Carrie-Ann Lightley

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Carrie-Ann Lightley

Award winning disabled blogger, writer, speaker and content creator. Passionate about accessible travel, with 20 years experience in the industry.

04/11/2026

For years, my idea of an ‘accessible’ countryside adventure was fairly cautious. A smooth path. Somewhere to park. A viewpoint I could reach. A wheelchair accessible toilet nearby.

Then I abseiled in my wheelchair.

My latest piece for Adventure.com explores what happened when my understanding of outdoor access got much, much bigger.

From wheelchair abseiling with Calvert Lakes and taking the helm of an accessible boat at Ladybower Fisheries, to exploring the Peak District in a Boma 7 all terrain wheelchair from Escape to the Peak District - luxury log cabins & glamping and following Miles Without Stiles routes across Lake District National Park and Peak District National Park, I’ve discovered that accessibility doesn’t always mean making the landscape less wild.

Sometimes it means finding a different way into it.

The right equipment. Useful information. Thoughtful adaptations. People who think ‘how can we make this work?’ rather than immediately reaching for ‘unfortunately’.

Because disabled people deserve the chance to decide how much adventure feels right for us.

Huge thanks to Meera Dattani for commissioning and editing this one. 🩷

‘I used to think “accessible” meant designated parking spots and smooth paths. Then I abseiled in my wheelchair’ is now live on Adventure.com.

Image credit: Chris Steindorff

02/11/2026

Travel writer by title. About 25 other job descriptions by lunchtime. 😂♿️

From accessibility consultant to lift detective, there’s a LOT that goes on behind the byline!

Anyone else wear about a million different hats in their work? 🎩

Video description:

Carrie-Ann sits in her wheelchair on a sunny outdoor terrace, wearing sunglasses and a black and white patterned dress.

Text on screen reads: “I’m a travel writer but I’m also a...”

Different roles appear in quick succession:

Accessibility consultant, photographer, videographer, content creator, researcher, fact checker, public speaker, social media manager, marketing strategist, storyteller, accessibility advocate, hotel inspector, ramp tester, lift detective, accessible loo investigator, shower inspector, route planner, transport coordinator, problem solver, negotiator, interviewer, video editor, deadline juggler, professional question asker and accessibility myth buster.

30/10/2026

BIG NEWS for UK Blue Badge holders! 🇮🇹♿️

Your UK Blue Badge is now officially recognised across Italy!

The UK and Italian authorities have reached an agreement meaning British Blue Badge holders can benefit from the same parking concessions as Italian disabled parking permit holders.

This includes designated disabled parking spaces and, where local rules allow, access to restricted traffic zones.

It’s a really positive step towards making travel easier and more independent for disabled people.

But what about the rest of Europe? 🌍

As this carousel explains, UK Blue Badges are recognised in lots of European countries, but the rules still vary. Spain, for example, continues to have different arrangements depending on the local authority.

My advice remains the same: always check the GOV.UK guidance and local parking rules before travelling.

💬 Have you used your UK Blue Badge abroad? I’d love to hear your experiences!

Save this for your next trip! 🩷

28/10/2026

No two days are ever quite the same! 😂♿️ A little bit of adventure, a lot of accessibility testing, and plenty of stories to tell. Wouldn’t have it any other way! 🩷

Video description: montage showing Carrie-Ann travelling as a wheelchair user. Clips include exploring a woodland trail in an off-road wheelchair, boarding a train, meeting a Highland cow, and visiting a grand Victorian shopping arcade. The reel ends with Carrie-Ann beside the sea with her dog, Poppy. On-screen text reads: “When people ask what my job is like...” followed by “Like this” and “Follow for accessible travel inspo ♿️🥰”.

26/10/2026

21% fewer journeys. Think about the experiences, opportunities and connections behind that number.

The planning. The inaccessible transport. The places we can’t confidently visit. The spontaneous plans that feel anything but spontaneous.

