A SERIES of top accessible and inclusive attractions throughout Wales have been chosen to feature in an inspiring new guide to support people with diverse needs in enjoying a day out - whatever their disability.

The revamped edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, now in its 10th year, has for the first time extended its reviews to include information for visitors with more hidden conditions, such as autism and mental illness.

The Welsh attractions featured in the new edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain include the impressive mix of wildlife at RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve, Merthyr Tydfil’s Garwnant Forest Visitor Centre, Cardiff’s state-of-the-art Principality Stadium Tours, and Celtic Quest Coasteering in Pembrokeshire for adrenaline junkies.

As well as details of ramps, accessible toilets and parking spaces, visitors can find out well in advance whether a venue offers features such as quiet mornings, picture stories or bespoke queuing arrangements.

Closer to home the UNESCO World Heritage Site Llangollen Wharf and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct are both praised, with the Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust also highlighted for their specially adapted narrowboats, hydraulic wheelchair lift and low windows.

Trust chairman, Colin Burman, said: “We transport around 1,500 people per year and carry out about 120 day trips across what I believe to be the most beautiful part of the canal system.

“It’s lovely and there is nothing like going over the aqueduct. Most importantly once we have helped any disabled people onboard and they are all looking out at the wonderful panorama through our special windows, they are as normal as you and I as we are all seeing the same thing.”

“We really go out of our way to help anyone who comes here,” said Neal Dufton, manager of Llangollen Wharf Horse Drawn Boat Trips. “The boats have ramped access for wheelchair users who can sit in the open air or under cover.

“There’s no parking at the wharf, but visitors with restricted mobility can be set down at a drop-off point while their companion parks elsewhere.

“We also have accessible toilets and a ramp at the tea rooms - we are very public orientated and safety is paramount for us.”

At Llangollen Railway there’s a similar enthusiasm for making what could be a potentially difficult day as accessible and inclusive as possible.

“Llangollen Railway knows it is extremely important to be accessible to all, even though we have a heritage stations and trains that mean we can have limitations at times, we still try our best to make all areas as accessible to everyone,” said Llangollen business manager, Liz McGuinness.

“We feel it is extremely important to be an inclusive venue so everyone can enjoy their visit as a family or as a group of friends and no one feels excluded.”

Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Dr Rhys Davies, added: “We’re proud to continue to offer disability access at the Llangollen Eisteddfod for those wishing to come and enjoy the celebrations.

“As well as disabled parking, accompanying carers can also benefit from free ticket access to our whole host of exciting concerts. As we look forward to this year’s festival, we’d like to extend a warm welcome to all visitors.”

The guide has the enthusiastic backing of TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, a passionate advocate of the benefits of getting out and about in the great outdoors.

Chris said: “The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is a celebration of some of the best and most inclusive venues in the UK.

“From personal experience, I know that many people face particular barriers to enjoying a day out. The guide equips visitors with all the information they need to set out with confidence, so they can simply concentrate on making the most of their day.”

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain provides clear and helpful advice to highlight the very best inclusive and accessible days out for people of all abilities, from museums and art galleries, to wildlife parks and gardens.

Packed with more than 180 comprehensive reviews, the guide is an ideal planning tool for anyone with access needs.

Every venue is thoroughly checked out by Rough Guides’ team of reviewers, who either have a disability themselves or visited the venue with a disabled friend or relative.

The new edition places particular focus on accessibility for people with neuro-diverse and mental health conditions, and has drawn on advice from specialist organisations such as the National Autistic Society.

It showcases many examples of best practice, with venues large and small providing imaginative solutions to the challenges posed by hidden disabilities.

Tom Purser, head of campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “The National Autistic Society is delighted to be working on this new edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, which has taken into account the needs of autistic visitors. With over 700,000 autistic people in the UK, it is vital they are able to enjoy days out, just like anyone else.

“This has been a great opportunity for us to increase awareness of autism in partnership with organisations that are proactively making leisure activities more accessible to autistic people.

“It has been an inspiring collaboration and the National Autistic Society welcomes the open minds and attitudes with which Rough Guides are seeking to enhance the lives of people on the autistic spectrum.”