A companion who shares their interests, in Gloucestershire

Somewhere to go

Level tree-lined paths at the national arboretum

Westonbirt, Tetbury

A large collection of trees near Tetbury with waymarked routes through the Old Arboretum and Silk Wood, plus a treetop walkway. A carer can drive there, plan a short loop with rest stops, and bring a flask for a sit down on the way round.

Getting around: There are about ten miles of hard paths suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, benches across the site and accessible toilets with level access.

Source: forestryengland.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Lakeside strolls in the Cotswold Water Park

South Cerney

A network of former gravel lakes near Cirencester with many short, easy waymarked walks between the water and the reed beds. A carer can pick one of the shorter easy trails, park close by and turn back whenever energy runs out.

Source: alltrails.com. Check opening times and access before you go.

Local food

Single and Double Gloucester cheese

Two traditional county cheeses, with Single Gloucester still made to protected rules using milk from Gloucester cattle. A carer could pick some up on a shopping trip and help make cheese scones, rarebit or a cheese and onion pie the old way.

Source: en.wikipedia.org. Check opening times and access before you go.

In the calendar

Saturday farmers' market on the Cornhill

Cornhill Market Place, Stroud

A long running weekly farmers' market in the centre of Stroud selling local meat, bread, cheese and vegetables. A carer can drive in, carry the bags and turn the trip into the start of cooking something together that afternoon.

Source: visitstroud.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Local tradition

Cotswold morris dancing

Cotswold morris is the handkerchief and stick dancing tradition collected from villages in and around the Cotswolds, with dance sets still named after local places. A carer could look up a side dancing at a nearby fete, or simply put the tunes on at home for a sit down dance and a chat about who used to dance locally.

Source: themorrisring.org. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Border morris side dancing at local events

Happenstance Border Morris perform at fetes, folk trails and village events around the county through the year. A carer can find out where they are dancing next and make the trip out, with a bench or a pub seat to watch from.

Source: happenstancemorris.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Trees and spring bulbs at Batsford

Batsford Arboretum, Moreton in Marsh

A hillside arboretum and garden centre near Moreton in Marsh, known for magnolias, cherry blossom and autumn colour, with a cafe and plant sales. A carer could time a visit for blossom or autumn colour and combine a short circuit with tea and a browse for plants to take home.

Source: batsarb.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Arts and Crafts garden rooms at Hidcote

Chipping Campden

A National Trust garden laid out as a series of hedged outdoor rooms, each with its own planting, on the northern edge of the Cotswolds. A carer can help with the drive and tickets and plan a route that takes in a few rooms rather than the whole garden.

Source: nationaltrust.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Birds and hides at Slimbridge

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge

A wetland reserve on the Severn with flamingos, wildfowl and a series of hides overlooking the estuary and lakes. A carer can push a chair between hides and carry the camera bag, so an afternoon of photographing birds stays comfortable.

Getting around: Level paths run through the grounds, wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be hired, and most hides take wheelchairs with several reached by lift or ramp.

Source: wwt.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Cheltenham Camera Club

Cheltenham

A local club with regular evening meetings, talks, competitions and more informal sessions for members of all standards. A carer could handle the lift there and back and help load images ready to show the group.

Source: cheltenhamcameraclub.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Knit and Natter at Dursley Library

Dursley

A regular free knitting and chat session run at the library, open to anyone who wants to bring their own work along. A carer can provide the lift, carry the bag of wool and sit in on the first visit.

Source: gloslibraries.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Local tradition

Stroud's woollen cloth heritage

Stroud

The Stroudwater Textile Trust keeps the story of the valleys' woollen mills and cloth making alive through its work on local textile sites. A carer could look through the Trust's material together, which often prompts memories of mill work and family knitting.

Source: stroudtextiletrust.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.