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Lake District — Cumbrian Coast - South of Whitehaven · Paragliding site
St Bees paragliding site and weather forecast
Live seven-day flying weather with launch direction, altitude and local site information for St Bees.
Altitude6 m
Launch directionsNot recorded
Coordinates54.4886, -3.6024
AreaLake District — Cumbrian Coast - South of Whitehaven
Managing club: Cumbria Soaring Club · Access: open
Site briefing
Planning information for St Bees
Take-off
For the golf course/beach cliff take-off is normally from, or in front of, the old car park directly South of the cafe and requires some ground handling skills and launching across a busy footpath. There are further take off opportunities to the south, some of which may be gentler on your wing than the car park, if you use these please take care not to infringe on the golf course or interfere with play. If you intend flying NORTH of the beach, from the 'South Head' (NW of the St Bees caravan park); There are adequate take off places west of the cliff-top fence, which avoid rotor and are away from any stock in the fields east of the fence. Note the footpath has been re routed into the fields, but pilots can use the old footpath to get to the suggested take off areas (see photographs). The lower cliff-top take off is in a corner of the fence next to a bank of gorse, to the west of the fields and the fence, there are bigger (but sloping) take off areas higher up the old path (see photos). If you prefer to take off from the fields, please be aware of any rotor from the cliff top and do not unduly disturb any farm stock.
Landing
Land back at take off in the old car park south of the Beach Cafe. Or land on the beach. Do not land on the golf course if at all possible.
Access and parking
Car park Os grid ref: NX960119 From the main A595 turn off for St Bees at any signed junction. At St Bees make for either the north end St. Bees Beach car park which is at the start of the Coast-to-Coast walk (west of St Bees Railway Station) or for the south end beach car park at the end of Sea Mill Lane . Sea Mill Lane takes you under a very low tunnel under the railway. In anything bigger than a car it is very tight! Getting to takeoff Take off for the golf course/beach cliff is directly South of the beach cafe, usually from the disused car park next to the cafe, there are also several further take-off opportunities further south along the path between the clifftop and the golf course. To fly the area north west of the caravan park: Follow the obvious cliff-top footpath for half a mile to take off. The lower cliff-top take off is in a corner of the fence next to a bank of gorse, to the west of the fields and the fence. There is a bigger (but sloping) take off area higher up the old path which can be accessed as in the photo, or by walking down the old path from the gate at the top of the hill (this avoids any erosion). Note that currently there is no active erosion anywhere along the old path. (See photos) Alternatively, you may take off out of the fields, but take care not to disturb stock and to avoid the upwind fence! Permission to use site No permission required
Local guidance
Hazards and cautions
- If St Bees is your second choice of site, due to it being blown out inland, be extra careful; you may have to cope with top end conditions of wind, terrain turbulence and cliff top rotor.
- The height and ebb/flow status of the tide should always be known and taken into very careful consideration.
- Risk to the Public: Most of the take off locations require good ground-handling skills to launch across busy footpaths; please be careful, considerate and polite at all times.
- Please take public safety into account if you land in the Public Park/Play Area and DO NOT ground handle in the park/play area north of the Beach Cafe - due to the risk of injury to the public and at the request of the local authorities.
- If you have to land on the beach:
- Beware huge slabs and boulders at the northern extremity of the beach, and more boulders at the southern end.
- Beware the wooden groynes on the beach north of the cafe (see photos).
- Beware getting dry tough bits of seaweed snagging and knotting your lines.
- Beware landing on the sand and soaking your wing in standing salt water.
- The club suggests, if you must land on the beach, it is better to land on the stone shingle strip around the obvious high tide line.
- The area south of the cafe is suitable for less experienced CPs as long as they don't stray from the golf course cliff area, they respect windy days and don't scratch in too close right after launch.
- The cliff area to the north of the Lifeboat Station is more unfriendly and less suitable for inexperienced pilots.
- This part of the site has some committed take off areas with limited landing options due to the beach boulders or no beach! If you lose height and can no longer top land it is a significant glide back to a safe landing.
- The corner at the very north end of the beach is a known turbulence hotspot.
- Be aware that if you are flying a vertical cliff face and the wind deviates from straight on, the wind soon has no vertical lift component, due to the lack of slope to force the air up. So the air quickly turns to run parallel to the cliff face. By this time you can't soar because you have either a strong head or tail wind.
- If you have not flown this site before the club suggests you do not fly the cliffs to the north of the Lifeboat Station unless you have been fully briefed by a 'St Bees experienced' pilot or you have very carefully studied and FULLY understand this guide.
- Make sure you have a valid flight plan plus options BEFORE you take off!
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