The Trimontium Trust is committed to ensuring that every visitor feels welcome in the museum.
Below is comprehensive access information to help you plan your visit. If you need any assistance or other information, please get in touch by email: info@trimontium.co.uk or telephone 01835 342788 before your visit and we will be happy to help. Please take a look at our Visual Story (Word, 5.5MB) to further plan your visit.
In order to best serve groups who require additional support, we are able to close the museum to other members of the public for set periods of time. Please contact us to arrange this prior to making your group’s booking to ensure we are able to do this for you.
The museum is accessed via the main entrance which is on street level. There is a ramp up to the reception desk which has handrails fitted either side. The reception desk is lowered for ease of use.
The gallery and shop are all on one level with space to manoeuvre wheelchairs, walkers and buggies. There is space at reception to leave equipment if preferred.
There is a range of seating provided at different points in the museum. Portable stools are also available to borrow from the reception desk.
Seating is also available in our AV theatre. The AV Theatre seats 12 people and is accessible to manual wheelchairs and buggies. Mobility Scooter users can park at the rear of the AV Theatre, or the film can be viewed from the entrance.
The Trimontium Museum Gallery is designed as a dark gallery. There is low lighting but this can be increased when required. If you need assistance, please ask a team member.
Magnifying glasses with in-built light can be borrowed from reception. Large print guides are available from reception. A braille guide is also available from reception.
Small artefacts on display have additional images nearby, which have been magnified to show greater detail on the artefact.
There is an induction loop at the reception desk. The AV theatre has a fitted induction loop. Our AV films are subtitled in English.
We have sensory backpacks for visitors with additional needs. The backpacks can be collected from reception and we recommend booking them in advance vis info@trimontium.co.uk.
We will reduce the volume on the AV films and adjust lighting to make our visitors more comfortable in their surroundings. Our volunteers are always happy to assist.
All our toilet facilities are gender neutral. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor, located to through a door in Reception. There is an additional accessible toilet available up 4 steps, which has a seat lift, if required. Please ask at reception if you would like any help in operating the lift.
There are baby changing facilities in the accessible toilet. If you would like a private room to breastfeed, please ask at reception, although you are welcome to breastfeed in the museum.
The nearest adult changing facilities are located at the Transport Interchange in Galashiels. More information on local changing facilities can be found on the Changing Places website.
All dogs, not just assistance dogs, are welcome:
– In the Trimontium Museum
– On the Trimontium Walk
There is water available outside the museum and doggie treats at reception!
On very hot days, please consider leaving your dog at home if you are doing the Trimontium walk as there is little shelter or shade en route.
Sensory backpacks
We have four sensory backpacks available for visitors to use. They contain a set of sound-dampening headphones, a variety of toys of different textures, a clipboard, pencil case, and teddy bear.
Anyone who would benefit from a sensory backpack while visiting the museum is welcome to one. Please ask at reception if you would like one.
Outreach
If you are unable to visit the museum in person, or would like us to bring the museum experience to your setting, our outreach team are delighted to make this possible. We are also able to provide online experiences if preferred. Please get in touch to discuss requirements.
Interactives and activities
There are two interactive touch screens showing films about Roman crafts and army life. There is a touch screen for exploring the fort site using 3D imagery.
There is an AV Theatre, showing 2 films on a loop. Each film lasts around 10 minutes. Film 1: The Trimontium Story. Film 2: Iron Age Settlements around Scotland. Both films have subtitles.
We have a children’s activity sheet, containing numerous activities suitable for all ages.
Translations of gallery labels are available at the gallery entrance in Spanish, French &German. Italian translations will be available in mid- 2024.
Gallery Guides Trimontium Top 20, giving additional information on the most important artefacts in the gallery, are available for purchase at Reception for £1. These are currently available in Spanish, German, English. French and Italian guides will be available in late June.
Volunteers are available to provide any assistance and answer questions.
Trimontium Fort Site & Walks
The Trimontium Fort site in Newstead is accessible to the public. Entrance to the site is via Leaderfoot or Newstead. More detailed parking instructions can be found on our ‘How to Find Us’ page.
The road through the fort site is not accessible to vehicles but can be accessed on foot or bike. It is also accessible for wheelchairs, buggies and mobility scooters, although there is a steep gradient at the Leaderfoot end of the walk.
There are information boards along the route detailing the layout of the fort. Two of the information boards are on raised wooden platforms, with 3-5 steps to access. Three boards are at ground level.
Full Guided walks to the fort site are recommended for visitors who have a good level of fitness as the walk is 3.5 hours in length, with some steep inclines and uneven terrain. There is a short walk available from Newstead lasting 1.5 hours. We can arrange for small, adapted site walks for anyone who does not feel able to do the public walk, at no extra cost, subject to availability. Please get in touch with us to arrange.
There are no public toilets at the fort site. The nearest ones can be found in Melrose or Earlston.
