About this flying site
Site Fee If flying from, or landing at, the normal PG take-off end of Kimmeridge, a daily fee of £2.00 is payable to Jerry Hole at Kimmeridge Farm.
Kimmeridge paragliding site and weather forecast
Dorset / Wiltshire. Live seven-day flying weather, launch directions and site information for Kimmeridge.
Altitude153 m
Launch directionsSW
Coordinates50.6151, -2.1059
AreaDorset / Wiltshire
Managing club: Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club
Flying profile
Best Workable Not recorded
Kimmeridge is a hill site in Dorset / Wiltshire with a recorded launch elevation of 153 m. It works best in south-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
Recent forecast scores
Day scores for Kimmeridge from Magic Skyweed's latest forecast runs (17 Sept, 15:39 UTC), on our 0–100 flying scale. The live forecast scores every hour against your own glider and limits.
- Thu 17 Sept0/100 No-gohigh confidence
- Fri 18 Sept0/100 No-gohigh confidence
- Sat 19 Sept0/100 No-gohigh confidence
- Sun 20 Sept0/100 No-gomedium confidence
- Mon 21 Sept35/100 No-go · top-to-bottommedium confidence
- Tue 22 Sept0/100 No-gomedium confidence
When the wind is wrong for Kimmeridge
The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction Kimmeridge doesn't cover.
Monksdownnortherly wind, 41 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 258 m · N launchPortland Eastnorth-easterly wind, 23 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 113 m · NE launchHambledon Hilleasterly wind, 34 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 150 m · E launchBallard Downsouth-easterly or southerly wind, 11 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 53 m · SE, S launchPortland Westwesterly wind, 25 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 91 m · W launchBell Hillnorth-westerly wind, 32 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 253 m · NW launch
Site briefing highlights
Short extracts from Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club and ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.
Take-off
Launch from the slope below the ridge top anywhere clear of vegetation. If the wind is off to the South or the west adjust your launch location to best suit the direction.
Landing
Top landing: There is rotor in the top landing fields particularly in the first 200 yards behind the wall. This is extremely dangerous for hang-gliders in winds above 18mph.
Access and parking
From Wareham - Follow the A351 Wareham bypass south towards Swanage. On the outskirts of Stoborough, 1 mile after the A352 roundabout, turn right at the signpost to Creech / Kimmeridge (West Lane).
Local weather notes
General Site Info Kimmeridge is a cross between coastal and inland site. It is close enough to the coast to benefit from sea breeze in summer and also far enough inland to develop significant thermic activity.
Hazards and cautions
- The more westerly the wind, the more turbulent the conditions can be. Thermals are often small and punchy on the site. Beware of sudden & strong venturi, stone walls, scrub and barbed wire fences. Several gliders have been damaged on launching or landing by being dragged onto the fences that bound the top of the site. Be aware of wind direction when slope landing as with the West – South aspect of the ridge the wind can pull either way and it may feel like a downwind approach in either direction. Look out for quick forming orographic cloud. The westerly end of the ridge is used by aero-modellers Accidents have resulted from pilots catching a foot in animal burrows on the slopes.
Check current site guidance
Paragliding sites near Kimmeridge
St Aldhelms4 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 49 mBallard Down11 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 53 m · SE, S launchRingstead17 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 118 m · SW launchWhite Horse22 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 143 m · S launchBoscombe cliffs23 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 31 m · S launchPortland East23 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 113 m · NE 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