Comments on: Ridge directions

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:54:10 +0000

Mendip (Halesland works from 180 at 12kts around to 300 at 18+. In sourthly above 18 works from Weston Super Mere all the way to Wells around about 30 km its a fun run

By: Brian Bateson

Brian Bateson — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:45:36 +0000

South coast cliffs(!): 150-180, 20 knots
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The above wind direction is a bit off!

Better range is from 180 thro 230 deg for the long stretch between Beachy Head lighthouse (Eastbourne) and Brighton Marina.

Sunday 11th Jan ‘09 was magnificen, cliff lift to 2500ft or 120kt at clifftop height.

By: Andrew Hyslop

Andrew Hyslop — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:57:38 +0000

Chilterns GCentre at RAF Halton use the North and West ridges around the highest (876ft amsl) point of the Chiltern Hills;-

North ridge - 355-025@10kts.

West ridge - 260-290@10kts, 250-315@15kts; 250-330@20kts;
310-330 seems the best direction to run the whole of the Chilterns, with a range of around 13 to 20 kts - beyond 20kts makes jumping the big gap at Princes Risborough a little tricky (in one direction, at least!); while it is fairly straightforward to get down SW to Watlington (beyond is more difficult), getting NE up to Dunstable takes more courage and has only been done once to my knowledge (and that needed a turbo to return).

Usually a good selection of fields available.

By: Dave Salmon

Dave Salmon — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:34:01 +0000

It doesn’t look as though anyone has sent our details from Camphill. We have lots of hills and ridges that work in all sorts of directions, reachable from a winch launch, getting back from some needs other assistance.
West ridge 250-290, 12kts At airfield
South ridge 170-230,12 kts At airfield
Shatton 350-030 Can’t say, sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t. Good for thermal and wave though
Win Hill 180-230 10 kts
Siggate/Treak 020-060 15 kts
Mam Tor 060-100 12 kts
Then, not for the faint-hearted, North and South sides of Edale, Kinder Downfall (needs a bit more than a winch launch), west facing side of the Ladybower/ Derwent/Howden Reservoirs, and the Froggatt to Matlock Ridge about 25 kms long.
The directions and strengths should not be taken too literally, they are a guide only. Hill soaring conditions can vary considerably, conditions that you expect to work don’t, and those you don’t expect to work sometimes do. That’s gliding!
When it’s there, most of these hills will get you into wave

By: Pete Whitehead

Pete Whitehead — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:54:09 +0000

The Cross Fell ridge has wonderful nooks and crannies which make it soarable from Edensoaring/Skelling Farm in any 12 kt wind from 180 to 300. Pete Whitehead

By: Stephen Ell

Stephen Ell — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:46:10 +0000

Pocklington (Wolds Gliding Club). I spoke to our CFI, Chris Price, and he sent me the information below. The ridges are not massive but have an uninterupted airflow off the plain of York and are certainly reliable.

Millington Ridge:- 320-260 greater than 10 knots

Bishop Wilton Ridge:- 290-240 greater than 13 knots

I think the overlap in directions occurs because of the way the wind goes into Millington valley, but not sure!

Tim Milner and Al McWhirter flew both ridges quite a lot mid week and collated these wind strengths and directions.