About this flying site
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South Downs, Sussex · Paragliding site
Bo-Peep paragliding site and weather forecast
Live seven-day flying weather with launch direction, altitude and local site information for Bo-Peep.
Altitude183 m
Launch directionsNE
Coordinates50.8201, 0.1284
AreaSouth Downs, Sussex
Managing club: Southern Hang Gliding Club · Access: membership
Site briefing
Planning information for Bo-Peep
Take-off
Take-off — Hang gliders usually launch from the main NE ridge (Bostal Down); paragliders are asked not to use this launch when hang gliders are present. The best launch for both is from the bowl to the east (560 ft amsl), where there is a lowered section of the hill-edge fencing. If in any doubt about the wind, walk to the top of Bostal Down to feel the true direction. Do not launch from the small field in front of the public car park, and note that the trees in front of the Bostal Down launch can cause significant turbulence. Rigging — Hang gliders: take the South Downs Way east about 100 yards and rig well clear of the Way, without obstructing the take-off and landing areas; you may also rig and launch in the east bowl, which is recommended for lower-airtime or rusty pilots. Paragliders: use the east bowl until you know the site; if landing at Bostal Down, leave enough room for HG launch and landing, and ensure that, were you to be dragged, it would not be into a hang glider. They are very expensive nowadays. Do not launch from the east bowl when hang gliders are present.
Landing
Top landing — Hang glider pilots should stay in front of the rear fence when approaching over the car park; even in moderate winds you may struggle to penetrate. Beware rotor behind the quarry in NNE winds, and behind the dew ponds and tumuli between the bowl and car park. Paraglider pilots may top-land anywhere on the main NE ridge field; inexperienced pilots should stay well forward on approach because of the strong venturi at the top of the hill. The large area behind the east bowl is excellent for low-airtime top-landing practice. Aim to land towards the top of Bostal Down, not close to the car park. Bottom landing — when the bottom fields are harvested the farmers do not mind where you land (usually the large field immediately below the east bowl); with modern direct-drilling it is less obvious when fields are clear, but there is plenty of room to land paragliders at the bottom of the east bowl on a crosswind approach. Do not land and re-launch in the marked bottom-landing area. Retrieves are best driven down the lane to the A27, turning right and then right again off the A27 through Alciston — drive considerately along the dirt track (closed to four-wheeled vehicles in winter).
Access and parking
Use the gated SHGC car park behind the public car park at the top of the hill — please close the gate. Overspill parking is on the grass beside the track immediately in front of the SHGC gate; allow for wide farm vehicles and do not obstruct tracks or roads. If there is no space, unload your glider and drive down the lane to park near the bottom. Beware of thieves operating in the public car park. Bo Peep is south of the A27 at Selmeston, between Lewes and Polegate. Take Bo Peep Lane just east of Selmeston and follow it to the top of the hill.
Local weather notes
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Flight rules
MEMBERS-ONLY SITE. Register with the Southern Hang Gliding (and Paragliding) Club (SHGC) for DAY or ANNUAL membership before flying. Permission to fly any SHGC site is sensitive, and can be easily lost. Flying is permitted only on the proviso that pilots follow the landowners' explicit rules, which members can find in the Site Guide on the club website. Members also have access to club Telegram groups, for on-site weather reports and paragliding-related support and chat, and one-to-one coaching on request. Always ask for a Site Brief from a member, if it's the first time you've flown this site.
Local guidance
Hazards and cautions
- Aeromodellers generally use the big bowl to the west of the car park (there is no formal agreement) — the site is large enough to avoid conflict, but talk to them if they are present. Beware the fence running along the edge of virtually the whole hill. The site has a large number of rabbit burrows, mostly on the slopes — take care not to catch a foot, especially when slope-landing.
- Airflow: Around the front of the car park there can be turbulence from the trees at the foot of the hill and disturbed airflow in the quarry — fly this area with caution until you know it. The trees in front of the Bostal Down launch generate severe turbulence in strong winds, so launch from and land behind the East Bowl until you know the site well. Bushes, the dew pond and tumuli on top cause turbulence that can affect low top-landing hang gliders. Generally the air is smooth in the east-bowl area, but when the wind is off to the east it can become very turbulent (often from the easterly sea breeze), and when off to the north the left side of the east bowl can be affected by rotor behind the trees. Always walk to the top of Bostal Down to assess the true wind — a marked venturi in the quarry can make the wind seem straight when it is 45° or more off, particularly to the east. Always let someone else cross the quarry first.
- Exact launch
- Launch GPS
- 50.82044, 0.12867
- Members also see the gate / padlock code (where a site has one), the Safety Officer’s contact, and the downloadable guide (PDF).
Authoritative sources
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Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.
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