Disability access

Access Guide

Our team is here to support your visit, please let us know if you have any accessibility queries. Following your visit, please share feedback about your experience so that we can continue to improve our accessibility services. 

 

Contact the Collections Team

Contact for accessibility enquiries:

Phone:  +44 (0)1786 466050

Email:  art.collection@stir.ac.uk

 

Getting Here

 Address: Pathfoot Building 

University of Stirling 

Stirling 

FK9 4LA 

Scotland UK 

 

Parking

  • Parking is available immediately outside the building with four accessible parking bays at the main front, leading on to a shallow ramp to access the main entrance.  
  • There are two accessible parking bays at the rear of the building with level access at the back. 
  • Parking at the University is free of charge for council-issued blue badge holders, but you must register your vehicle so we can update the car parking system. This can be done by calling the car parking office on +44 (0) 01786 466065.

 

By Bus

  • The University of Stirling has excellent bus links from Stirling city centre and some from Bridge of Allan.  
  • The Unilink shuttle bus between Stirling centre, the train station and the main University campus is one of the handiest and most regular services. 
  • There is a bus stop on University Road West at the Main Entrance with level access to the building.  
  • For step-free access, follow University Road West towards Campus Central, turn left on Hermitage Road and then take another left going up towards the Pathfoot building which is 500 meters from the bus stop up a gentle incline to the front entrance.  
  • Additionally, there are two sets of stairs with handrails to the left of the bus stop that leads to the building front with an incline up a hill. The entrance to the stairs is to the left and behind the freestanding campus map next to the bus stop. 

 

Getting around the building

  • The Pathfoot Building is fully accessible to all.
  • Wheelchair user access is available at the main front entrance by ramp and there is level access at the back.
  • Although the building is over several levels, all levels are accessible by lifts, and all doors to the main gallery spaces can be remotely operated.

 

Wayfinding

  • Wall maps are posted around the building.
  • An interactive map on a kiosk near the front doors is available including features to show accessible layout and obstacle-free routes and is available to navigate by phone.
  • The interactive map is provided through MazeMap and is accessible online if you would like to review the building layout in advance of your visit.
  • You can access an audio description for navigation of the Main Concourse of the building that includes Galleries One, Two, Three and Four via our Youtube Chanel.

 

Assistance animals

  • Assistance animals are welcomed. Owners are asked to take responsibility for their assistance animal throughout their visit.
  • No other animals are permitted in our building.
  • For everyone’s comfort and safety, we politely ask you that your assistance animal remain under your care and control throughout your visit and remain on a leash.

 

Accessible toilets

  • We have accessible toilets on all levels of the building.
  • An accessible self-contained cubicle toilet that is step-free from the front entrance is in the A Corridor near the end of the hall by Lecture Theatre A96.
  • There is an accessible self-contained cubicle toilet with baby-changing facilities in the J Corridor near the Dining Hall. J Corridor can be accessed step-free from the back of the building.
  • We also provide gender neutral toilets in the D, H and K Corridors.
  • All toilet doors are manually operated.

 

Exhibitions and events

  • You may search individual pages for events and exhibitions listed on our events page.
  • Tours of the Art Collection are available on request. If you would like to discuss how we can make an exhibition or event more accessible in other ways, please get in touch in advance of your visit.
  • For all enquiries please email: collection@stir.ac.uk.

 

Visual access

 

Large print and magnifiers 

  • We have large-print labels and guides for our exhibitions in the front entrance foyer. Please return these on exiting the building.
  • We have a small selection of magnifying glasses or magnifying sheets in the front entrance foyer. Please return these on exiting the building.

 

Art Collection Audio descriptions

  • You can access audio descriptions of selected artworks from our permanent collection or take a highlights tour with stops and optional directions in between.
  • Please visit our YouTube channel and select the playlist for ‘Audio Description’ to explore.

 

Auditory access

 

Induction loops 

  • There are fixed induction loops in the lecture halls and classrooms.
  • Please let us know if you are attending a tour and require auditory support, this can be arranged in advance.

 

Wheelchair users and physical access

  • There is step-free access throughout our building. If your wheelchair or mobility device is 75 cm or wider, access to certain areas of the building may be limited. Please contact us if you have a larger device and we can help you plan your visit. 
  • All levels are accessible by lifts, and all doors to the gallery spaces along the Main Concourse can be remotely operated.

 

Sensory access

  • The Pathfoot Building’s Art Collection is uniquely integrated into a working University space, where academic events, lectures, and seminars make it a vibrant and busy part of daily life for staff, students, and visitors.
  • The exhibitions follow the central spine called the Main Concourse of the Pathfoot Building including Galleries One, Two, Three and Four.
  • The Collection is also dotted around the corridors so do feel to take a wander. Some corridors are narrow in width.
  • Some areas can be busy and loud, especially Crush Hall following lectures and during events.
  • Other areas including the courtyards, when open, are often much quieter. Ask our team if you need help finding a quieter space.
  • The lighting is even throughout the Main Concourse and Crush Hall is full of natural light from the glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows, giving you the feeling of being connected to the outdoor courtyards.

 

Online access

 

Alternative ways of accessing our collection:

 

Baby feeding and changing

  • We welcome our visitors breastfeeding and bottle-feeding their babies in all areas of the Pathfoot Building (including the galleries).
  • You can find an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities in Corridor J near the Dining Room. 

 

Safety measures

Nearest medical facility on campus:

Airthrey Park Medical Centre

Address: Hermitage Road, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4NJ

Phone:  +44 (0)1786 463831

  • Security is available at phone: 01786 467003
  • A defibrillator is available at the main entrance mounted on the wall to the left of the interior entrance doors.
  • The University of Stirling utilizes the SafeZone mobile app (available for Android and iOS) which allows you to raise Duress, First Aid and Help alerts for you and your community. 

 

Website accessibility

We want everyone who visits the University of Stirling website to feel welcome and find the experience rewarding. We are committed to making our content accessible, recognizing accessibility as an ongoing process. Please visit our Accessibility Statement