Accessibility Information

Accessibility Information for St Margaret’s Bay Beach

Updated 27th February 2022

Holdfast Beach & Forest School are committed to making our sessions as accessible for as many families as possible. If you require any additional information, or have any suggestions for amendments to our accessibility information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Accessibility at St Margaret’s Bay Beach and the Endeavour Centre

Car Parking

There is public car parking available directly next to the beach and the Endeavour Centre. Dover District Council car parking charges apply between March and October. There are no disabled car parking spaces adjacent to the Endeavour Centre. But there is usual ample parking available in close proximity.

Access to the Endeavour Centre

There is a single step to the decking at the front entrance of the Endeavour Centre and there is smaller stepped access to rear entrance.

The greensward to the front of the Endeavour Centre can be accessed at surface level from the car park.

Access to the beach

We use two sections of beach at St Margaret’s, as the beach is heavily divided by groynes – one is accessed via a boat ramp, the other by a flight of steep steps.

The beach itself is a mixture of large shingle (at high tide) and sand low tide. There are also exposed rockpools in some areas of beach at low tide. All the beaches have uneven surfaces and all participants are advised to wear suitable footwear.

Toilet facilities

There are public toilets (maintained by Dover District Council) in the car park and a short distance from the Endeavour Centre. There is a disabled/ accessible toilet that requires a RADAR key. Unfortunately, Holdfast Beach School do not have our own RADAR key at this time.

Public transport

Public transport map from Stagecoach

The closest train station to St Margarets Bay is Martin Mill. Stagecoach run a bus service to St Margarets, however, the buses do not go down in to the Bay itself at this time. There is signposted footpath access down Bay Hill. Please note that the foot access to Bay Hill is very steep.

Noise

There can be some ambient noise from construction work in the nearby Port of Dover and in foggy conditions, you can often hear the foghorns on the cross channel ferries. However, these noises are often dispersed by the wind and the coastal environment.

The ‘Wallgate’ hand driers in the public toilets can be excessively noisy for those with sensitive hearing.

Accessible formats and languages

Holdfast Beach School sessions are run in English and most instructions will be given through verbal dialogue. Please contact us if you require any information in other languages and we will do our best to accommodate.

However, we do have some written and visual resources available to use at sessions. Please also contact us if you require any information in alternative formats, such as large print or specific social stories.