And all the journeys that simply don’t happen because the barriers are too great.

Accessibility is about so much more than getting from A to B. It’s about having the freedom to choose. ♿️💚

What’s one thing that would make travelling easier for you?

📊 Source: DfT National Travel Survey 2025.

23/10/2026

adpr Apparently one cruise wasn’t enough... 🚢😉

I’m heading off on another adventure with in a couple of days, and this time I want to take YOUR questions with me.

Accessible cabins? Getting around the ship? Shore excursions? The practicalities, the possibilities, the things you won’t necessarily find in a brochure?

Ask away! 👇

I’ll be sharing my experiences as a wheelchair user, including the things that work brilliantly and the things that could be better.

So, what would you like me to find out? 🩷

Video description: A short montage of clips from last year's cruise. Carrie-Ann smiles in her wheelchair beside a cruise ship, followed by footage of her sitting on a pool hoist chair beside the ship's swimming pool. The final clip shows Carrie-Ann and her husband enjoying a sunset at sea, before the camera pans towards the ship's wake.
On-screen text reads: “Cruising as a wheelchair user? 👀 I'm heading off with Limitless Travel again! What do you REALLY want to know about accessible cruising? Ask me in the comments! 👇”

21/10/2026

Ever wondered how I end up on all these press trips? 👀

Well, there’s a lot more involved than someone sending me an email saying, “Fancy a holiday?”

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my job. But behind the lovely hotels, interesting destinations and occasional cocktail by the pool, there’s a LOT of pitching, planning, research, relationship building and asking awkwardly specific questions about accessible bathrooms.

And quite a few emails that never get a reply.

So I thought I’d share a little of what actually goes into getting press trips and turning travel experiences into published stories.

Because the travel is only one part of being a travel writer. ✈️♿️

What’s something you’ve always wanted to know about my job?

19/10/2026

Just a disabled traveller, moonlighting as a secret agent to book a hotel room. 🕵️‍♀️♿️

Mission: find out if the wheelchair accessible room is actually available before someone else books it. 😩

(Footage is not the hotel in question).

Carrie-Ann wheels through a colourful hotel lounge as spy themed audio plays. On-screen text reads: “When you try to book an accessible hotel room online...” A screenshot of an email from a hotel appears, explaining that booking requires emailing them directly. The final text reads: “And hope it’s still available when they pick up your reply 😬”

16/10/2026

adpr The Peak District and I go way back. ♿️🌿

I’ve visited more times than I can count, and I’m still finding new reasons to come back.

Accessible cottages and hotels. Miles Without Stiles routes. Trampers and all terrain wheelchairs. Heritage sites. Big views. A Wheelyboat on Ladybower. And, very importantly, places where Poppy gets just as warm a welcome as I do. 🐶

What I love most is the choice.

There isn’t one version of an accessible Peak District trip. Sometimes I want a cosy cottage and a slow few days. Sometimes I want to get properly out into the landscape. Sometimes I want history, scenery, good food and absolutely no strenuous activity whatsoever.

And the more options there are, the more disabled people get to decide what their own adventure looks like.

These are 11 of the reasons I keep returning, but I know I’ve barely scratched the surface.

Which would you try first? And if you know an accessible Peak District gem I’ve missed, tell me below. 👇

14/10/2026

adpr A cosy, traditional hotel room in the Scottish Highlands, with plenty of space for my powerchair ♿️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Here’s a peek inside my accessible room at the Grant Arms Hotel, including the wet room and that gorgeous view 👀

Would this room work for you?

Video description: Carrie-Ann enters the Grant Arms Hotel in her powerchair before showing her wheelchair accessible room. The reel tours the spacious bedroom, seating area and view from the window, followed by the accessible bathroom with a level access shower, shower seat and grab rails, ending with Carrie-Ann filming herself in the mirror.

Address

Staveley
LA8 9PL

Website

https://www.carrieannlightley.com/

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