance door for the park is marked with a large print sign which can be seen from the courtyard. This entrance door is manual and made of light weight wood which opens inwards into the buildings from the courtyard- the entrance gap 80cm. THE TICKET OFFICE: The flooring inside the building at entrance door is brush carpet with a flat gradient. The ticket office is straight ahead and can be seen clearly as you walk through the entrance door. Here you pay for entry into the park. You receive tickets plus an information leaflet with a map, visitor information and a list of the public events running on the day of your visit. Unfortunately there is not a hearing loop system for the deaf and hard of hearing people and there are no signage interpreters. The route into the park is via the entrance door clearly marked in large print at the ticket office. This exit is through a set of double manual light weight wooden doors that push inwards and provide a gap measuring 145cm in total.
THE CAVE PATHWAY: The first part of the path from the ticket office through our main barn leading to the park contains an enclosed pathway dressed to create a cave with pictures of cavemen on the wall hunting the deer. The pathway from the tunnel declines with a moderate downhill gradient. Then levels out before exiting the barn with a width is 200cm. On exiting the barn please note that there is a 7cm gap in the concrete pathway due to the fact that when the metal barn doors close the door will fit along here closing the exit to the barn. NOTE: Wheelchair users find it easier to exit over this gap using their rear wheels first, going out backwards in our experience. Thus it may require the help of a carer to exit the main barn easily. AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE OUT OF THE BARN If the exit with the tunnel is too much of an enclosed space and is not favoured. You can also access the park through an alternative set of double, light weight, wooden, inward pushing doors at the ticket office. The door gap measures 150cm in total. Then follow the concrete pathway towards the barn toilets. Here take a right and the path slopes downwards with a moderate gradient and flattens out before you exit the barn. The exit width is from the barn is 170cm. Please note on exit there is a 7cm gap in the flooring that may be best approached backwards in a wheelchair.
INDOOR PICNIC FACILITIES There are two indoor picnic areas which can be seen as you travel along the main pathway from the ticket office out of the barn. The area on the left contains wooden picnic table and the flooring consists of a rough stone with dirt floor which is not ideal for wheelchair access. Alternatively the area on the right contains picnic tables also and has a hard flat concrete floor which is best suited to wheelchair users. OUTDOOR PICNIC FACILITIES: Health and safety recommendations state it is best to wash your hands with hot water and soap after coming in contact with the animals and before you eat your food. Therefore most of our picnic table are situated close to the hand wash station in the park or the courtyard toilets. PICNIC AREAS: Family Picnic Area- Located just behind the coffee shop. This is signed the archway at the entrance to the courtyard. Courtyard Picnic Area- This area is also used by customers of the coffee shop. Raptor World Picnic Area - There are a few tables next to the birds on display at raptor world. Bird of prey display arena is located on the right from the main barn. This area is enclosed with grassy banks and particularly good for large groups.
SIGNAGE: DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE- On exiting the barn a traditional wooden fence post with signage is located next to the hand wash station. This indicates right to wolf wood and left to witches wood. Also there is traditional wooden signage at these woods welcoming visitors on entry. There is traditional wooden signage exiting from wolf wood using two routes back to the main barn. INFORMATION BOARDS ON THE ANIMALS IN THE PARK- Each animal enclosure has on it an information board in large print which gives more information on the species and how it lives in the wild.
THE COFFEE SHOP: It is located in the courtyard on the left hand side as you come in with access along a wide flat concrete slab path. Access is through a light weight wooden/glass door and pushes inwards. The door gap measures 75cm or 29 ½ inches. Inside tables are arranged into two main seating areas. There are 12 wooden tables with 5 tables in the first area and 7 tables in the second area located through the back via w large entrance at the back left. The seating has traditional wooden tables and high backed chairs. Tables measure 74cm from the floor. Chairs measure 45cm from the floor. Also as you enter through the entrance door there is also a breakfast bar with bar stools. This measures 1m high and extends 436cm. The layout is such that the breakfast bar greets you as you walk in the door and the seating area with traditional tables and chairs is located to the left of the entrance door. Please note baby chairs are available. Please ask a member of staff. Food is sold to the right as you go in through the entrance door. As you walk in this direction you will pass on your right hand side an ice cream freezer, cold drinks cabinet and a refrigerated counter containing kids lunch boxes and treats like scones with cream. All these items should be accessible from a sitting position, though the refrigerated counter does have some higher shelves also. Please note there is a steep ramp between the cold drinks cabinet and the refrigerated counter and wheel chair users usually need assistance with this ramp. We do have plans to put a hand rail here. Please ask a member of staff for assistance. On this upper level there is a serving counter where visitors can get teas, coffee and pick from a selection of hot and cold drinks on our large print menu.
