What and why

All PMVs at Ashridge are electrically powered and quite simple to control and use. Their purpose is to enable persons of limited mobility to have access to areas of the property remote from the Visitor Centre.

Single seater, open bodied two-seater (Poweride) and canopied two-seater (Golf Buggy) vehicles are available. It is intended that the passenger in a two-seater be of impaired mobility and unable, or not confident enough to drive a single-seater.

WHEN, for HOW LONG and HOW MUCH

Vehicles are available at no charge from the Monument green opposite the Cafe – weather permitting – from the middle of March to the first Sunday in November. They are available every afternoon except in March when operation is limited to weekends and Bank Holidays.

Availability is from 1 pm to 5 pm on weekdays and from 12 noon to 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays (subject to a latest departure time of 4.30 pm), until the first weekend in October. Thereafter closing time is 4 pm with last departure at 3.30 pm. Bookings are taken for use from 12 pm onwards (Telephone 01442851227) and the nominal usage limit is 1 hour.

WHO MAY USE A PMV

Any person with a condition restricting walking ability may be able to use a PMV.

The volunteer(s) on PMV duty will assess, advise, instruct and check test all potential drivers who will then be required to sign an acceptance form before departure. Instruction and testing is required at a user’s first visit of the season and would be repeated during the season only if a significantly different PMV were to be used. Records of qualified drivers are kept to reduce delays on subsequent visits.

Unaccompanied drivers of single-seaters shall be at least 16 years old; younger drivers shall be at least 14 years old and accompanied by a responsible adult guardian, relative or parent.

Drivers of two-seaters shall be at least 18 years old and may or may not be of impaired mobility.

No upper age limit has been found necessary.

WHERE and HOW FAR

• Anywhere on Monument Green (between the Visitor Centre and the Bridgewater Monument), along either of the two designated Trails and within the Visitor Centre compound itself.
• Trail A runs northward from the Visitor Centre, past the monument and through a wooded area to the estate boundary at Clipper Down where a turning circle is available. (Total out/return distance is 2.5 miles.)
• Trail B is circular and shorter, approximately 0.6 miles, runs around Meadley’s Meadow south of the Visitor Centre and is quite spectacular when bluebells are in bloom in April/May. Maps of the two trails are provided.
• Single seaters may be taken into the Cafe Compound.

WHERE NOT

• Inside the Visitor Centre buildings. (A manual wheelchair is available for access to the Visitor Centre/Shop and Toilets.)
• Monument Drive between B4506 and the Visitor Centre Car Park and that car park itself (Use of PMV’s in these areas is not covered by NT insurance policies).
• Any area or track beyond PMV ‘No Entry’ signs. (The terrain beyond such signs is considered unsuitable for PMV’s by reason of steepness, roughness, deep ruts or mud.)
• Outside the estate boundaries. (Trail A ends at a sign stating ‘No Batricars beyond this point’.)

IN CASE of BREAKDOWN or DIFFICULTY

• Assistance can be summoned by telephoning the Visitor Centre on 01442 851227. (Passers-by may help if the user does not have a mobile phone.)
• If the battery charge indicator shows a low level and performance falls off, check that the hand or parking brake is not on. Otherwise switch off and give the battery a rest before resuming progress.
• If battery charge indication is completely lost in an open two-seater it maybe that the emergency stop button has been accidentally depressed. Attempt to reset by pressing/releasing once.
• Punctures are not normally a problem and if they do occur are almost invariably ‘slow’ in which case drive slowly back to base.
• If the vehicle becomes totally immobile do not attempt to push it. Leave it to be recovered by NT staff or volunteers; remove the master key and return that to the duty volunteer or the Visitor Centre Officers.