Danish delights

The award-winning tourism initiative Access For All, which makes it possible for disabled tourists and their families to enjoy the varied delights of Denmark, has grown in popularity internationally and in particular with British holidaymakers, leading the way for disability tourism in Europe.
West Jutland, the area of Denmark on the country's attractive seaboard that is linked closely to much of Britain's maritime history, has become a role model for other countries.
Practical research here classifies access in towns and countryside as well as a wide cross-section of accommodation and tourist attractions.
Access For All is an informative pictorial planner for disabled people who need to know exactly what to expect on arrival – whether it is important to find a level-access apartment in some colourful harbourside town, a suitable country cottage, hotel, inn, camp site or a cost-saving youth hostel with an adjoining adapted sports hall.
There is information on ramped entrances, door widths, handrails, adjustable beds or bed hoists at some choices, and seaside holiday spots with boardwalks to West Jutland's wide sandy beaches.
The information has been complied by seven different user groups, representing wheelchair users, the walking-impaired and visually- and hearing-impaired people.
Disabled holidaymaker Margaret Hides says: “I am impressed by so many inclusive restaurants and coffee shops and by modern museums where sagas of the Vikings or the history of sea battles and entertaining marine life bring interactive fun to anyone using a wheelchair, like me.”
Since its inception in September 2002, the Access For All initiative has made 430 tourist attractions and accommodation establishments accessible to disabled people. The Danish Access For All programme has also been responsible for eight leading attractions elsewhere in Denmark becoming
classified and accessible for disabled people, including Tivoli Gardens, The National Museum and Legoland, enabling those with access problems to be as free as able-bodied visitors to enjoy Denmark to the full.
Maresk Air and SAS airlines provide a range of flight times from both London Heathrow and Gatwick, with SAS also flying from Manchester, Birmingham, Aberdeen and Newcastle.
Ryanair operates a daily service to Esbjerg from London Stansted. DFDS Seaways sails from Harwich to Esbjerg three or four times a week, and has specially-adapted cabins for
disabled people. The DDMC can arrange your booking at a discount.
To find out more about specialist-adapted accommodation in Denmark, visit www.disabledtravelguide.com. The website has an audio function allowing it to be used by blind people.