Back on the Road with Irene & Brian | Episode 8: A Fyne Day Out

Mum and Dad had been making the most of the summer, using their WAV to pay regular visits to Otter Garden Centre in Taunton, Watchet Harbour, Blue Anchor, and Doniford Farm Park. Of course, the only limitation was that Dad needed to be pushed in his wheelchair when they got there. So, they decided to try out Countryside Mobility, a scheme that provides off road mobility scooters to hire at some of Britain’s most beautiful scenic spots.

With a few options to choose from within a short driving distance, Mum and Dad opted for Fyne Court, a National Trust property with wild gardens to walk – or scooter – through. And the obligatory café, of course, for a snack afterwards.

Mum prebooked the scooter a few days in advance, and on the day, Dad was given a short demonstration to make sure he was confident using it. Well, we needn’t have worried about that as he practically left us for dust.

Once we’d caught up with him and found the right path (one of the paths isn’t suitable for the scooter) off we went. It was a hot day but there were plenty of shady places and a couple of benches where we could stop and rest, enjoying the nature all around us, including brightly coloured dragonflies skimming over a pond.

It was lovely to be able to walk and talk together, but after about an hour we started feeling peckish so returned to the café for something to eat. Between us we tried the sausage rolls, quiche, ice cream and cakes and can highly recommend them all.

As we headed back to the Countryside Mobility kiosk to return the scooter, we all agreed it had been a lovely morning out. Dad only had one complaint;

“I just wish the scooter went a bit faster.”

For our sakes, trying to keep up with him, and for the safety of other people at Fyne Court, it’s probably a good thing it doesn’t…

Next Time, there are some spooky goings on. Is it a ghost or simply one of the Brotherwood WAV’s many safety features?

About this Blog

‘Back on the Road’ follows how a Brotherwood Volkswagen Caddy Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) is changing the lives of Somerset residents, Irene and Brian.

Brian is a wheelchair user and the couple are 80-something-young. They have a Golden Retriever, Barnaby, who will sadly never experience the adventures a Brotherwood WAV makes possible, as he refuses to travel by car.

The blog is written by one of their daughters, and will bring regular updates of how they are rediscovering the joys of spontaneous travel thanks to Brotherwood.