The coffee shop caters for vegetarians and gluten free dietary requirements. Cutlery is of standard size. Crockery will usually contrast with the table cloth. All food is ordered at the till point and there is no table service available. If you need assistance with the food menu please ask any member of staff for assistance. When you place your order for your food you will get a number to put on your table and when your food has been prepared it will be delivered to your table. Lighting: The coffee shop is well lit with both natural light from the many windows plus fluorescent lighting overhead. Flooring: The coffee shop is floored with a short pile carpet. The nearest toilets are located in the courtyard.
RETAIL SHOPPING: The retail shopping facilities are owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill and stocks a large variety of goods from woollen jumpers,ladies outfits, outdoor wear, golf wear, bags, coats, luggage, homeware and food such as venison and drinks. It comprises of 6 main departments: 1. GIFTS- 2. GENTS- 3. LADIES- 4. PONDEN MILL- 5. FARMSHOP- 6. SALES FLOOR- The ladies department is accessed by the first door on the right handside that you meet coming into the courtyard or through the double set of door immediately in front of you. Go through these doors and immediately right to provide access into this department. The clothes are displayed on the walls and on stands on the main floor area. Not all these clothes can be accessed from a sitting position though the shop assistants are more than happy to help. There is enough space to move a wheel chair through this department though there is not an obvious straight path and you do have to weave around stands to explore the range fully. The Ponden Mill shop is located best through the main set of double door in the courtyard. It is located second on the right through a set of light weight double wooden doors. Through the double set of entrance doors is also our tourist information point with information leaflets on other tourist attractions and events in the area.
If you continue straight ahead through the double doors from the courtyard you reach our gents department. The clother are displayed along the walls and on stands on the floor also. There is enough space between stands to allow access using a wheelchair, but no straight path through this department. Access through the main entrance door that is signed from the courtyard provides two alternatives for shopping. You may then turn right into the gents department or left into the gifts department. In the gifts department the goods are displayed along the walls and on stands on the floor. It contains items like handmade goods, yankee candle and a variety of soft toy animals represented in the park. There is also sweets and chocolate for sale. The farm shop is signed from the courtyard and is accessed through a single light weight wooden and glass door located on the left of the signed entrance door. This department has a laminated floor whereas the rest of the departments are carpeted. There is a fridge counter and freezer in this department for foods. These should be accessible from a sitting position. There is food and drink stocked on the surrounding shelves some of which is too high to be accessed from a sitting position. Any member of staff will be happy to assist you with a purchase. There is a gradual declining ramp which takes you from the farm shop into the gifts department and hazard tape marks any potential tripping places. To conclude the ladies, Gents, Ponden Mill, Gifts and Farm shop are all located on the ground floor and can be accessed via a flat concrete path from the courtyard. All the departments are linked to each other and you can travel from one end of the building to the other to access them all.
The sales floor is located on the upper level and can be accessed by a set of stairs located immediately right as you enter the ladies department door from the courtyard. If you cannot walk up stairs please tell a member of staff that you are keen to see the sales floor and they will open the access door from the car park. This door is located next to the upper car parking bay and next to a large poster advertising our birds of prey. From the ladies door move back into the car park keeping left up the slope and follow the grassy verge and wooden fencing until you reach the entrance door. Within the sales floor clothes are displayed on the walls and on wooden tables within the centre of the floor. The latter should be accessible from a sitting position and so should the lower rail situated against the wall. Do ask a member of the retail staff for assistance if you require it. All departments are lit from the roof with spotlights and florescent tubes and there is easy listening music playing over speakers set high up on the walls. Till points are clearly visible and staff are friendly and approachable if you need assistance. DOGS: Assistance dogs are permitted on site. Pet dogs are allowed in the courtyard where there is a tap with water for their dog bowl. We do not have kennels or a site where you can leave the dog on site. Also it is strongly advised by the SSPCA that you do not keep dogs in your car whilst visiting as there is a strong risk they may over heat and no shade in our main car park. We hope to uphold this policy as best practice in animal care.
