Hill House accessibility guide

This unique building and its stunning interiors were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald.

Welcome

Contact for accessibility enquiries: Visitor Services team

Telephone: 01436 673900

The Hill House is currently covered by a large metal structure called the Box – part of an ongoing conservation project to protect the house and prevent further damage from rain.

Please note that wheelchair access to the Hill House is only available on the ground floor of the property, around the perimeter of the Box. There is full wheelchair access in the visitor centre, café and roof terrace. There is a lift in the visitor centre but not in the house.

At a glance

There is level access to:

The ground floor of the house
The visitor centre and shop
The café
The perimeter walkway

A view of the Hill House, surrounded by a very large metal, chainmail structure. The view is from the garden and it is a sunny day.

The drawing room at the Hill House looking towards the fireplace. Next to the fireplace is an upholstered settle; also in the room is an upholstered armchair and a small table.

Getting here

The Hill House
Upper Colquhoun Street
Helensburgh
G84 9AJ

The Hill House is off the A818, 23 miles north-west of Glasgow.

By public transport

The closest bus stop is located on West Dhuhill Drive, approximately a 10-minute walk from the Hill House.
There is a train service from Glasgow to Helensburgh Central. The house is roughly 1½ miles from the train station, up a steep hill. There is a taxi rank outside the train station.

Parking

If you are travelling by car or coach, you can park in the main visitor car park at the top of the hill. Part of the pathway from the car park to the front entrance is gravel and can be a bit uneven in places. The pathway between the gate and the visitor centre is paved and flat.

Accessible parking

There are no designated disabled spaces within the car park itself.

A narrow path runs beside a road and a small building, with grass either side. On the right is a large sign that says Welcome to the Hill House. It has a black and white photo of Charles Rennie Mackintosh on it.

A rough gravel path passes in front of a small, white-walled building. To the right of the path is a grassy area with a small tree growing in the middle.

A smooth path, made of two rows of paving slabs side by side, leads to the black front door of a large building. There is gravel either side of the slabs. The building is covered in a chainmail-like structure.

Dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the house and garden.

Dogs are welcome in the shop, roof terrace and on a lead in the garden.

Mobile signal

Mobile signal can be a little patchy within the house itself, but there is generally good reception elsewhere in the property.

Hill House team

Our friendly staff are waiting to welcome you in the shop and reception area. You can usually identify us by our ’For drying out loud’ coats and purple National Trust for Scotland lanyards.

A person stands with their back to the camera, modelling a black puffa-style jacket. On the back of the jacket are the white words: For Drying Out Loud.

Facilities

Shop

The visitor centre is in a smaller building located just inside the Box. The front door opens outwards and leads directly into the shop and reception area.

The main counter is 100cm high.
A lower side counter is 70cm high.
The shop is sometimes dark and can also be noisy, especially if it is busy.
Sometimes there is noise from the café upstairs.

Staff are available to assist with any objects that are too high or heavy to reach, and can provide price information for items.

Toilets

Toilets are located near the front door. There are 3 gender neutral toilets and one accessible toilet with baby changing facilities.

The main counter in the shop area of the Hill House visitor centre. There are illuminated screens on the wall behind the desk with pricing information. The lighting is quite low due to the low ceiling with black beams. Central islands filled with cuddly toys and other gifts can be seen in the background.

A man and a woman stand at a table, looking at merchandise, in the Hill House shop. There are several people behind them at the counter.

A corridor with a row of black toilet doors. All are gender-neutral and have a sign on them with both a man and a woman.

An accessible toilet, with a pull-down handrail at the side of the toilet. There is a fixed rail on the wall either side of the sink. Next to the sink is a free-standing handdryer.

Lift

Near the toilets, there is a lift that can be used to access the café and roof terrace, as well as the walkways. These can also be accessed via the stairs beside the lift.

When in the lift, select level 1 for the café and level 2 for the terrace. Hold the button down until the lift stops.

