Comments on: Wilderness for the disabled http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/2008/10/wilderness-for-the-disabled/ The Wilderness World of Cameron McNeish Thu, 17 May 2012 20:52:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Kev http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/2008/10/wilderness-for-the-disabled/#comment-815 Kev Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:47:11 +0000 http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/?p=218#comment-815 Kayaking/Canoeing? I read an article years ago about a guy, paralysed from the waist down, who did some fantastic sea-kayaking expeditions. Scotland has hundreds of miles of coastline and no shortage of lochs and rivers. I'd have thought canoeing could be accessible to folk with a wide range of disablities. Kayaking/Canoeing? I read an article years ago about a guy, paralysed from the waist down, who did some fantastic sea-kayaking expeditions.

Scotland has hundreds of miles of coastline and no shortage of lochs and rivers. I’d have thought canoeing could be accessible to folk with a wide range of disablities.

]]> By: Martin Banfield http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/2008/10/wilderness-for-the-disabled/#comment-794 Martin Banfield Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:20:58 +0000 http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/?p=218#comment-794 I agree, Cameron, I was simply answering the question as to how the disabled might enjoy a mountain experience. Thankfully the classic Snowdon Horseshoe stroll only has a brief skirmish with the railway, and the great benefit of the railway is that it absorbs substantial numbers of people, leaving many other parts of Snowdonia less crowded than they might otherwise be.....(perhaps!) I don't know about a wilderness experience for the disabled...can you get to Sandwood Bay in a wheelchair? I agree, Cameron, I was simply answering the question as to how the disabled might enjoy a mountain experience. Thankfully the classic Snowdon Horseshoe stroll only has a brief skirmish with the railway, and the great benefit of the railway is that it absorbs substantial numbers of people, leaving many other parts of Snowdonia less crowded than they might otherwise be…..(perhaps!)
I don’t know about a wilderness experience for the disabled…can you get to Sandwood Bay in a wheelchair?

]]> By: cameron http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/2008/10/wilderness-for-the-disabled/#comment-787 cameron Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:54:20 +0000 http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/?p=218#comment-787 Thanks Martin. I think the difference between Snowdon and Cairn Gorm is that the Welsh railway has been running for a considerable time, and I assume it's never been totally reliant of hand-outs to keep it going. Having said that, I would hope that such a scheme would never get planning permission today, and I doubt, under modern financial restraints, that any one company could fund it. Thanks Martin. I think the difference between Snowdon and Cairn Gorm is that the Welsh railway has been running for a considerable time, and I assume it’s never been totally reliant of hand-outs to keep it going. Having said that, I would hope that such a scheme would never get planning permission today, and I doubt, under modern financial restraints, that any one company could fund it.

]]> By: Martin Banfield http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/2008/10/wilderness-for-the-disabled/#comment-785 Martin Banfield Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:19:43 +0000 http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/?p=218#comment-785 Might there be an analogy with the blind person who climbs mountains? He enjoys the sensation of being on a high summit, although he can't actually see the view. The wheelchair bound mountaineer is disabled in a different way. Unlike the blind person he can enjoy the sensation of the views from the summit, but he can't enjoy the physical act of climbing the mountain. There must be something in this, given the thousands of people who queue up for the cog railways and their 'mountain experience'. I've done it myself when the alternative would be a low-level walk. Could one man's Jungfrau Railway experience be another man's Cairn Gorm funicular experience? Those of us who aren't disabled are no doubt thankful of that fact, and we should help the disabled enthusiast in any way we can. Eg point them in the direction of the Disabled Ramblers Group. However, I agree that the Cairn Gorm disaster should be removed from the landscape. Your wheelchair bound friend should instead look forward to the prospect of a journey through fine British countryside to Llanberis and the lovely old railway up Snowdon, adorned by its newly constructed Visitor Centre. Might there be an analogy with the blind person who climbs mountains? He enjoys the sensation of being on a high summit, although he can’t actually see the view.
The wheelchair bound mountaineer is disabled in a different way. Unlike the blind person he can enjoy the sensation of the views from the summit, but he can’t enjoy the physical act of climbing the mountain.
There must be something in this, given the thousands of people who queue up for the cog railways and their ‘mountain experience’. I’ve done it myself when the alternative would be a low-level walk. Could one man’s Jungfrau Railway experience be another man’s Cairn Gorm funicular experience?
Those of us who aren’t disabled are no doubt thankful of that fact, and we should help the disabled enthusiast in any way we can. Eg point them in the direction of the Disabled Ramblers Group.
However, I agree that the Cairn Gorm disaster should be removed from the landscape. Your wheelchair bound friend should instead look forward to the prospect of a journey through fine British countryside to Llanberis and the lovely old railway up Snowdon, adorned by its newly constructed Visitor Centre.

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