A mobility scooter built for pavements is not designed for grass, mud and woodland tracks. For countryside outings, some National Trust places in England lend out a Tramper, an all-terrain mobility scooter. Arrangements are set by each property, so there is no single national rule. This guide compares what four published property pages say. It covers National Trust places in England and does not describe arrangements at places elsewhere in the UK.
What a Tramper is
The National Trust describes a Tramper as an electric all-terrain mobility scooter designed to cover rough ground and grass safely and to go up and down slopes, over bumps and through mud and shallow puddles. At Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales and at Lyme in Cheshire, the top speed is stated as four miles an hour, which lets a rider keep pace with walking companions (National Trust, “Borrow a Tramper at Malham Tarn”; National Trust, “Tramper hire at Lyme”).
Who can use one
Eligibility is generous but not unconditional. At Tarn Hows in Cumbria, the National Trust says a visitor does not need to be registered disabled or hold a Blue Badge, and that the scooters suit people who can use handlebar steering and controls. At Lyme, the Tramper can be used by anyone who feels it would be useful for their visit. At Malham Tarn, the stated rules are stricter:
- every user must be aged 14 or older;
- the weight limit is 21 stone;
- a companion must accompany the rider on the Tramper trail;
- the rider must stay on the designated route;
- the induction includes an eyesight test, in which the user must read a number plate at about 12 metres (40 feet), with glasses if normally worn for driving.
Malham Tarn adds that staff assess a user’s ability to drive the vehicle on that terrain, and that a user who cannot drive the route safely will not be able to borrow it (National Trust, “Borrow a Tramper at Malham Tarn”). At Lyme, a short driving test must be passed before the Tramper is loaned.
Booking: lead times differ
Booking is essential at Malham Tarn and Lyme, because a trained member of staff must be present on the day of hire. Malham Tarn recommends booking at least two days ahead, and its Tramper is available Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm. Lyme recommends at least three days ahead and gives 11.00am to 2.45pm as the collection window. At Tarn Hows, the National Trust asks visitors to pre-book by phone for a time slot, but says it will try to accommodate same-day requests at the main car park. Slots there run for 1.5 hours, from 9.30am, with the last starting at 2pm daily, and each includes a safety briefing, test drive and user form.
The Malham Tarn and Lyme pages ask users to cancel if plans change so that someone else can use the slot, and Tarn Hows adds that machines may not be available in poor weather. Tarn Hows also states that the service is paused in December and January in the period the page describes, which shows why checking availability for the intended dates matters.
Where a Tramper can go
Routes are restricted. Malham Tarn offers a circular route of approximately 4.5 miles along the tarn shore and through woodland, with a shorter linear option of about 1.4 miles. At Lyme, the Tramper can be used in the garden only; it is too large for the house and tea rooms, where the National Trust says a wheelchair can be borrowed instead. Lyme may also suggest avoiding certain paths after very wet weather (National Trust, “Tramper hire at Lyme”).
Ashridge: single-seater scooters and a different model
Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire offers single-seater scooters and two- and four-seater golf buggies to borrow between 31 March and the end of October, from 12 to 4pm, with the last departure at 3pm, and each loan lasts up to an hour. Two surfaced paths are suitable: the Meadley’s Meadow track of 0.8 miles and Duncombe Terrace of 2.5 miles. The National Trust advises booking ahead by phone because availability is limited, and suggests a donation of £5 (National Trust, “Mobility vehicles at Ashridge Estate”).
Bringing your own scooter
Malham Tarn says a visitor is welcome to bring their own all-terrain mobility scooter, and that the circular Tramper route has been tested and deemed suitable for Trampers. It cautions that the route may not suit other types of mobility scooter. That caution is a reminder that a pavement scooter should not be assumed to cope with a countryside track. For general access rights when visiting attractions, see our guide to mobility scooters and the Equality Act.
Questions readers often ask
Does it cost anything?
The Malham Tarn, Tarn Hows and Lyme pages say the service is free, with donations welcomed towards running costs. Ashridge suggests a £5 donation.
Do I need to be registered disabled?
Tarn Hows states that a visitor does not need to be registered disabled or hold a Blue Badge.
Are the rules the same everywhere?
No. Age limits, testing, hours and routes are set by each property, so the property’s own page and phone number are the reliable guide.
The bottom line
National Trust places in England set their own rules for lending Trampers. Malham Tarn, Tarn Hows and Lyme lend them free of charge, usually asking for booking two to three days ahead, an induction and a short driving test, with age, weight and route limits at some places. Ashridge lends single-seater scooters in one-hour slots. Anyone planning a visit should check the property’s own page for availability, since services can pause seasonally or in poor weather.
Sources
- National Trust, “Borrow a Tramper at Malham Tarn” (nationaltrust.org.uk)
- National Trust, “Borrow a mobility scooter at Tarn Hows” (nationaltrust.org.uk)
- National Trust, “Tramper hire at Lyme” (nationaltrust.org.uk)
- National Trust, “Mobility vehicles at Ashridge Estate” (nationaltrust.org.uk)