Coastal Airfields for a Weekend Away
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Coastal Airfields for a Weekend Away
Morning Everyone!
With all of the nice weather we are having I am planning a long weekend trip with a couple of friends. Though I have taken a look at my chart to seek out airfields near the coast thought I would ask for any recommendations on airfields near the coast / beach.
Any additional recommendations of places to stay would also be very much appreciated!!
Thanks
With all of the nice weather we are having I am planning a long weekend trip with a couple of friends. Though I have taken a look at my chart to seek out airfields near the coast thought I would ask for any recommendations on airfields near the coast / beach.
Any additional recommendations of places to stay would also be very much appreciated!!
Thanks
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beach access for avgas heads
If you don't mind a channel crossing,
Ostend (EBOS) is a 600m walk from the beach (from the terminal exit to the sand).
Quiberon (LFEQ) has a hotel at the end of the runway which has beach access
and in the UK I can recommend:
Shoreham just 1 km from Shoreham beach.
Manston and Newquay are also good, but they require folding bikes, a taxi fare or a somewhat longer walk to get your feet wet.
Maybe you want to specify a bit more what it is you're looking for ? Cheap landing fees ? Walking distance ? Hotel facilities ? A lively city nearby ? A 1 mile runway ? an IFR approach ?
Ostend (EBOS) is a 600m walk from the beach (from the terminal exit to the sand).
Quiberon (LFEQ) has a hotel at the end of the runway which has beach access
and in the UK I can recommend:
Shoreham just 1 km from Shoreham beach.
Manston and Newquay are also good, but they require folding bikes, a taxi fare or a somewhat longer walk to get your feet wet.
Maybe you want to specify a bit more what it is you're looking for ? Cheap landing fees ? Walking distance ? Hotel facilities ? A lively city nearby ? A 1 mile runway ? an IFR approach ?
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I thought about a Channel crossing, though having not flown over the Channel before am a little cautious to with friends for the first time...was thinking trying to get on a club trip might be a sensible thing to do first.
I have been to Bournemouth, Newquay and Lands End before so ideally looking for somewhere different to these.
In terms of what Im looking for, well walking distance to a beach would be nice, but Im realistic also so dont mind a short drive to the beach, say within 15-20 mins of the airfield at most.
If there is also a nearby town / village for somewhere to stay, be it a hotel or B&B, and some local sightseeing, nice restaurants / pubs, that kind of thing.
Im not to fussed about the landing fees, obviously as long as there are not astronomical i.e. certainly nothing above the costs of landing and handling at Bournemouth. Will be flying a PA28 with 4 POB, VFR.
Thanks for the recommendations so far
I have been to Bournemouth, Newquay and Lands End before so ideally looking for somewhere different to these.
In terms of what Im looking for, well walking distance to a beach would be nice, but Im realistic also so dont mind a short drive to the beach, say within 15-20 mins of the airfield at most.
If there is also a nearby town / village for somewhere to stay, be it a hotel or B&B, and some local sightseeing, nice restaurants / pubs, that kind of thing.
Im not to fussed about the landing fees, obviously as long as there are not astronomical i.e. certainly nothing above the costs of landing and handling at Bournemouth. Will be flying a PA28 with 4 POB, VFR.
Thanks for the recommendations so far
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I've just been to Roserrow golf club near Rock in Cornwall. Its a two mile walk into Rock itself with the Rock Inn doing great food with a fantastic view out over the estuary towards Padstow. A regular ferry service can take you to Padstow should you fancy it.
Unless you have a Cherokee 180 you may not be able to get out of the strip though as its 600m and a partially uphill in a westerly wind.
You could also try Farway Common in Devon. No landing fee, it looks flat and smooth and the owner keeps a 172 there so a PA28 should be ok. Its a 20 minute taxi from there to Sidmouth and the beach.
Unless you have a Cherokee 180 you may not be able to get out of the strip though as its 600m and a partially uphill in a westerly wind.
You could also try Farway Common in Devon. No landing fee, it looks flat and smooth and the owner keeps a 172 there so a PA28 should be ok. Its a 20 minute taxi from there to Sidmouth and the beach.
