Originally Posted by
bad bear
stuartforrest and E-n-i-g-m-a-8-3
What was the name of the gliding site? It might have been an expedition site called Greyrigg which didnt work out so well and is no longer used and removed from the map. Then there is Bleeze Hall I never did find out what was about. There was a strip at Tebay fell but that ended 25 years ago when the gliding club moved to Wallney Island. There is another field called Bracken Bank or something similar near Penrith but again that is a hang gliding site possibly with a winch ( possibly the Calvert trust). There is a new full time gliding site at Skelling farm (Edensoaring) but it does not have planning for motorised flight and can be quite busy with up 25 gliders on a good day. There is Lattrig which is para gliders and occasional gliding (18 day PA) but a bit rough and only 300 yds long operated by the Calvert Trust. Then there is a micro light strip at Glassonby but that is 550 m long and quite narrow in the middle (37 m), the locals are very friendly. The strip has unobstructed approach and climb out as it is on top of a 500' hill.
The new map shows a strip near Keswick which is owned by a guy flying auto gyros (Roger), I dont know if he has fuel but the whole field is landable not just the strip. Take care as there is often sinking air near the strip in a westerly wind (standing wave and convergance). There is also a heli pad near Penrith with an air ambulance. There was an old strip with an Auster hangar to the west of Keswick but not used any more due to a dual carridge way cutting it in two, the hangar is still there and the field is landable but very short now. It was always a bit tricky being so close to the hills. Barrow-In-Furness has a gliding club (Lakes Gliding Club) operating there at weekends, they might have fuel but have not been active for the last month due to tow plane being u/s. Great Orton or Silloth was used for burning dead cows so I dont know how much use they are now. Falgunzion is very narrow and suffers from turbulence from the trees and curl over in an easterly, not sure about fuel but there are local based a/c (Dumfries and district Gliding Club), again really nice guys.
If Kirkbride has fuel it is worth a look but Carlisle is quite switched on and very sleepy apart from 3-4 biz jets per week and does have fuel, catering etc.
Hope that helps.
Keep a good look out for gliders as there is a lot of activity on a good soaring day, particularly in September and October from low level to 20,000' or more
b b
Gliding site in Lancashire is at
BOWLAND FOREST GLIDING CLUB
Lower Cock Hill Farm,
Fiddlers Lane,
Chipping,
PRESTON,
Lancashire,
PR3 2WN
near Beacon Hill Country Park, out Longridge way it's very busy Wednesday, Friday and weekends