The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) runs wetland centres where paved paths and lower-window hides make wildlife watching realistic on a mobility scooter. What each centre offers differs, though: some lend scooters, some charge a deposit, and some only allow personal scooters. This guide compares five centres’ accessibility pages as read in September 2026: Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, Martin Mere in Lancashire, WWT London and Arundel in West Sussex (all England), and Llanelli (Wales). Fees, deposits and telephone booking arrangements are stated as the pages give them and may change, so the centre should be contacted before travelling. This is general information.
Slimbridge (England)
Slimbridge’s page describes a fleet of mobility scooters for hire seven days a week at £15 per day, including an introductory briefing. A £25 deposit per scooter is required and is refundable when the scooter is returned safely. The centre asks for booking at least a day in advance by telephone, Monday to Friday. It also says there is a network of level, hard-surfaced paths, and that the grounds are accessible to scooters, although it does not advise using them to reach the hides.
Other points from the page: carers assisting disabled visitors go free, there are 17 designated free accessible parking spaces, six accessible toilets and a fully equipped Changing Places toilet. Plenty of manual wheelchairs can be loaned with advance booking. Most hides are listed as wheelchair accessible, and the Summer Walkway, which is closed in winter, is also wheelchair accessible.
Martin Mere (England)
Martin Mere has one mobility scooter to hire. Its page says a £12 non-refundable deposit secures the booking, and that the scooter must be booked in advance by telephone or email. Scooter users must be 18 or over, and the page gives a weight limit of 18 stone. The paths around the waterfowl gardens are paved, with benches at regular intervals, and the nature trail is fully paved but is not a circular loop. Most hides have lower windows for wheelchair users.
The page says two large Blue Badge car parks for 25 vehicles sit outside the entrance and parking is free. Carers can visit for free, and can also ride the guided boat tour free of charge. From 2 April to the end of September, the boat tours run daily and can accommodate two wheelchairs, though the page does not say scooters are carried, so that should be checked.
WWT London (England)
At London, the page lists manual wheelchairs and three mobility scooters that can be booked free of charge, with a suggested donation of £5 towards their upkeep. Booking ahead is requested by telephone or email. There are eight accessible parking spaces plus one for cars needing EV charging, and parking for visitors is free, provided the vehicle registration is entered on the tablets at admissions. Seven accessible toilets are counted across the site. Paths are described as tarmac, gravel and boardwalk.
Llanelli (Wales)
Llanelli’s page lists one mobility scooter for hire for use on the collection and grounds side of the site. It costs £10 for the day plus a £20 deposit, refunded on safe return. The user weight limit is 20 stone (127kg), and the page asks visitors to call ahead to check availability and reserve it. The page says the paths are mostly level with two slopes, that staff can suggest alternatives for unassisted wheelchair users, and that there are gates where staff or volunteers can help. It notes step-free entry to the hides, two accessible toilets, and that there is no Changing Places toilet at present. It also shows the centre has moved to seasonal opening days and, at the time of reading, was closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so opening times should be checked.
Arundel (England)
Arundel does not lend scooters. Its page says personal mobility scooters may be used on site, while three manual wheelchairs can be borrowed first come, first served and cannot be reserved. Most pathways are level and paved with benches at regular intervals, and pathways over water are non-slip wooden boardwalks. The seasonal Waterside Walk path is described as not recommended for wheelchairs because of woodchip and dirt pathways. Most hides have a lower window so that wheelchair users can view the water. Essential carers visit free.
Comparing the five
- Free to borrow: London (with a suggested £5 donation).
- Hire fee: Slimbridge (£15 a day) and Llanelli (£10 a day).
- Deposit: Slimbridge £25 (refundable), Llanelli £20 (refundable), Martin Mere £12 (non-refundable).
- Weight limits on the lendable scooter: Martin Mere 18 stone, Llanelli 20 stone.
- No lendable scooter: Arundel, where a personal one can be used.
The site’s guide to Forestry England woodlands covers similar hire arrangements elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can a scooter go into the hides? Slimbridge does not advise it, so scooter users should ask staff which hides can be used.
Do carers pay? The Slimbridge, Martin Mere, London and Arundel pages say carers or essential carers go free; the Llanelli page reviewed does not mention carer tickets.
The bottom line
The WWT centres differ on price, deposits, weight limits and booking, so a scooter user should call the centre first. London is the only one of the five described as free to borrow, Arundel expects a personal scooter, and Slimbridge, Martin Mere and Llanelli each charge to hire.
Sources
- WWT, "Accessibility at Slimbridge Wetland Centre" (wwt.org.uk)
- WWT, "Accessibility at Martin Mere Wetland Centre" (wwt.org.uk)
- WWT, "Accessibility at WWT London" (wwt.org.uk)
- WWT, "Accessibility at Llanelli Wetland Centre" (wwt.org.uk)
- WWT, "Accessibility at Arundel Wetland Centre" (wwt.org.uk)