Landing
Top landing: Land back on take-off. Note that the hill drops away behind take off and is likely to suffer turbulence and rotor should you be blown back.
Friar Waddon paragliding site and weather forecast
Dorset / Wiltshire. Live seven-day flying weather, launch directions and site information for Friar Waddon.
Altitude101 m
Launch directionsS
Coordinates50.6673, -2.5107
AreaDorset / Wiltshire
Managing club: Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club
Flying profile
Best Workable Not recorded
Friar Waddon is a hill site in Dorset / Wiltshire with a recorded launch elevation of 101 m. It works best in southerly 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
Recent forecast scores
Day scores for Friar Waddon from Magic Skyweed's latest forecast runs (17 Sept, 17:28 UTC), on our 0–100 flying scale. The live forecast scores every hour against your own glider and limits.
- Thu 17 Sept0/100 No-gomedium confidence
- Fri 18 Sept0/100 No-gohigh confidence
- Sat 19 Sept0/100 No-gomedium confidence
- Sun 20 Sept0/100 No-gomedium confidence
- Mon 21 Sept0/100 No-gomedium confidence
- Tue 22 Sept35/100 No-go · top-to-bottommedium confidence
- Wed 23 Sept62/100 Good · top-to-bottomlow confidence
When the wind is wrong for Friar Waddon
The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction Friar Waddon doesn't cover.
Monksdownnortherly wind, 46 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 258 m · N launchPortland Eastnorth-easterly wind, 14 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 113 m · NE launchConey s Castleeasterly wind, 29 km away · Devon and Somerset Condors HGPG · 188 m · E launchBallard Downsouth-easterly wind, 40 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 53 m · SE, S launchRingsteadsouth-westerly wind, 12 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 118 m · SW launchPortland Westwesterly wind, 13 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 91 m · W launchCowdownnorth-westerly wind, 14 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 201 m · W, NW launch
Site briefing highlights
Short extracts from Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club and ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.
Access and parking
From the A354 Dorchester to Weymouth Rd come over the Ridgeway around the hairpin bend under the railway bridge and turn right into Elwell St, Upwey, continue to the end of the road.
Flight rules
http://www.wessexhgpg.org.uk/Sites/SiteGuide/FriarWaddon.pdf
Hazards and cautions
- The face of the ridge at take-off is very steep and, in some places, almost rises vertically. There is sufficient space to land back on top in the bounded field, However, at the rear of the top field the slope runs down towards the north with the problems of rotor and turbulence. The field is bounded on all sides with barbed wire fencing. The field is used by walkers and riders and is occasionally stocked with livestock. The overhead powerlines that ran to the West of the site have now been re- routed underground.
Check current site guidance
Paragliding sites near Friar Waddon
White Horse8 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 143 m · S launchRingstead12 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 118 m · SW launchPortland West13 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 91 m · W launchPortland East14 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 113 m · NE launchCowdown14 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 201 m · W, NW launchTelegraph Hill20 km away · Devon and Somerset Condors HGPG · 256 m · NW 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