About the Special Needs Trips

It gives us great pleasure to be able to offer trips to Brownsea island for people who may be less independently mobile.  For the season beginning Spring 2007, we will be offering visits to Brownsea island combined with a tour around the beautiful harbour’s five main islands.  Pas-Beau is currently the only vessel suitably equipped to land wheelchairs on Brownsea island -thanks to a ramp located on the bow of the vessel and a slipway on Brownsea we are able to move straight off of the boat and directly on to the island.  The price for this trip is available on request. The National trust also operate a tractor trailer tour of the island which means for the first time that the whole of Brownsea is accessible to everyone! If you would like to utilise the trailer tours, please advise us in plenty of time in advance to make the necessary arrangements.

Equally, all of our other trips are available to wheelchair users.  Please be aware that to satisfy the guidelines laid down by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and also to satisfy insurance requirements, whilst on the vessel all wheelchair users must be accompanied by an assistant.

Prices

Poole harbour tours (minimum 4 people)
3 hours £19.50 per person.
For other durations please contact us.

Harbour and Brownsea Island combined (minimum 4 people)
2 hours boat + 2 hours Brownsea £18.00 per person
For other durations please contact us.

Ferry service to Brownsea Island
Please contact us for prices.
Please note: This service is only available in winter from late October to late March for the general public.  However this is available for disabled persons all year round.

Longer trips and bespoke tours are available by arrangement, as are trips along the river Frome to the historic market town of Wareham.

The boat is equipped for a maximum of 12 people and we require a minimum number of 4 passengers for the tours.  We offer discounts for bookings of 8 people or more (this does not include the ferry service to Brownsea island) — please ask for details when you make contact.  A minimum 50% deposit is required to secure your reservation.

Need to Knows

There is a ‘closed season’ entrance fee of £3.20 for Brownsea Island, £4.40 normal opening times (usually late March to late October), although we have negotiated a specially reduced closed season fee of just £2.00 should there be no need for any National Trust facilities other than the toilets.  Other NT facilities available include a Café, Gift Shop, Visitor and Education Centre, guided walks and an island trailer tour for wheelchair users.  Entrance is free for National Trust Members.  Dorset Wildlife Trust members do not pay a fee either, as long as they remain within the DWT reserve after landing.  The DWT fee of £2.00 applies to all non-members.

It is recommended that you bring some warm, waterproof clothing and footwear - binoculars and/or a spotting scope will no doubt be useful.  Should you forget, then there are some spare binoculars on board, just don’t expect Swarovski!

The boat leaves from Poole Town Quay, either from Poole Quay Haven or from the quayside steps.  Pas-Beau has a ramp loading facility that enables wheelchair access and there is enough space on the deck for up to six wheelchairs.  Please advise of any particular access requirements you may have in advance.

There are plenty of parking stations close by.  A good alternative is the Thistle Hotel car park which is on the quay.

While we endeavour to see and enjoy as much as we can, wildlife is after all wild, and we cannot guarantee to see any particular species.  We practice responsible viewing and minimum disturbance to wildlife at all times and so, whilst we do want you to enjoy the best views, we value the welfare of the harbour and its inhabitants.

Trips are subject to our conditions of carriage– a copy of these is available on request.

Prices correct as at November 2006.