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.

You mentioned an interest in short runways. Tried Netherthorpe yet?

Very good food, too (n.b. cafe's closed on Mondays).

Stow Maries is for sale in the Sept issue of Flyer...

Tim

Cark
 

Hi I need to travel to the lakes to sell a house and flying up would be ideal, does anyone have any info on Cark and a link/phone number as I can't find much on google?

Thanks.

CB

Skydive North West - The place to skydive in the north west - Welcome

Tel: 015395 58672 Fax: 01772 787106
Address: Cark Airfield, Flookburgh, Grange Over Sands, CUMBRIA, LA11 7LS

Thanksv750, just mailed them now.

CB

Park and Ride
 

Hi All, For a 'hive of activity', Cark on a weekend is worth a visit, with loads of guys preparing to exit a turbo-prop aircraft at 14,000ft.

However to get away from it, I have been looking for some 'Park and Ride' airfields, where you fly there early in the day, Park-up and then take a taxi or bus to the nearest town. These include Swansea, Skegness, Clacton and Sandown, also North Coates, (for the walk across the dunes to the North Sea.).

Pete

I have never yet managed to get to the sea from North Coates. Too much marshy ground en route!

Kirkbride ad
 

Hi I would reccomend kirkbride, lovely little field £10 landing I think this includes 7 touch and goes. :8 if the wind is out of x wind limits Carlisle is not too far to the east and has a really nice cafe. :ok:

Well you are building hrs so you might as well do some decent hops.. How about:

The Scilly Isles will challenge you and is beautiful
Then stop at Lands End
Perranporth with a lovely approach over the cliffs
Dunkerswell as the Bacon, Brie and Cranberry sandwich is amazing
Compton Abbas is beautiful scenery and great food
Then back via Caernarfon

That would be the best part of 4 hrs flying in a 152, plus stopping and a great day out.

Hi Flybymike, we went to North Coates in mid summer when the ground was solid. There is a large ditch to cross, but someone had made a wonky bridge with some planks. I think it was 60 yards north of the hedge line. The top of the ditch-bank is the coastal path.
Donna Nook was active with bombing practice, but they co-ordinated us both in and out of the circuit with no delay.

Pete

every country should have a site like this

Aerodromos em Portugal

Thanks for that. I'm familiar with the ditch bank coastal path but have never managed to get as far as the water's edge. I'll keep a look out for this here wonky bridge next time I'm there though!

Weybourne. With its excellent tank museum and good cafe.
Approach over the sea and land uphill.

New York, in the Coningsby MATZ. (Just to log it).

Fishburn, for the slope and Beryl's butties.

Gigha, for the sheep sh.....

Glenforsa, because it's nice.

Ashcroft:rolleyes:

actually most countries do
that is to say, in western europe at least
north america too i should expect.

Wish someone had told me that before my first (and so far only) visit. Landed into wind only to find the runway disappearing away from me. Tried again and nailed the short field speed, landed just OK and only then noticed the slope.

Got away with it...

Anyone know if the Tatenhill cafe is open on Mondays?

Tim

Airfields.
 

Perranporth, Dunkeswell & Compton Abbas are a handful that I can think of. They are scenic & interesting. Oh and Compton Abbas has great food!

If you want a longer, very interesting flight, St Mary's on the Silly Isles is great! The approach is rather fun!


:)

Studentaviator

Tatenhill
 

Tim

Yes it is opened on Mondays. Though I wouldnt fly in purely for the food !!

It's a lovely airfield though..

Lokki,

Thanks, last time I went I was lucky to get a cup of instant coffee... Five years ago though. What sort of thing do they do - can I get decent coffee/cake or even a sandwich?

Tim

Dog-leg approach, yes, but rough narrow runways :* Don't think so, unless you're only used to a 1000mts of tarmac.

Anyone been into the strip at Scotland Farm in Hook? The wires must make it exciting!??