ACCESS IN THE PARKLAND-NATURE TRAILS: On exiting the main barn there is a large map located on your right hand side with a board stating Ranger Tours Meeting Point. Distance from the main barn for the following attractions: Raptor World- 32m Otters-50m Nose 2 Nose Tour -33m Wolf enclosure-250m Falconry display arena-100m The recommended route around our parkland is a circular route which travels around most of our animal enclosures. The total distance for this route measures 1.1km. It is a fine quarry dust path with a very slight gradual incline throughout half its distance which reverses to a slight decline for the other half of the distance. With a surface change through witches wood (small compact pebbles) and another change through wolf wood (compact woodchips). This route should take approximately 45mins-1 hour to complete going at a moderate speed. This route is clearly signed with traditional wooden signage. The longest route around the park follows our perimeter fence line and consists of short grass paths along half of this route
before converging at witches wood with the mainly fine dirt path route suggested above. This longer route measures approximately 1 mile. There are no gates or stiles along either route. There is a boardwalk at our pond area with a chicken wire cover to give more grip. This is accessible with a wheel chair. There is also a wooden bridge next to the pond which has dino grips on to prevent slipping. This is on the circular route recommended above. There is also a board walk at the wildcat enclosure that allows guests access to view the aerial walkway for the wild cats. This is accessible via the fine dirt track with wheelchairs. There is one picnic table at witches wood and another picnic table at wolf wood. These have been place along the route as rest stops. The rest of the picnic table have been placed next to the main barn close to hand washing facilities as recommended by our health and safety report. There are no shelters along the routes and wet weather facilities are located in the barn. Features of interest: A hand feeding zone for feeding the deer is located along the left path as you come out of the barn. Follow this path for a 2 minute walk until you come to a large print board introducing the feeding zone. Witches wood our woodland habitat it located at the opposite end of the park to the main barn. It provides much needed cool shade on a sunny day. The mixed woodland contains tree species such as
beech, oak, scots pine and elm and produces a stunning bluebell wood in april. Wolf wood is located along the path to the right as you exit our main barn. It provides shade from the exposed grassland on a sunny day and contains many scots pine trees as well as veteran oak, ash and beech species. The fresh water pond is located between witches wood and wolf wood next to the Northern Lynx enclosure. There is a boardwalk giving access to the pond from the main path. The jetty feature of the board walk has an information board with pictures and a description of the wildlife to be found in the pond. Also the Scottish red deer herd can be seen from the main road and when the deer are in the upper field they can be spotted from the car park also. To conclude all the animals can be seen from the circular path described above. Access to the fence line of the animal enclosures is always at the most 1m from this path and your trip around the park should give you a wealth of opportunity to spot our wildlife. EDUCATION CLASSROOM: This is accessible off the main concrete path in front of the barn and is located immediately right of the main park map. Access into the classroom is flat. The classroom has a stone concrete floor and is well lit with two windows plus florescent lighting above. The classroom measures 6m by 8 m. It consists of a long table and chairs where the public can investigate artefacts like deer s coat or skulls. There is alo a row of chairs on the otherside of the classroom which can be used at the tables or just pulled in to listen to an environmental education lesson.
The classroom has large print posters on the wall that can be read from the table below. These can be unclipped and brought down for a better view if necessary. HAND WASH FACILITY: The hand wash station is located immediately left of the large park map and can be seen immediately as you exit the main barn. This contains 3 handwash basins with lever taps to start and stop water flow. There is a ramp on the left of the station to allow wheel chair access to the basins. The hand wash station also provides extra-hygenic soap and hand towel. Located around the part on the popular circular route are soap dispensers providing anti-bacterial gel as a temporary cleaning agent before you get back to the main barn to use the hand wash station. It is recommended you wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap after coming into contact with the animals. PUBLIC TOILETS: There are two public toilets located in the courtyard and the main barn. TOILETS IN THE COURTYARD: Ladies with baby changing facilities and wheelchair friendly toilets are located immediately right of the entrance door in the courtyard. These consist of 3 standard cubicles plus a larger toilet which is suitable for wheel chair access and contains a pull down platform providing baby changing facilities. The baby change platform is designed to be used in a standing position.
Access to this toilet is via a light weight wooden sliding door. The width of this door is 77cm. There is 1m 45cm of length and breadth around the toilet. This provides adequate access for wheelchair users to the toilet which measures 42cm from the floor. Supports are provided by one horizontal hand rail next to the toilet and one vertical hand rail next to the hand wash basin. Taps in this toilets use a lever to start and stop water flow. The other taps in the toilet facilities are the old fashioned twisting type. Gents toilets are located immediately right of the large map in the courtyard. This consists of 2 cubicles and 1 large urinal. Both toilets have fluorescent lighting overhead and a hard laminate floor. Please note although access in the courtyard is along a flat concrete path there is a small ridge created by the toilets floors which restricts easy wheelchair access into both toilets. This means that wheel chair users have to get help entering the toilet facilities. We are hoping to rectify this problem in the long term. TOILETS IN THE MAIN BARN: There is also a smaller set of toilets in the main barn. These are located immediately right before you exit the main barn and move into the gift shop area of retail. Access into these is easy over a flat stone barn floor into the toilets. Ladies contains 2 standard cubicles only. Gents contains 1 cubicle and 1 large urinal. Both toilets have fluorescent lighting overhead and a tiled floor. None of the toilets contain emergency cords that you would pull to get further assistance.
Also the fire alarm is an audio alarm only. If you require help during your visit please inform a member of staff who will do their best to assist you.