Small airfields in Cumbria / Lake District
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From Carlisle News and Star:
Bid revealed to create airfield near Penrith
By Pamela McGowan
Last updated 10:37, Friday, 17 July 2009
A businessman has unveiled plans to establish an airfield near Penrith in a bid to bring aviation holiday-makers to the county. Stuart Burton, who owns Bracken Bank Lodge at Lazonby, has applied for planning permission to use an agricultural field for light aircraft, gliders and helicopters.
The 700-acre estate is already a popular base for adventure holidays, with activities including abseiling, rock climbing and survival courses. The estate has also been used to land aircraft, and the lodge has hosted flying, gyrocopter and paragliding tuition sessions.
But Mr Burton, himself an aviation enthusiast and trained pilot, believes there is more potential for the area.
He wants to use his land as a platform to develop Cumbria as an aviation holiday destination. He says the market for breaks like these is growing. He said: “People are doing this type of thing up and down the country and Cumbria is a wonderful place for it. You have the Lakes on your doorstep or you can fly across to Ireland, up the west coast or across the Pennines. We have a very good airfield close by at Carlisle for maintenance if you need it, but you can land here where everything is right on site or nearby.”
The plans – now with Eden Council – would not result in any physical development, such as installing runways. Mr Burton wants to formally change the use of the grass field into a dedicated airfield. He said the only impact would be an increase in air traffic, but said it was unlikely to cause any disturbance.
“We’ve had aviation going on here for many years but just on a low key basis. This ranges from people coming up by helicopter for shooting parties to a firm which specialises in paragliding for the disabled, which uses the estate from time to time,” he explained. “We don’t want to stand on anyone’s toes or do anything that would upset anyone. It would all happen on the estate so we wouldn’t be flying over anyone else’s buildings. We just want to promote Cumbria and promote aviation activities.”
Mr Burton already has good links with Carlisle Airport and says a training firm based there is keen to use his site so pilots can try grass landings. Despite the recession, his business at Bracken Bank Lodge appears to be going from strength to strength.
He said: “The idea is that people could come up to the area with a plane or gliders and either stay in our accommodation or accommodation locally. They would use local facilities and hopefully bring their families.”
By Pamela McGowan
Last updated 10:37, Friday, 17 July 2009
A businessman has unveiled plans to establish an airfield near Penrith in a bid to bring aviation holiday-makers to the county. Stuart Burton, who owns Bracken Bank Lodge at Lazonby, has applied for planning permission to use an agricultural field for light aircraft, gliders and helicopters.
The 700-acre estate is already a popular base for adventure holidays, with activities including abseiling, rock climbing and survival courses. The estate has also been used to land aircraft, and the lodge has hosted flying, gyrocopter and paragliding tuition sessions.
But Mr Burton, himself an aviation enthusiast and trained pilot, believes there is more potential for the area.
He wants to use his land as a platform to develop Cumbria as an aviation holiday destination. He says the market for breaks like these is growing. He said: “People are doing this type of thing up and down the country and Cumbria is a wonderful place for it. You have the Lakes on your doorstep or you can fly across to Ireland, up the west coast or across the Pennines. We have a very good airfield close by at Carlisle for maintenance if you need it, but you can land here where everything is right on site or nearby.”
The plans – now with Eden Council – would not result in any physical development, such as installing runways. Mr Burton wants to formally change the use of the grass field into a dedicated airfield. He said the only impact would be an increase in air traffic, but said it was unlikely to cause any disturbance.
“We’ve had aviation going on here for many years but just on a low key basis. This ranges from people coming up by helicopter for shooting parties to a firm which specialises in paragliding for the disabled, which uses the estate from time to time,” he explained. “We don’t want to stand on anyone’s toes or do anything that would upset anyone. It would all happen on the estate so we wouldn’t be flying over anyone else’s buildings. We just want to promote Cumbria and promote aviation activities.”
Mr Burton already has good links with Carlisle Airport and says a training firm based there is keen to use his site so pilots can try grass landings. Despite the recession, his business at Bracken Bank Lodge appears to be going from strength to strength.
He said: “The idea is that people could come up to the area with a plane or gliders and either stay in our accommodation or accommodation locally. They would use local facilities and hopefully bring their families.”
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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
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
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
