VISION IMPAIRED GROUP GET ABOARD STEAM TRAIN AND PADDLE STEAMER FOR SENSORY TRAVEL DAY

A group of vision impaired people enjoyed a special sensory travel day, travelling on the Bure Valley railway and the Southern Comfort paddle steamer on the river Bure from Horning.

The excursion, organised by sight loss charity Vision Norfolk’s Great Yarmouth hub, saw the group enjoy the atmosphere of the train as they travelled along the nine mile track from Wroxham, before enjoying a special lunch at the Whistlestop Café at Aylsham Station prior to the return journey.

The group then embarked on the Southern Comfort at Horning for a special audio-commented trip on the Norfolk Broads.

The day is part of the varied programme of social and leisure activities organised by the charity to help tackle the social isolation which sight loss can result in.

Vision Norfolk Great Yarmouth hub co-ordinator Ed Bates commented, “We aim to enable people living with sight loss to experience a variety of activities, always adapting them so that everyone can gain as much from the experience as possible.

“Although not everyone was able to see the countryside we were passing through, they were still able to appreciate the sounds and smells of the steam engine and of the river, which made it a really sensory experience.

“The teams at Bure Valley Railway and the Southern Comfort made us very welcome, and the whole group had a great day out.”

More details of the activity programme organised by Vision Norfolk can be found at www.visionnorfolk.org.uk/supporting-you/activities.