Need ideas for somewhere to go
 

My friend and I are becoming bored of the local scenery and we want to fly further afield. We fly from Belfast Aldergrove (EGAA) and are looking to go somewhere around 90 - 120 mins away in a PA28. We took a trip to Prestwick last week which was a nice change!

So, we're looking for somewhere over the water within 2 hours of Aldergrove preferably with something to do rather than eat a bacon buttie! Our initial thoughts are Carlisle, Blackpool and Manchester Barton. Can anyone suggest any other alternatives? Something that would prove to be a bit of a challenge would be nice too.

Many thanks.

Heading SE over or around North Wales Sleap and Shobdon are friendly interesting places that a PA28 would find quite suitable, both do a good lunch too.

I've never been to Caernarfon airfield (NW corner of Wales), but am told that's also a nice spot - has a small aircraft museum there and the town, which I have visited, is quite pleasant with an impressive castle in the middle.

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Carlisle airport itself doesn't really have very much going for it, although the bacon butties ar OK, but the Lakes are definitely worth a flight. Only advice would be to avoid the weekdays as there tends to be a lot of fast, low, grey pointy things which also like the Lakes.

It is lots of fun taking a trip down into the valleys and flying along the lake itself - Bassenthwaite is the nearest to Carlisle and very pleasant to fly down, especially as it is 'open' at either end, so no need to be worried about becoming trapped in a closed valley. Ullswater is also very nice, with a slightly more interesting entry if you come in from the West, scooting down the side of Helvellyn, and Haweswater is a narrow little man-made lake with a submerged village at the southern end and a dam at the other - great fun for dambusting (just beware the house on the dry side of the dam - not that I'd ever suggest breaking the 500' rule).

Personally, I reckon the best flying you can get is over to the west coast of Scotland - it has to be seen to be believed. No written description can do it justice. Oban is a really nice little airport to drop in for a fuel stop, and I'm sure there will be loads of others who will tell you what a thoroughly nice guy Paul Keegan is too. Not much at the airport, but the views are spectacular and there are loads of interesting places to go and see within a short flight form there. Not seen it myself, but there is a pretty viscious whirlpool between Jura and Scarba when the tide is on the turn - makes you think twice about ditching!

This whirlpool

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