Barford Lakes Disabled Access

Much effort has been made at the Barford Lakes complex to provide equal access to our facilities and fishing venues, and we are proud to have played host to The Eastern Region NFA Disabled Qualifiers in 2002 and 2003 and to the National Final in 2004.

At both the main Barford Lakes site, at the Railway and Willow Lakes complex and at Colton Lake we have installed wheelchair accessible toilets. Wheelchair users may book and reserve accessible pegs on the Pleasure Lake at Barford Lakes (please call at least 24 hours in advance of wanting to fish) to ensure appropriate facilities are reserved.

Below are listed the pegs at each venue which have been adapted for wheelchair users.

Barford Lakes - Pleasure Lake

• Peg numbers 2-7 have been adapted for wheelchair users and it is possible to park your car behind/near to these pegs.
• There are also suitable spots at the far end of the causeway (before peg 22).
• All these pegs can be booked in advance by disabled anglers (please call at least 24hrs in advance).

Barford Lakes - Top Lake

• Pegs 1-9 have very low graded banks which makes them ideal, but unfortunately pegs 10-15 could not be adapted.

Barford Lakes - Match Lake

• Most pegs are easily accessed but peg numbers 9, 10, 25 and 26 have ramps to the pegs.

Colton Lake

• The pegs here are not as sturdy as our other lakes and some would be difficult to get down to, although additional work was conducted on this lake in December 2003 to make the venue more accessible.
• On the car park side (pegs 30-38) are the most suitable for wheelchair users and you are able to park your car directly behind the peg.
• On the far side there is no vehicle access although pegs 19-31 are suitable for disabled anglers.
• Pegs 24, 25 and 26 are suitable for wheelchair users but there is no parking behind the stagings.

Railway Lake

• The whole of this lake adapts itself very well for the wheelchair user.
• It has very flat banks and is stocked very well with smaller carp.
• Pegs 1-42 have been adapted for wheelchair users and 43-62 are fairly easily accessed.
• The Eastern Region NFA Disabled Qualifiers were held on this lake in 2002 and 2003.
• This venue hosted The NFA Disabled National 2004 final.

Willow Lake

• This very new lake has had its permanent pegs introduced throughout 2003. Most of these pegs are suitable for wheelchair users.

Abbey Waters

• A car can be driven all around the lake.
• It is possible to fish pegs 1-4 and 19-30, but assistance is needed to get to the stagings as some have a ledge down of 18" - 1 foot.

Many thanks to Terry Moseley, (British Disabled Anglers Association) and Frank Reed of Hethersett for use of the pictures above.

For more information on disabled angling please look at the following two links:

The British Disabled Angling Association
The National Federation of Anglers