Unique Mobility recently had the pleasure of joining disability advocate Nick Wilson – better known online as @disabled.adventurer – at Calvert Devon on Exmoor as part of the centre’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
Nick invited our team to visit the fully accessible outdoor activities centre and demonstrate the capabilities of the Quantum Outback all-terrain powerchair, a chair designed to help wheelchair users explore environments that traditional powerchairs often struggle to reach.
Celebrating 30 Years of Accessible Adventure at Calvert Devon
Located on the edge of Exmoor National Park, Calvert Devon offers a truly inclusive outdoor adventure experience for people with disabilities.
The centre provides a huge range of accessible activities, including:
- Horse riding
- Rock climbing
- Wheelchair abseiling
- Watersports
- Zip wire
- Adaptive outdoor adventures
Many of our clients have visited Calvert Devon over the years and consistently tell us what a fantastic experience it is.
Their commitment to making outdoor activities accessible to everyone is incredibly inspiring, and it was brilliant to see their facilities first-hand during our visit. Calvert have recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary!
Demonstrating the Quantum Outback All-Terrain Powerchair
Nick invited Unique Mobility to demonstrate the Quantum Outback, a powerchair specifically designed to tackle rough outdoor terrain.
Rick from our Exeter Disability Centre showroom carried out the demonstration, giving the Calvert Devon team the opportunity to experience the chair for themselves.
The Outback impressed everyone with its ability to handle:
- uneven ground
- grass and gravel
- loose surfaces
- rugged outdoor environments
And, as the Calvert team quickly discovered, it’s also great fun to drive.
Nick Wilson’s Mission to Improve Outdoor Accessibility
Nick is widely known across social media as the Disabled Adventurer, where he shares his experiences exploring the outdoors as a powerchair user while advocating for better accessibility. He has previously climbed Mount Snowdon in 'Rock Climber' as specially engineered all terrain powerchair.
This year Nick is celebrating his 50th birthday with a major campaign called #50at50.
His goal is to complete a series of 50km challenges using his powerchair, raising awareness of the barriers powerchair users face when travelling longer distances.
The project also aims to raise funds to donate Quantum Outback all-terrain powerchairs to locations across the UK, helping outdoor venues improve accessibility.
We’re delighted that Calvert Devon will be one of the beneficiaries of this campaign.
Opening the Outdoors to More People
Wheelchair and powerchair users often face barriers when trying to access the natural environment.
Loose gravel, muddy tracks, uneven grass, steep paths and rugged terrain can make it extremely difficult to explore the countryside using standard mobility equipment.
Providing access to the right equipment can make a huge difference.
Nick’s campaign aims to help outdoor venues provide all-terrain mobility equipment so that more people can enjoy nature and outdoor adventures.
Looking Ahead
It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm from the Calvert Devon team and to hear about Nick’s plans for the campaign.
We’re excited to continue supporting Nick and working alongside Calvert Devon to help make this vision a reality.
A huge thank you to Nick for inviting us to be part of such an inspiring project, and to Rick from our Exeter Disability Centre team for delivering the demonstration.
In the next part of this story, we supported Nick during the first of his #50at50 challenges — a 50km powerchair journey along the Tarka Trail in North Devon.
To support Nick's campaign find out more here: 50at50 | My Biggest Fundraising Project Yet
To see the Outback for yourself get in touch with any of our South West branches...coming soon - details of this year's Unique Mobility Off Road Mobility Event!
Photography Credit: Images shared with kind permission by Annagail Leaman Photography - The Happy Snapper