Robert Armstrong 2 Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 I am going to be on a short break in the Oswestry area next week and hope to persuade SWMBO to visit the Great Orme or Long Mynd for a short slope session. I am a BMFA member, so insured. Pure gliders only (Wildthing and a Blaze) Are there any other requirements to fly there? Are they restricted club sites for example. I have seen a number of mentions of flying there on various forums but no mention of any special requirements. Most of my club are power so nobody I know has been (as far as I know - they might have gone without telling me!) Any advice/info gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultymate Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Not sure about the Mynd but the Orme is open to all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 According to this (oldish) thread, whilst LMSA membership is normally required, they appear to look kindly upon holiday visitors, so it might be worth contacting the LMSA to ascertain the present situation. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Satinet Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 You don't need anything for the Orme. You are also fine at the Long Mynd. They ask people to join if they make multi visits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Armstrong 2 Posted March 22, 2014 Author Share Posted March 22, 2014 Thanks very much for the info. Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Armstrong 2 Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 Got to the Great Orme, which has slopes which work for SW, W, N, NE and E. Wind was SE. Doh! Still, pretty impressive lump. Must go there again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceejay Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 A quick question from an infrequent gliderist, having never flown a sea cliff/slope and mostly tend to fly scale stuff, and nearing the end of a refurb of 4 yes 4 gliders, and wanting to blow the brain free of the recent stress of powered flight, i am looking to pay a visit to some new slopes, (i live 10 miles from the Leek moorlands slopes) so which ones the Orme always sounds good as does Long Mynd, any others out there suitable for an old fat fella with old gliders!!! just come in from shed, and i am surprised just how many gliders i seem to have for someone who only fly,s them infrequently.,,,,,,,,,, note to self........... must do more gliding...!!!!!!!!!! chris ps i have just been "told" i am taking the good lady to wales over easter to some friends farm nr Lampeter, sooo any slopes !!! Edited By ceejay on 02/04/2014 17:23:53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 If you are prepared to travel, I used to fly at Blackstone Edge - this is on the A58 between Littleborough and Halifax. Parking is easy (at the end of the old pack horse road) and not too much of a climb to a launch point. Its a huge bowl and wonderful for SW > W wind directions. There is nothing in front of it except the Irish Sea. Slope lift is superb - if you break through that and get into the wave lift getting a model back down again can be a real problem. The air is very smooth. There are two cracking local pubs you can go to for lunch/tea, the White House up the hill and the Moorcock just down the hill (using the road of course). A great day out and rarely over populated. The site isn't used by para-glider or hang glider fliers either Edit.. I live near Crewe - its an hours drive from here avoiding the rush hour Martyn Edited By Martyn K on 03/04/2014 09:47:21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceejay Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Dont mind traveling at all, anything upto a couple of hours, so Blackstone edge is fine, will give it a look sometime is there someone i need to contact prior to flying there? thanks chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Houghton 1 Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Chris. If you're going to Lampeter, probably the best place for flying gliders is Rhossili on the Gower, although when conditions are light you will have to share with the paragliders. Otherwise head to the area north of Bridgend called The Bwlch. Arguably this is probably the best flying area in Wales with flying available in any wind direction and, it's very popular as a venue for F3F comps. I've flown the Orme and IMO the Bwlch is better. There are details and videos on my blog A470soaring.blogspot.co.uk steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I haven't flown there since 1980. But I used to visit both the pubs (until recently) and often saw people flying there. No contact needed - just turn up and fly. The A58 isn't a very busy road now either as most traffic is on the M62. If the wind swings NW, you can move further up the road - there is a ridge facing NW, but that is very close to the road and nowhere near as good as the bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Jones Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Are you with LMMGA Ceejay? It's only a tenner to join. I'm in Martyn's neck of the woods near Crewe and I fly the LMMGA slopes as they are the nearest slopes of any use for a Cheshire lad but for a treat I head off to the Great Orme etc. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceejay Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 not a member currently as i let it lapse being busy the last few years with all things Dawn Patrol, but intend to rejoin soon, all my slope soaring over the years has been from the pool, gate etc chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Here is a map of the flying and parking areas at Blackstone Edge.. Regards Martyn Edit: looking at the map, the bowl marked is misleading - it goes about another 0.5 mile further south and about 0.25 mile further East(to the path at the far right). I was just trying to show the extent of the shape rather than the scale. It's no use for D/S BTW - its a plateau at the top.. Edited By Martyn K on 03/04/2014 16:14:07 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Geezer Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Robert - if you are interested I can email you the old LMSA map showing all the Long Mynd slopes and their wind directions, assuming my scanner will cooperate with my iPad. Failing that I can print you off a copy and send it snail-mail. If there's a nice westerly, there's always a good bunch to be found flying at Pole Cott, not very enthusiastic about power assistance though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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