St Bees paragliding site and weather forecast

When the wind is wrong for St Bees

The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction St Bees doesn't cover.

Site briefing highlights

Short extracts from Cumbria Soaring Club and ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.

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!

Check current site guidance

• Cumbria Soaring Club — site guide
• Cumbria Soaring Club — club home
• ParaglidingEarth site record

Paragliding sites near St Bees