Café

The café is on the first floor of the visitor centre. It is relatively small and serves a selection of hot and cold drinks, cakes and hot food.

Find out more about our menu

You can sit inside or visit the roof terrace (on the level above).
The roof terrace is level with the top of the walkway – you can enjoy a good view of the house from here.

A small lift with a white door and a pull handle. There is a large glazed panel in the door.

The interior of a cafe. Small square tables are set with placemats and candles. The cafe is dark with wood-panelled walls.

A wide range of cakes, biscuits and sweet treats are displayed on a shelving unit in a cafe. There are illuminated screens above the cakes with pricing information. There are also handwritten prices on small slates beside each dish.

A roof terrace with several round wooden picnic tables spaced out. Beyond the terrace is an enormous scaffold-like structure, which surrounds the building of the Hill House.

Getting around the Hill House

The main entrance to the Hill House is accessed via 4 wooden stairs, down onto the gravel path.

There is a small step at the foyer.
The main door opens inwards.

Wheelchair access can be found via the side door, where there is a ramp.

The side door opens outwards and is 70cm wide.

Inside, a member of staff will greet you and be there to help or answer any questions. You do not have to talk to us if you don’t want to, but we are happy to help if you need anything.

There is no lift access inside the house itself.
There are 4 stairs that take you into the main hallway.
To get to the first floor, there are 24 stairs.
There are no handrails on the staircase, but the steps are shallow with landings in between.

A narrow stone entrance way into a house, with a dark wooden door set into the building. There is a light above the door itself.

A gate stands open in a metal structure that surrounds the Hill House.

A view towards the front door and up the stairs in the Hill House, taken from the Hallway. The ceiling is dark and lighting levels are low. The floor is covered in a pale carpet with Mackintosh designs along the edges.

You can explore the house at your own pace. There is written information throughout the house, and staff are happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Please be aware that some spaces/rooms in the Hill House are dark.
There are seats throughout for you to rest on if you are tired.
Many objects at the Hill House are very old and delicate. To protect them, you may be asked not to touch.
On the first floor, there is a room where you can colour in and play games – these items are not original parts of the collection, so it is fine to interact with them.
There are areas in the house where you can watch videos and listen to audio information. The audio is on a sensor and may begin when you enter the room. Both videos play on a loop.

A low-backed, wicker-seated chair stands by a wall. A sign rests on it that says: Please sit on me!

A close-up of a table covered with a vinyl that suggests activities for children to play. There are some game cards neatly stacked.

A close-up of an interpretation panel in the Hill House that explains how the servants' area was kept separate from the family who lived in the house.

An almost empty room with a TV screen on one wall, which shows the Hill House Box. A dark wooden bench stands in the foreground.

Exploring the walkways

The external walkways can be accessed via the accessible entrance to the house or via the café in the visitor centre.

From the accessible entrance, there are 33 steps to reach the first level of the walkway. From there, if you wish to go over the roof, there are an additional 54 steps.

There is step-free access from the café if you use the lift.

A series of metal steps with high handrails lead up a scaffold-like structure surrounding a house. A tree grows beneath the higher walkway.

A couple stand looking over the railings of a high-level walkway. Beneath them is the roof of the Hill House. They are surrounded by a metal mesh Box.

Getting around the garden

The garden is a lovely place to sit and experience nature, changing throughout the year. There may be lots of different smells and sounds as you move through different areas.

From the main door of the visitor centre, there are 3 steps up to reach the garden path.
If you go through the other door, there are 10 steps down onto the path.
The pathways are mostly gravel, which can be difficult for wheelchairs and buggies to navigate.
The narrow garden paths are not suitable for wider wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
The paving in the garden is uneven and sometimes slippery.
The garden can be viewed from the perimeter walkway around the Box.

A wooden bench has been placed in front of a hedge, looking out across some beds planted with roses. Gravel paths wind between the beds.

A stone bench stands in front of a pink maple-like tree. A round pool is in the foreground.

Guide last updated: September 2025