Carrie-Ann Lightley

10/06/2026

ad Historic ships and wheelchair access do not always sound like natural companions. ⚓️

But on board The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA in Leith, Edinburgh, I spent far less time thinking about barriers and far more time enjoying the story.

I visited to review the experience, from the Visitor Centre and tour route to the Royal Deck Tearoom, shop and accessible facilities.

There were thoughtful access features throughout, staff who made us feel genuinely welcome, and so many details that brought the yacht to life.

The bridge controls. The mess decks. The medical quarters. The views from deck. The scone. Obviously. 🍰

It was relaxed, interesting and genuinely enjoyable to experience a historic ship where access had clearly been considered.

Full review coming soon.

Images by the endlessly talented Rachel Airey (life hack – get yourself a pro photographer bestie). 📸

08/06/2026

I can’t travel constantly. As a disabled travel writer, every trip takes planning, access research, support, energy and recovery.

So I’ve built my freelance work around that reality. That means making each trip work harder.

Last year, one trip to the Highlands became:

✨ a blog post for

✨ an article for about the train

✨ a filmed interview and photoshoot for

✨ a reel for , who loaned us a wheelchair accessible vehicle for the trip

What I love about this example is how each piece came from a different part of the same journey.

The hotel review came from a direct pitch. The Sun piece came from a friend noticing the Cairngorm Mountain train was accessible, and me spotting the wider story in that. The VisitScotland work gave the trip a destination marketing angle. The Open Road Access reel showed something that is often left out of accessible travel content: the transport that makes the rest of the trip possible.

This is the bit I think people often miss about freelance travel writing.

The trip is only one part of the work. The real skill is spotting the story inside the story, shaping it for different audiences, and making sure disabled travellers are not just included as an afterthought.

I may not have unlimited travel capacity. But I do have a strategy.

Follow me for accessible travel stories, honest access reviews and the behind the scenes reality of disabled travel writing. 🩷

08/06/2026

03/06/2026

A few moments from this year’s conference 💜

I gave the closing keynote on authentic inclusive storytelling, to a room full of people working in digital accessibility and inclusion.

I nearly talked myself out of this one. Not out of doing the keynote, exactly. But out of believing I belonged there. I felt like an imposter at first.

So I started my talk by telling the audience that.

Because authenticity isn’t about pretending you always feel confident. Sometimes it’s showing up wobbly, telling the truth, and trusting that your lived experience has value.

I was also in a fatigue crash after being ill, so this day took rest, adjustments and a bit of self-advocacy too. I arrived later than planned, rested as much as I could, and accepted the access I needed instead of trying to push through and prove something.

I am learning that asking for what we need is not a failure. It is part of how we get to show up as ourselves.

And disabled people deserve to be in the room, on the stage, behind the mic, shaping the conversation. ✨

Even when we feel wobbly. Especially then.

Follow me for more on accessible travel, disability inclusion and life as a disabled speaker and writer ♿️

01/06/2026

Two of my favourite things: accessible adventures and seeing my words in print ✨

My Amsterdam and Cotswolds features are both in the new issue of Travel Without Limits, which means I am officially calling this a very good post day.

City canals, countryside charm, and plenty of access notes along the way. ♿️🌍

Have you visited either?

27/05/2026

I’m so thrilled to share that I’ve been shortlisted for the TravMedia Awards 2026 as a Specialist Travel Writer of the Year finalist! ✨

Surprised / overwhelmed / grateful / very much wondering “are you sure?!” 😂

Accessible travel writing is still a niche within a niche, but it matters. Disabled travellers deserve honest, useful, thoughtful stories that go beyond glossy inspiration and actually help people make informed choices.

To have that work recognised by the travel media industry means so much. 🩷

Huge thank you to the editors, PRs, destinations, brands, disabled travellers and fellow writers who have supported, commissioned, shared and championed my work.

And an extra thank you to everyone who believes accessibility belongs in mainstream travel storytelling. ♿️✈️

Feeling very lucky today.

26/05/2026

Train travel gave me my independence 🚆

For my latest piece with The Independent, I travelled from London to Paris with to test the journey as a wheelchair user, from booking and assistance at St Pancras to boarding, the onboard experience and arrival at Gare du Nord.

There were genuine positives: a ramp waiting on the platform, calm staff support, a spacious wheelchair area, an accessible toilet I could actually use, and small details like quieter waiting areas that made the journey feel easier.

But accessible travel is not only tested when everything runs smoothly. My previous experiences with disruption on Eurostar have shown how quickly independence can disappear when communication and onward assistance break down.

This article, and the first-person video alongside it, looks at the full picture: what worked, what has improved, and why consistency still matters ♿️

Read and watch the full piece via the link in the comments. 👇

Huge thanks to The Independent , and the Eurostar team & , for helping make this piece happen.

21/05/2026

New guide, very close to home 🌊

I’ve written an accessible guide to the Cumbria Coastal Route for , sharing places to explore, stay, eat, wander and pause along one of Cumbria’s quieter stretches.

As a wheelchair user living in Cumbria, I loved writing about a coastline that often gets less attention than the central Lakes, but has so much to offer when you know where to look.

It was a real pleasure to work with the Visit Lake District team on a piece that puts access information at the heart of planning, because accessibility is never just a yes or no.

Read the full guide at the link in the comments.

Have you explored the Cumbria coast? Tell me your favourite spots below 👇

Image credits: Rachel Airey/Chris Steindorff