About this flying site
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Firle paragliding site and weather forecast
South Downs, Sussex. Live seven-day flying weather, launch directions and site information for Firle.
Altitude165 m
Launch directionsN, NW
Coordinates50.8338, 0.0844
AreaSouth Downs, Sussex
Managing club: Southern Hang Gliding Club · Access: membership
Flying profile
Best Workable Not recorded
Firle is a hill site in South Downs, Sussex with a recorded launch elevation of 165 m. It works best in northerly and north-westerly winds. Pilots fly it for ridge soaring and thermal, using foot launch.
- Terrain
- hill
- Lift
- ridge soaring and thermal
- Launch
- foot launch
- Cross-country
- Not recorded
When the wind is wrong for Firle
The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction Firle doesn't cover.
Bo-Peepnorth-easterly wind, 3 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 183 m · NE launchHigh and Overeasterly or south-easterly wind, 6 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 76 m · E, SE launchMount Caburnsoutherly or south-westerly wind, 4 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 137 m · S, SW launchButser Westwesterly wind, 77 km away · Sky Surfing Club · 236 m · N, NE, W launch
Site briefing highlights
Short extracts from Southern Hang Gliding Club and ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.
Take-off
Take-off — do not launch anywhere between the Firle Plantation and the Bo Peep quarry. The main take-off is the large field north of the car park, but the trees in the bowl have grown and there is now turbulent flow across the take-off…
Landing
Do not land and re-launch anywhere between the Firle Plantation and the Bo Peep quarry — if you bomb out there, pack up and walk back.
Access and parking
Large public car park (paid parking since 2023) — beware of thieves operating in the area, and do not block the way for large agricultural machinery. Between Lewes and Polegate on the A27, turn south at the sign-post for Firle.
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.
Hazards and cautions
- Aeromodellers usually fly in the next bowl over to the west (no formal agreement) — give them a wide berth when transiting the bowl; shout 'Hello, glider coming through' to attract the attention of the model pilots as you approach, and avoid flying between the model and its operator.
- Beware the fence running right across in front of the eastern take-off area, the many trees on the slope and bushes in front of the eastern field, and the plantation of trees to the east — always keep enough height to glide clear. The site has many rabbit holes and WWII foxholes within its boundaries. Be aware there may be paragliding student pilots in Beddingham bowl just to the west — watch for red-ribbon pilots from that direction and give them room if they fly east, or if you use their bowl.
- Airflow: Watch out for turbulence from the trees on the face of the slope — it can generate just enough sink to drop you into the fence on take-off; the take-off area usually has a steep wind gradient. Walk to the very edge to gauge actual wind speed; due to venturi, the wind at the rear of the main field can be more than at the front — do not get blown back into the rear fence. In stronger winds the combination of trees, the steep bowl and the flat field behind can generate serious rotor over the centre of the take-off. When the wind is off to the east (over the plantation), beware serious rotor at the right end of the main top-landing field and lower down the right side of the bowl; when off to the west, beware rotor lower down the left side of the bowl. The low bowl with higher slopes either side produces a marked venturi that can make the wind seem straight on the slope when it is 45° or more off — be very aware of this, particularly in very strong north-easterlies when the whole bowl can become dangerous; if in any doubt, walk to the top of the spur to the west to assess true wind before flying.
- Exact launch
- Launch GPS
- 50.83478, 0.08719
- Members also see the gate / padlock code (where a site has one), the Safety Officer’s contact, and the downloadable guide (PDF).
Check current site guidance
Paragliding sites near Firle
Bo-Peep3 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 183 m · NE launchMount Caburn4 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 137 m · S, SW launchHigh and Over6 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 76 m · E, SE launchNewhaven Cliffs6 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 55 m · S launchDitchling Beacon16 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 222 m · N launchBeachy Head16 km away · Southern Hang Gliding Club · 163 m · SE, S launch
Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.
More paragliding sites in the UK · Read the paragliding weather guide