Managing club: Long Mynd Soaring Club · Access: open sensitive
Site briefing
Planning information for Corndon
Take-off
Bottom landing:
- Hang gliders: bottom landing is in the big, flat field to the NE (alongside the access road) BUT approach is over power lines (which have claimed victims) after a long glide, often into wind and alternatives are for skilled pilots only! The only access is via a gate at the western end. From the SE face there is no official bottom landing. Top landing is easy behind the barbed wire.
- Paragliders: In northerly wind it is possible to land in the fields on the right side after the first gate on the track up. You can also land in the field on the left but this is smaller and trickier. In an east wind, it is preferable to slope land (although watch out for lots of rocks strewn along the slope), or land in the large brown scrub area immediately under the hill. Do NOT walk out through the farm or ask a friend to collect you. You must walk back up the front of the hill. In south-east wind there is no official bottom landing. You must top land or slope land at the foot of the hill and walk back up.
Access and parking
Status: Open - club only.
PG rating: CP +25 hours or accompanied by coach.
HG rating: CP +25 hours or accompanied by coach.
Turn off the A488 at a derelict tower signposted White Grit/Priest Weston 2 km to a T junction. Take the rough track to the left. After 100m go through a gate which must be closed after passing. Go approx 1 km to a gate on the left at the far edge of a tree plantation. Do NOT go any further. Park so farm vehicles with wide loads can pass and can turn in and access all gates.
- the 1st gate: after turning off the tarmac road onto the dirt track, pilots can park well to the right side of this track before the 1st gate. \
- the 2nd gate: this is a enlarged turning area with Lan Fawr gate to the right and Corndon to the left. A few cars can park here but tractors with long trailers use the area as a turning circle to get into the gates so be very sure you are well out of the way. If it already has cars, please go back down to park on the lower track. DO NOT GO THROUGH THESE 2ND GATES WITH A VEHICLE.\
- the 3rd gate: this is at the very top of Corndon. No vehicles must drive up to this gate – it really could jeopodise our use of the site.
Vehicles to be parked in the lane such that farm vehicles can pass at all times. Park well over and not close to gates!\
Pilots should assume farm vehicles are towing large & wide loads and must be able to both pass & to “turn in” to gated accesses, which must not be obstructed.
Always close & chain all gates – even if you find them open. The chain is important otherwise sheep will work a closed gate till they get through!
Local guidance
Hazards and cautions
PARKING. The local farmers require access to both Corndon and Lan Fawr, with room to turn trailers. This means room for parking is very restricted near the second set of gates up the track, with space for a maximum of 4 cars. Members are asked to park at the bottom of the track where it joins the road.
HORSES. Note the farm indicated with the red oval and cross, in the photograph. DO NOT overfly this farm or the surrounding fields. It is used to breed highly expensive, very nervous, race horses.
SSSI. The majority of the hill is registered as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, this includes the take offs and much of the track leading to the top (see map). As a result NO vehicles are to be taken onto the hill.
Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.