Take-off
Nice grassy takeoff
Golden Ball paragliding site and weather forecast
Wiltshire / Berkshire / Oxfordshire Downs. Live seven-day flying weather, launch directions and site information for Golden Ball.
Altitude264 m
Launch directionsS
Coordinates51.3731, -1.8204
AreaWiltshire / Berkshire / Oxfordshire Downs
Managing club: Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · Access: open sensitive
Flying profile
Best Workable Not recorded
Golden Ball is a flying site in Wiltshire / Berkshire / Oxfordshire Downs with a recorded launch elevation of 264 m. It works best in southerly winds, and can also work in south-easterly winds.
Recent forecast scores
Day scores for Golden Ball from Magic Skyweed's latest forecast runs (17 Sept, 08:17 UTC), on our 0–100 flying scale. The live forecast scores every hour against your own glider and limits.
- Wed 23 Sept67/100 Goodlow confidence
When the wind is wrong for Golden Ball
The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction Golden Ball doesn't cover.
Combe Gibbetnortherly wind, 24 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 220 m · N, NW launchUbleynorth-easterly wind, 60 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 185 m · NE launchHambledon Hilleasterly wind, 58 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 150 m · E launchMilk Hill White Horsesouth-westerly wind, 2 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 261 m · S, SW launchRyburywesterly wind, 4 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 208 m · W launchLiddingtonnorth-westerly wind, 18 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 268 m · SW, NW launch
Site briefing highlights
Short extracts from Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club and ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.
Access and parking
Pilot rating required: P+100. CANP reference: Golden Ball SU127638.
Flight rules
XC only site in the summer. Pilots must be full Thames Valley members in order to fly it.
Hazards and cautions
- Pilots with Pilot rating or above plus 100 hrs only, due to XC focus. No pilot training or trainee pilots. This is not a site for general ridge soaring.
Check current site guidance
Paragliding sites near Golden Ball
Milk Hill White Horse2 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 261 m · S, SW launchMilk Hill3 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 262 m · SW launchRybury4 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 208 m · W launchLiddington18 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 268 m · SW, NW launchSugar Hill18 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 195 m · SW launchCombe Gibbet24 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 220 m · N, 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