Managing club: South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · Access: open
Site briefing
Planning information for Mynydd Meio
Take-off
SW take-off: Access to take-off is by foot and is short carry up the face of the hill (up the easily identified path). The preparation area is large and the take-off is friendly.
There is also another path which goes up the face of the hill to the east by the fence – if you end up landing down this end this path may be more suitable.
NW take-off – This is easily accessible by walking up from the road and directly up the NW end of Mynydd Meio.
The hill is not usually flown in a NW wind as significant wind speed is needed to generate sufficient lift to maintain height easily.
NE take -off – This is rarely flown as there are better local options. Access is also from the NW path.
Landing
SW side – The top landing area is extensive and quite flat.
Paragliders can bottom land on the open hill alongside the road (PG landing on map), but there is not enough room to safely land a hang glider there. The emergency bottom landing field for hang gliders is at the bottom of the hill (HG landing on map) to the right of take-off. This field is small and the landing approach difficult, and you should not take-off if there are animals in the field. Please do not fly a hang glider unless you are sure it is soarable, or you possess the necessary skills to land in the emergency landing field. Please do not land in any other enclosed fields, or climb walls or fences.
NW side – The top landing area is fairly extensive and quite flat but because the lift band is narrow you may find it difficult getting high enough again to top land if you drop lower than the top of the hill. There is no defined bottom landing for the NW side so if you cannot top or side land then you may need to fly back towards the NW corner of the hill and land by the side of the road or in the emergency bottom landing field (B).
South East Wales sites often have very large, undefined take off and top landing areas, which may change position according to conditions. To avoid the potential for collision, pilots making a top landing should keep well away from gliders taking off, who may in some cases have limited visibility.
Looking west from Mynydd Meio in the sunset. Photo courtesy of Alex Kennedy.
Access and parking
Usually either by minor roads from the A470 – from the Treforest roundabout, or from the Caerphilly road.
UPDATE JUNE 2020 – ROAD ACCESS FROM NANTGARW IS CLOSED – ACCESS ONLY VIA UPPER BOAT ROUNDABOUT.
Park off the road at the foot of the hill (in the lay by).
Local guidance
Hazards and cautions
Beware of the many power lines and the TV masts. Keep a sharp lookout for model aircraft. Be respectful of the wild horses which live on the top. Be careful of rocks and fences when soaring in close to the ridge. The A470 valley in front of take-off is full of power lines and pylons, pilots should therefore not attempt to fly to the valley bottom.
Beware of barbed wire fences surrounding some of the top of the SW take-off. Beware of rocks (visible and non visible in bracken). Ticks are known to be present on the hill. Locate and beware of the cross hidden in bracken in the landing on the SW side (see image right).
If flying the NW side in strong winds then expect wave off the ridge and hills in front (Mynydd Eglwysilan).
The field to the north of the hill is occasionally used for clay pigeon shooting. Do not fly immediately down wind of this field when shooting is taking place.
Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.