On Wednesday 10th June, we were delighted to welcome visitors from across the South West to our second annual All-Terrain Mobility Come-and-Try Event at Parke National Trust, Bovey Tracey.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Parke on the edge of Dartmoor, the event brought together people with a wide range of mobility needs, alongside leading manufacturers, healthcare professionals and the Unique Mobility team, all with one shared goal: helping people discover new ways to access the outdoors.
A Fantastic Day of Exploration and Discovery
Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to try an incredible range of all-terrain mobility equipment across real-world outdoor environments, including woodland paths, uneven ground, grass, gravel and hills.
With equipment ranging from specialist all-terrain powerchairs such as Magic Mobility XT4, Quantum Outback and Permobil X850, rugged scooters including the Sterling S800 Scoozy and Pride Wrangler 2 through to the Trekinetic range of off-road wheelchairs and all-terrain powered add-on devices from TriRide, many visitors were able to try products they had never previously seen in person. There were also powerchairs such as the Magic 360, the Dietz Sango Advanced, Quantum Edge 4 and Meyra range which are suitable for indoor use but also offer impressive outdoor performance.
More than 30 visitors who were booked to attend took part in over 80 individual equipment demonstrations during the day thanks to the support from the Unique Mobility team and representatives from the brands we work with.
While the technology itself was impressive, the most rewarding aspect of the day was seeing people's confidence grow as they discovered what was possible.
For many attendees, the event wasn't simply about choosing equipment. It was about exploring opportunities to access places, activities and experiences that may have felt out of reach.
The Value of Trying Equipment in the Real World
One of the key reasons we organise events like this is because mobility equipment is highly personal.
Many people arrive convinced they already know which product will suit them best. However, once they have the opportunity to compare different options side-by-side and experience them in real-world conditions, they often discover important differences in comfort, control, positioning, transportability, terrain capability and overall usability.
What works brilliantly for one person may not be the right solution for another.
Being able to compare multiple products in a single day allows visitors to make more informed decisions and better understand the features and compromises associated with different types of equipment.
As Nathan Milgate from TriRide commented after the event:
"I am a firm believer that real-world testing and experience is the way forward for the end user to make the right decision when purchasing a product. With this type of open day they can most certainly do this."
Positive Feedback from Visitors
The feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive.
Liz, who attended to trial a range of scooters, told us:
"I wanted to say thank you for all the organising and time that went into yesterday's event. I was also very impressed with Kian who assisted me whilst I was there and tried out two of the Pride scooters."
Jane shared:
"I had a lovely time! Thank you all very much. All my three trial times were prompt and all to schedule. I really appreciated the knowledge staff had of each piece of equipment. Everyone was cheery and chatty and it made for a happy and positive time being out of my comfort zone."
Comments across our social media channels echoed similar themes, with many visitors highlighting the supportive atmosphere, expert guidance and the opportunity to experience equipment in a practical outdoor setting.
Feedback from Manufacturers
The event also provided an opportunity for manufacturers to work directly alongside potential users and see their products being tested in the environments they were designed for.
The team from Trekinetic commented:
"Thank you so much for having us, we really had a great time. We loved getting to demonstrate to everyone who signed up; it was a brilliant way of showing off our products, much more so than an exhibition hall floor. I think it really helped people see how our products can be of genuine use in everyday life."
Quantum described the day as:
"Extremely well organised and very well attended."
The manufacturers' support is a huge part of what makes these events possible, and we are incredibly grateful to all the suppliers who travelled to Parke to support visitors throughout the day.
Supporting Health, Wellbeing and Access to Nature
We were also pleased to welcome healthcare professionals and occupational therapists to the event.
One visiting Occupational Therapist reflected:
"Just wanted to convey my thanks to you and the team for yesterday's event. A really interesting day with lots to feedback to our local teams here. There is most definitely an appetite for access to nature for wellbeing and some great kit that helps to enable it."
This feedback perfectly captures why events like this matter.
Access to nature, green spaces and the outdoors plays an important role in physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection. Yet for many people living with mobility challenges, accessing these environments can be difficult.
The rapid development of specialist all-terrain mobility equipment is creating new opportunities for people to enjoy countryside trails, beaches, parks, woodlands and other outdoor spaces with greater confidence and independence.
Thank You
We would like to thank everyone who helped make the day such a success, including our visitors, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, volunteers and the fantastic team at Parke National Trust who allowed us to take over part of their beautiful grounds for demos and facilitated our event plans on the day.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who came along and embraced the opportunity to try something new.
The enthusiasm, determination and positivity shown throughout the day was inspiring to see.
Interested in All-Terrain Mobility?
If you weren't able to attend the event, or if you'd like to explore your options further, our team offers individual all-terrain mobility assessments across the South West.
Our specialists can help you compare different products, discuss your lifestyle and mobility goals, and identify equipment that best suits your needs.
To arrange an assessment, fill in one of our webforms, email hello@uniquemobility.co.uk or telephone your nearest Unique Mobility branch:
• Exeter Disability Centre – 01392 824428
• Plymouth – 01752 546222
• Launceston – 01566 774030
Click here: to learn more about our range of all-terrain mobility solutions.
Because everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.