Where shall I go in the UK ???
 

People,

I'm toying with the idea of taking the family on a little jolley around the U.K. Something edukashional/fun/pretty/unusual for my boys (14 and 16) as well as me and the wife. I could hop around from place to place or return back to home base each day.

I'm based in Manchester and would be interested in suggestions of places where people have been before with a chopper or know of a good place and an HLS nearby.

Suggestions (sensible) please !!!

Joel :ok:

Sussex
 

Hi - I know of a very unusual grass helipad in the grounds of a Grade I listed house in Sussex. See Hammerwood Helipad - Home and Hammerwood Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for more details - landing fee only £20 and manned 24 hours. Highly recommend it. Apparently used to be owned by Led Zeppelin and was rescued by the present owner and his family! What a job to save it from such a state of delapidation...

P.S.
 

And they do B&B as well :}

You can hire a cottage here Home and do some mountain flying, whale watching, visit the islands, etc. Nearest fuel Oban or Cumbernauld, and Inverness not to far.

Hammerwood Park
 

Forgot to mention - nearest fuel at Shoreham, Redhill or Headcorn.

ProAdventure, North Wales UK – White Water Rafting in North Wales

Days Out Lancashire Manchester Rivington Go Ape

off road buggy motor racing experience karting track day stafford

Do the fun stuff!!!

A little further afield
 

A little further afield there is Alderney, in the Channel Islands. A GA friendly airfield, landing fees are small and you get VAT-free fuel there! Lots of pubs, hotels, beaches and a quiet but welcoming island all round.:)

Errr, Jt
How about bell-47 and CV(r)T driving around the fields here, we could put you and the family up for the night, you could drive the tank around for a bit and make a mess and fly on...

I can see a plan forming ;-)
Keep the ideas coming pls

Joel :ok:

island hopping nw scotland. loads of airfields and fuel, and not somewhere you would go by car.

Joel - howsabout landing on a lighthouse?! I've done it several times and it's a great one for the kids. Gissa buzz(phone, not here) for details.

TTB

Hurst House in Laugharne, West Wales - Hurst House on the marsh | Welcome | Homepage - super spot, great food, next door to Pendine Sands (World Land speed Records galore in the 1920s, museum worth a visit), in D117/D118 Danger areas so different flying experience. Fuel at Swansea or Haverfodwest. Magnificent scenary. Very heli friendly

If you get up the west coast you could have a wander round Fingals cave on Staffa, I don't know who you would need to contact about landing though, I think the Scottish national trust own it. I landed there in the early eighties at first light and was surprised to find a troop of scouts appear like rabbits out from the cave.

At 14 and 16 I'd fly into a race circuit that does junior driving experience days on track.

Silverstone is the obvious thought, but there may be others.

Merceds-Benz World at Brooklands is another one...

TTB suggestion of MBW is fun - I have tried this myself.

Book yourself the AMG driving experience (pricey but a laugh a minute) and the kids can have a junior driving lesson in an A Class.

Brooklands
 

Merc-Benz World good as Brooklands, I believe, still take PPR helicopters even though the airfield is officially closed. Not far from my previous suggestion, either.

The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare is pretty educational and can be combined with a trip to the rebuilt 21st Century Grand Pier in August(when it should be finished).The Museum has its own helipad and only charges the normal entrance fee.See the wbsite for more details.
Don't come this Saturday though as the space will be fully taken up by military helicopters for Armed Forces Day!

Thanks guys

Keep them coming if there are any more ideas

Joel :ok:

Landing sites
 

JT Now the world (UK) is your oyster... green dots are active, red disused, lots of sites heli friendly plus links when you click on green dots.

Griffin Helicopters | Map of Helicopter Landing Sites

Enjoy!!!