Accessibility
Highland Wildlife Park seeks to provide equal opportunities for all visitors and we are working hard to ensure that our visitor facilities are accessible to everyone.
Highland Wildlife Park has partnered with Euan's Guide, the award-winning disabled access charity. Find an access guide to Highland Wildlife Park here.
Download our sensory mapSensory bags
Sensory bags have been developed to provide ways to improve focus and create relaxation with certain demanding cognitive tasks for some neurodiverse individuals but they can be used by anyone who feels they may benefit.
The sensory bags include sensory maps to clearly navigate the park, ear defenders to block out noise, sunglasses to dim bright lights, fidget toys to occupy hands and binoculars as a fun way to view our animals.
Bags can be picked up at the info desk in the Visitor Centre, simply speak to an admissions assistant or head to the info desk. A £15 deposit is required, which is fully refundable on return of the bag and contents to the point of collection.
Free admission for carers
Visitors who require special assistance are offered free admission for one accompanying carer when they pay the full adult/concession/child price.
Please bring relevant proof of entitlement, such as a National Disability Card, an Access Card with a ‘+1’ symbol, a ‘plus one’ travel card or a letter from Personal Independence Payment, as this will be asked for on arrival.
Accessible routes
Our location in the Scottish Highlands means that our site is steep and rugged and while this creates ideal habitats for our animals, as well as great scenery, we understand it can make moving around the park a challenge in places.
Most of the steps can be bypassed via alternatives paths but due to the nature of our park these are steep in places.
Blue badge parking
A limited number of Blue Badge parking spaces are available in our upper car park.
If you have a larger vehicle, we may ask for it to be parked elsewhere after leaving passengers near the Visitor Centre.
Mobility aid hire
A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available for free hire from the shop at the Visitor Centre. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are disinfected after each use.
A limited number of mobility scooters are also available to hire on a first-come-first-serve basis at a £10 hire fee and £15 refundable deposit.
Assistance dogs and emotional support animals
Only registered assistance dogs that are accompanying their respective partner are permitted to enter the park. If you wish to bring an assistance dog into the park please inform a member of our admissions team when you arrive. Be aware that access may be restricted to certain areas.
Please note assistance dogs in training are not permitted to enter. In addition to the above admission, assistance dogs are subject to the following regulations of BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria).
- All assistance dogs must be up-to-date with all inoculations
- Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and under strict control
- Dogs must not be allowed to defecate anywhere in the park grounds and any incidents should be cleared away by their owners
- If the behaviour of our animals or your dog is affected, please move away from the area to ensure both their safety and those of our other visitors
As a leading conservation charity, the health and welfare of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) and our own animals is always paramount. As such, we do not generally recommend the zoo as an appropriate environment for ESAs. With the exception of trained and accredited assistance dogs, for which we have an established process and provision, we strongly advise that guests should never simply arrive at the zoo with any animal, expecting entry.
Additional assistance
Our team is also trained to assist in various ways, including supporting those who wear sunflower lanyards. Please make yourself known to our team when you arrive.
Toilet facilities
Accessible toilets are located near the Visitor Centre and adjacent to the Blue Badge parking area. During holidays there may be additional temporary accessible toilets located in various areas of the park.
Changing places
To support our visitors with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well other disabilities that severely limit mobility, who cannot use standard accessible toilets we have installed a Changing Places toilet.
Access statement
Download our access statement.
If you require any additional information, please contact us at wildlife@rzss.org.uk.
