Helicopter friendly hotels.
 

Hope it is better to ask here rather than in questions.

I am looking for a nice hotel that has a helipad and “likes” it to be used. Don’t want to upset people in the area who object to helis dropping in and out. A good restaurant there would also help :)

Someone did give me some info last year but I appear to have miss-placed it.

Thanks for any help

Edited to mention I am in the UK :) Now that we are all international in here :D

In what area? There are a couple near me.

Location
 

Anywhere lyeing between the north of London say and a line running from blackpool/Leeds in the north.

Drop me an email if you prefer on [email protected].

Thanks

Vortex

West Lodge Hotel near Trent Park North London has a helipad and a decent restaurant (well it was the last time I was there). Details can be found at:

http://www.bealeshotels.co.uk/wlpfr.htm

And no, I don't work for them!

Regards

airmail

Helicopter friendly hotels
 

The best place to land and stay after quite a bit of experience of this (some time ago now I must add) is The Cavendish at Baslow in the Peak District.
Superb in every way.

The Devonshire Arms Hotel nr Ilkley.
Beautiful setting in the Yorkshire Dales.
About 15 minutes from Leeds - depending upon wha you're flying.

Tudor Owen

I would second the Cavendish Hotel at Baslow - we are going in there on Friday for lunch.

Also Barnsdale Lodge on the North side of Rutland Water - fenced off helipad and just inside the Cotesmore MATZ. Food excellent and not expensive.

Arrow Mill at Alcester where any helicopter is very welcome.

Great Snoring Manor in Norfolk. Superb location next to Little Snoring airfield.

Just a few I can personally recommend.

Raymond Blanc's place off the M40 (you get a meal voucher for the local pub if you say that you're the 'driver')
Ettingdon Park (best get the right one though) just south of Wellsborne.
Lygon Arms, Broadway - fantastic experience.

there is the Seiont Manor Hotel near Caernarfon. Used by lots of flying schools for their mountain training, and good food the last time I went. also a reasonable excuse to fly though the valleys, but watch out for cowboys in Gazelles and Hawks.

I would also second the Devonshire Arms in Yorkshire, but please, no movement behind the bowler's arm.

Ever so slightly north of your line but worth the effort, is the Inn at Whitewell in the Forest of Bowland. Excellent restaurant / pub and always pleased to see a helicopter.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am spoilt for choice. Plenty of places to check out in the next few months :)

I will probably go for the Cavendish at Baslow for the first one. Can anyone give me any advice on flying into the site? I will check with the hotel as well but any other help is always very welcome.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Very easy. The helipad is a dry stone wall fenced off compound immediately to the South of the hotel. There is a black H in the turf. You will recognise the hotel by a long white conservatory on the back - the pad is about 50 yards from it. The approach is over Chatsworth and about a mile North up the valley across a big field. Details are in Pooleys.

The owner is a competition aerobatics pilot so the place is very aviation friendly.

Thanks muffin. Very much appreciated. I will check it out in pooleys tonight.

A nice web site for this purpose is at http://www.helistops.co.uk/ . Unfortunately there are not many places on there yet.

You could also try Shillingford Bridge Hotel. South of Oxford nr Wallingford. Right by the Thames, swimming pool & excellent restaurant. Think the owner has a helo.

Helipad
 

I recommend the Liverpool Marriott Hotel South which is the old airport terminal building on the now closed northern airfield. This art-deco hotel retains the 1930s era when Speke Airport was first opened. It has been refurbished to a very high standard and has an aviation theme throughout - even down to a De Havilland Rapide mock-up outside the front door!! Contact the hotel on 0151 494 5000. Not sure if there is a helipad marked out but the whole of the old apron is available for landing. Check out 2 photos on the "Friends of Liverpool Airport" website - www.fola.org.uk - one on the Airport Terminal Information page, Hotel paragraph and ther other on the Current Developments page. Weekend rates are very attractive. A David Lloyd Sports Centre is available free to guests in the adjoining Grade 11 listed hangar!! What more do you want?

Marshall Morris, Chairman, Friiends of Liverpool Airport

marshall
does one have to pay landing charges for lpl as last time i was there on a weather divert from anglesea they charged me £60 plus
all i wanted was fuel

good luck with the hotel

the cavendish and the chatsworth both get my vote both have nice food and exellent accom.

Liverpool helipad
 

If you land at the GA apron at the airport then there is a landing fee. Visiting aircraft are handled by Ravenair, trading as Liverpool Aviation Services, tel 0151 486 6161.

You would have to speak to the Marriott Hotel direct of you want to land a helicopter on their property. The old northern airfield, Speke, is no longer operational and is totally outside the airport's boundary.

Marshall Morris, Friends of Liverpool Airport.

The Grand Island hotel, Ramsey, Isle of Man if you were looking for a slightly more adventurous trip. Very reasonable accommodation and an acceptable meal. You'd be amazed at how many helos they can get on there during TT. If you ever think of doing it drop me an email via prune and I'll buy you a beer!

Buckland Tout Saints
 

Some further information on BTS.

When we PPR'd, no mention was made of the local avoids. After our 4th and final landing a charming lady came from the garden, explained that there were some avoids and gave us a much-photocopied map with probably 50% of the immediate area radiating from the pad hatched out.

Taking into account the wind on the day, as was the case with us, we overflew the avoids of necessity, and couldn't follow the marked 'circuit'.

The owner visits in a 109 I believe(?) so has plenty of power in reserve.

In our case, in the 44, we made 2 ( 6 minutes!) trips to Burgh Island each way, one for the luggage and my mate 'Stampe' on this Forum, and the second for the ladies. We had IRO 1/3 tanks and were thus way under MAUW.

It is a tricky site and is definately one that requires a POH refresh on performance.

I still recommend a visit despite, especially if you like a challenge, a nice lunch, and if fifty quid - for what was in our case unlimited movements/ 2 nights parking - is acceptable.

HP