Interesting UK GA Airfields?
 

Hi,

I'm just wondering if anyone can give me the names of a few airfields around the UK that are worth visiting during CPL hour building?

Generally just looking for airfields that are difficult to fly into due to surrounding terrain, runway slope, short runway etc.. Or airfields that are situated in scenic places!

Last and most importantly, I'm looking for airfields with good cafes!!

I fly the Cessna 150 and soon the Grob 115, so no microlight fields please :)

In no particular order.........

for the scenery ........ Lands End, Perranporth, St Marys Isles of Scilly, Alderney, Welshpool, Caernarfon , Glenforsa, Oban ,Plockton

For the ambience of rural airfields.... Popham, Headcorn

If ever passing between lancashire and yorkshire try stopping off at crossland moor (huddersfield) Quite a steep slope and good fun. Sherburn in elmet, Sleap and caernarfon were always my favourites for a day out and food.

up north

Do an island tour, Orkney is spectacular.

Dornock is worth a visit on the way back down south.

In no particular order:

Pembrey (w/e), Haverfordwest, Caernafon, Gloucester, Kemble, Dunkeswell, Goodwood, Compton Abbas, Old Sarum.

Even further north: Fair Isle, Foula, Unst, Papa Stour & Out Skerries. You'll certainly get some short or interesting strips out of some of those. No cafes on the fields but then nowhere is far away on those islands.

For good cafes try Caenarfon, Shobdon, Sleap and Wellesbourne.;)

Huddesfield (International.) is really quirky, with half grass - half tarmac runway, with a good down slope on the tarmac bit. Honesty box for the landing fee and a 3kW kettle for the tea making... Maybe need to bring your own water, if they havn't done the plumbing yet.
Unique weather measurement system !

Pete

On a suitable weekday, how about dropping in at Compton Abbas for breakfast and to pickup a supply of cakes. Use the cakes to bribe the ATC at Yeovil to let you land there with, possibly, a practice NDB approach. Then on down to Dunkeswell for a good lunch.

MJ.. Or you could even try Dornoch.:cool:

As a gentleman with a 'fuller figure', I would recommend Sleap and Caernarfon 100%. Tatenhill cafe was being renovated recently, a damn good breakfast there at weekends. Welshpool is a tricky little strip to land on in certain weather conditions. Oban has its own politics, but is a super airfield to fly to on a nice day, check the weather actual, not just the forecast!! Carlisle does a particularly good cumberland sausage butty as well...... I am getting hungry now..............:)

Thanks for the replies, I fly from Barton Aerodrome so Crossland Moor is only a short hop away!

And I visited Sleap on my QXC for the cafe!!

Will give the others a try!

Matty

Netherthorpe is challenging, get a good brief first and if up north then perhaps try Easterton; very challenging and a friendly crowd.

Good luck

Gene

Matty,

I was about to recommend Barton as I'm based there. As said, Caernarfon is a good bite as well as Sleap. Last time I went to Shobdon the cafe was a bit short on supplies but they still managed to whip up a good sandwich for me. My next stop will be Tatenhill as that's meant to be quite good.

Dornock

Beat me to it, FBW.

You would also need to be in something "light"

Cark Airfield in the South Lakes, near Grange-over-Sands. Skydiving site with a short-ish pothole filled runway but run by a great group of people with a decent cafe on site :ok:

NAYLAND in Essex

Land up the hill and take of the opposite way..

Was at Shobdon a few weeks ago and had a very good all day breakfast. Halfpenny Green also worth a visit good cafe and friendly air traffic.

Hi David, which aircraft do you fly at Barton?

1/2P Green was the other airfield I went to on my QXC, great friendly air traffic there!

In no particular order, if you're in the South East think about the following:

Cromer/Northreppes (north Nofolk) - short runway, can be tricky to spot;

Bembridge, IOW (windshear on approach, and frequently crosswinds);

Clacton - short runway aligned North to South, so frequent crosswinds. Also a public footpath crosses the runway meaning you may have to go-around for dog walkers :}. I've scared myself here - be careful.

Popham - dog-leg approach on one of the runways, and rough/narrow runways.

Headcorn - not particularly difficult but a lovely place to be. Lots going on there - including parachutes and vintage aircraft.

Stapleford. Busy training field with a very congested circuit and a half tarmac/half grass runway which is on the bumpy side. Worth a go.

Stowe Marie in Essex - very much an 'aerodrome' in the traditional sense. Basically just a mown field and a WW1 museum. You will need PPR here.

And as a curve ball - Lydd in Kent. Not 'difficult' but challenging to spot, full ATC (but reasonable landing fee) and the danger areas for dungeness power station close by which makes for a challenging approach.