Aerofix

I’m hoping to go up to Aerofix in Keswick tomorrow (weather permitting) to get my glider serviced. I can take yours too – just bring it along to the club night in Ilkley tonight.

Martin Baxter
01282 841060

Great Whernside Closed

We haven’t had permission to use Great Whernside for some years. My attempts to contact the landowners and re-negotiate met with little success until a paragliding accident took place on 31 Dec 07. I now know who all the landowners are! One of the them has asked us not to fly the site, at least for the time being and we have agreed to respect this. Our long-term access to this important site will depend on how we respect the ban: please do not fly Great Whernside until further notice. Note that there is no right to park by the cattle grid and the farmer may resort to clamping.

Martin

Humesett

As you may know I have been trying to renegotiate Humesett recently.  The grid reference does not tie in with the T/O shown on the map and neither is suitable.  Having walked the ground a couple of times I proposed a more suitable T/O but the headkeeper was not happy with this, and so we have reluctantly agreed to remove Humesett from our sites guide.

Not that great a loss.  It isn’t as good at Stags Fell, doesn’t have a bottom landing, and is a massive walk up.  I don’t know of anyone who has flown it in recent years.

Martin

Humesett

Has anyone got any experience of Humesett, the little used site in front of Stags Fell, with a big walk up?

It has a new owner and before I try to confirm arrangements I’d like to establish what we want and what we think we already have.  Unfortunately the grid reference in the sites’ guide doesn’t tie up with the map/diagram and neither looks suitable for a safe take-off.  I have walked it a couple of times and found what I consider to be good alternative take-off and top landing points, although some require access through a gate and routes off the Pennine Way.

On the other hand if no-one has flown it for the last 10 years, perhaps we don’t need it?

All advice and comment gratefully received.

Martin Baxter
DHPC Sites (N)

CSC Sites Open Again

Hi Guys,

O.K. I think in the light of how the Outbreak is going we can relax the restrictions which we have had in place and all get back to normal, apart from Bewaldeth which for now stays closed.

At the beginning of the week when I started to contact farmers they were all very nervous about allowing us to fly, often because they were concerned what their fellow farmers would think if there were paragliders all over their land. I spent some time this week visiting many farms in the Lakes (often where we do not fly) to let them all know that they only people that would fly were from around this area. This approach impressed the farmers and allowed us to keep our sites open, and probably helped to promote but our image even more.

So thanks to all thoughts pilots who have flown responsibly at this delicate time and let’s hope this is the last time we have to go through such a farcical situation.

Regards,

Goride

CSC Northern Sites

Hi Martin

Can you pass the message to all your members that the Cumbrian farmers are panicing again about foot and mouth. All the Nothern sites are about to be closed and Gordy is trying to stop this happening but he has asked that only local pilots are to be allowed to fly. This applies only if they haven’t been out of the area since the trouble started. Those who have been away at comps are not allowed back onto the fells at present.

The whole thing is bloody ridiculus but we need their permission and they are not wanting us there at present! So until further notice it is locals only  in the North Lakes, if they have not been else where. Please pass on to other clubs Ta

Andy Plimmer CSC

Grouse Shooting

It’s that time of year again. Please avoid the grouse moors behind Stags Fell and Nappa Scar, although the sites remain open. If you go XC you must be sure that you can clear the moors before you go over the back. The guide book says to give it at least 1,000′ ATO but only you can judge the conditions on the day.

Grouse Shooting brings a lot of money to local landowners and any low flying or landing on the moor is likely to jeopardise our continued use of the site.

Foot & Mouth

At present there are no additional restrictions on any Dales sites due to the Foot & Mouth outbreak in Surrey.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/about/access-0807.htm

Any changes will be posted here.

Pen-y-Ghent

Over the past few months Fred Winstanley has been conducting some sensitive negotiations with the owner of Pen-y-Ghent to try to gain flying access. Unfortunately this has come to nothing and the owner, Robert Bell, has confirmed that he does not want flying to take place on his land.

Please do not attempt to take off from Pen-y-Ghent. If flying XC bear in mind that landing in the area will probably not generate a warm reception!

(Kind of adds to the excitement of the 3 Peaks Challenge, don’t you think?)

Green Bell

This is a site that Northern/Sunsoar have negotiated for their school use and is situated above Ravenstonedale on the north edge of the Howgills. It is a bowl and takes north round to north east. Lately we have noticed free fliers on the hill without having sought our permission. We have no objection to pilots flying there but we would ask that we are consulted BEFORE flying please. We have a good relationship with the landowner but quite restrictive access points and also want to be sure we dont upset things at lambing time and/or shooting season.

Anyone who wants to fly there can contact Northern during office hours on 0845 123 2555 or Sunsoar on 0870 199 7343.

Thanks for your cooperation.