Where shall I go in the UK ???

[JTobias]

People,

I'm toying with the idea of taking the family on a little jolley around the U.K. Something edukashional/fun/pretty/unusual for my boys (14 and 16) as well as me and the wife. I could hop around from place to place or return back to home base each day.

I'm based in Manchester and would be interested in suggestions of places where people have been before with a chopper or know of a good place and an HLS nearby.

Suggestions (sensible) please !!!

Joel :ok:

[Aero Mad]

Hi - I know of a very unusual grass helipad in the grounds of a Grade I listed house in Sussex. See Hammerwood Helipad - Home (http://hammerwoodhelipad.weebly.com/) and Hammerwood Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerwood_Park) for more details - landing fee only £20 and manned 24 hours. Highly recommend it. Apparently used to be owned by Led Zeppelin and was rescued by the present owner and his family! What a job to save it from such a state of delapidation...

[Aero Mad]

And they do B&B as well :}

[John R81]

You can hire a cottage here Home (http://ardochy.com/default.aspx) and do some mountain flying, whale watching, visit the islands, etc. Nearest fuel Oban or Cumbernauld, and Inverness not to far.

[Aero Mad]

Forgot to mention - nearest fuel at Shoreham, Redhill or Headcorn.

[PAPI-74]

ProAdventure, North Wales UK – White Water Rafting in North Wales (http://www.proadventure.co.uk/rafting.htm?gclid=CKzgvI_ztqICFUeZ2AodXX4m6w)

Days Out Lancashire Manchester Rivington Go Ape (http://www.goape.co.uk/days-out-in/lancashire/rivington/the-course)

off road buggy motor racing experience karting track day stafford (http://www.ukrallysprint.com/)

Do the fun stuff!!!

[Aero Mad]

A little further afield there is Alderney, in the Channel Islands. A GA friendly airfield, landing fees are small and you get VAT-free fuel there! Lots of pubs, hotels, beaches and a quiet but welcoming island all round.:)

[kevin_mayes]

Errr, Jt
How about bell-47 and CV(r)T driving around the fields here, we could put you and the family up for the night, you could drive the tank around for a bit and make a mess and fly on...

[JTobias]

I can see a plan forming ;-)
Keep the ideas coming pls

Joel :ok:

[stringfellow]

island hopping nw scotland. loads of airfields and fuel, and not somewhere you would go by car.

[toptobottom]

Joel - howsabout landing on a lighthouse?! I've done it several times and it's a great one for the kids. Gissa buzz(phone, not here) for details.

TTB

[docstone]

Hurst House in Laugharne, West Wales - Hurst House on the marsh | Welcome | Homepage (http://www.hurst-house.co.uk) - super spot, great food, next door to Pendine Sands (World Land speed Records galore in the 1920s, museum worth a visit), in D117/D118 Danger areas so different flying experience. Fuel at Swansea or Haverfodwest. Magnificent scenary. Very heli friendly

[gsa]

If you get up the west coast you could have a wander round Fingals cave on Staffa, I don't know who you would need to contact about landing though, I think the Scottish national trust own it. I landed there in the early eighties at first light and was surprised to find a troop of scouts appear like rabbits out from the cave.

[FLY 7]

At 14 and 16 I'd fly into a race circuit that does junior driving experience days on track.

Silverstone is the obvious thought, but there may be others.

[toptobottom]

Merceds-Benz World (http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/MBWorldBrooklands/home/driving_experiences/drivingexperiences/kids_driving/kids_driving.html)at Brooklands is another one...

[John R81]

TTB suggestion of MBW is fun - I have tried this myself.

Book yourself the AMG driving experience (pricey but a laugh a minute) and the kids can have a junior driving lesson in an A Class.

[Aero Mad]

Merc-Benz World good as Brooklands, I believe, still take PPR helicopters even though the airfield is officially closed. Not far from my previous suggestion, either.

[heli1]

The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare is pretty educational and can be combined with a trip to the rebuilt 21st Century Grand Pier in August(when it should be finished).The Museum has its own helipad and only charges the normal entrance fee.See the wbsite for more details.
Don't come this Saturday though as the space will be fully taken up by military helicopters for Armed Forces Day!

[JTobias]

Thanks guys

Keep them coming if there are any more ideas

Joel :ok:

[extreme 500]

JT Now the world (UK) is your oyster... green dots are active, red disused, lots of sites heli friendly plus links when you click on green dots.

Griffin Helicopters | Map of Helicopter Landing Sites (http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/landingsitemap.asp)

Enjoy!!!

[STANDTO]

Isle of Man of course. Personally arranged landing sites, steam trains, electric trams, castles, scenery, no ATC north of Peel, no upper speed limits in some areas.

Oh, and have I ever mentioned the 20% tax rate? :ok:

[Aero Mad]

Lundy and Hartland Point make for some interesting flights, I hear.

[JTobias]

Standto, you're in the wrong job!

Thanks people.
Still interested to hear of any more
Thanks in advance

Joel:ok:

[Old and Horrified]

A couple of nice (and free!) lake side hotels are Low Wood Hotel on the east of Lake Windemere and Lake Vyrnwy Hotel at the south of Vyrnwy in mid Wales.

[Aero Mad]

Do tell of your plan when formulated :)

[jellycopter]

Joel

To really impress the kids and the Mrs, you could try a taxing navex from EGCB to Thelwall Viaduct then North to the Reebok Stadium and finally return to EGCB Northside for some circuits and hovering on the airfield!

JJ