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Blackpool is good for a laugh, depending on the demographic of your companions.
You don't say where you are starting from; if your friends are not used to travelling in a PA28, you would be wise to choose a destination no more than about an hour from base.
You don't say where you are starting from; if your friends are not used to travelling in a PA28, you would be wise to choose a destination no more than about an hour from base.
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Thanks FleetFlyer will take a look.
I will be flying a PA28-161 Warrior out of Sherburn in Elmet. My friends are regualr flying companions so they are well versed in the fun of flying in the PA28.
They had asked about North Wales and Norfolk though having taking a look into it not seen anything near a beach that seems to inspire so been looking at South coast, South East or South West coast and South Wales.
CJ Driver, Blackpool while 'interesting' and certainly has its 'fun points' we have all been there a few times, albeit by road not air.
I will be flying a PA28-161 Warrior out of Sherburn in Elmet. My friends are regualr flying companions so they are well versed in the fun of flying in the PA28.
They had asked about North Wales and Norfolk though having taking a look into it not seen anything near a beach that seems to inspire so been looking at South coast, South East or South West coast and South Wales.
CJ Driver, Blackpool while 'interesting' and certainly has its 'fun points' we have all been there a few times, albeit by road not air.
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What about Caernarfon? Lovely part of the world, lots of accomodation about, train line up and down the coast and the airfield is practically on the beach 
.mic
.mic
Caernarfon is good - lots to do and great scenery. Also Swansea in the south and Aberporth (West Wales - but caution the restricted area until October - strictly PPR) in between
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Just come back from a long weekend at Perranporth: No camping on airfield but Blue Hills campsite just over the fence: Owner of camp site came and picked us up: Sea fog kept us there an extra day but plenty of (quite hard) coastal path walks plus the delightful village of St Agnes half an hour over the clifftop path with welcoming pub with great food as a goal at the end of the path.
Perranporth itself not much to write home about though.
Perranporth itself not much to write home about though.
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What about good old Sarfend? Lovely pier, bag of chips, stick of rock, mini Blackpool. Even a decent-ish beach these days, since they shifted in half the Sahara a few years ago.
Train station on the airfield, 5 minutes into Southend. Lots of B&B, hotels etc.
Lovely jubbly.
On the other hand, if it's culture you are after, ........
Train station on the airfield, 5 minutes into Southend. Lots of B&B, hotels etc.
Lovely jubbly.
On the other hand, if it's culture you are after, ........
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Southend? I once went there en-route to Europe, and thought "that would be a nice spot to night stop and hang out for a while". It was 'orrible. 
Sorry rkg but it really was charmless.
Sorry rkg but it really was charmless.
Sandown or Bembridge on't Isle of Wight are close to the Sea (a mile or so). Sandown has a caravan site on the edge of the airfield (3 day minimum hire). We had a week there recently, coincident with the microlight fly-in. The weather could have been better........
Rans6....
Rans6....
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Oh yes CJ, I forgot to mention - I'd never spend the night there myself. I grew up not far away from Southend and seldom venture back........
Mind you, I've never been to Blackpool. Each to his own.
Mind you, I've never been to Blackpool. Each to his own.
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Not in a howling wind blowing thick sea fog in off the Atlantic...........
Perranporth was full of large women accompanied by large blokes in shell suits with screaming kids in buggies last monday.
Perranporth was full of large women accompanied by large blokes in shell suits with screaming kids in buggies last monday.
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Caernarfon and Perranporth do indeed make interesting "social studies" At Caernarfon especially, most girls over 14 seem to be pregnant.
But they are lovely places to fly to - especially Caernarfon, flying over Snowdonia.
Shoreham beach is nice (I windsurf there) but is mostly pebbles. Brighton has a lot of culture and is just down the road.
At Caernarfon especially, most girls over 14 seem to be pregnant.But they are lovely places to fly to - especially Caernarfon, flying over Snowdonia.
Shoreham beach is nice (I windsurf there) but is mostly pebbles. Brighton has a lot of culture and is just down the road.