Managing club: South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · Access: members only
Site briefing
Planning information for Sugar Loaf
Take-off
Take-off is actually from near the car park of Mynydd Llanwenarth which is a foothill of the Sugar Loaf.
Access to take-off is by foot only. Park at the official National trust car park, walk east 250m along road to the unofficial parking spot, then walk up hill 50m. A 25m wide strip of bracken is cut late summer which makes take off easier for paragliders. When the bracken is at its highest, use one of the grass tracks which run parallel to the road. Take-off is very shallow, very often with a line of cars parked where the slope then flattens out (so don’t park here but use the National Trust car park). This is a technical, alpine style, take-off. It is only suitable for experienced pilots.
Take-off is in the lee of the trees in front and you can expect significant sinking air (and/or turbulence) before you clear the tree line in front.
Landing
Top landing is possible to the NE of take-off (A).
Bottom Landing (B) is small and technical. It is bordered to the north and south by trees, west by the farm house, and east by power lines. It is only suitable for light, or nil, wind days.
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.
Access and parking
Take the A40 from Abergavenny or Crickhowell, turn onto the minor road signposted to the vineyard (NP7 7LA). After the vineyard continue up the hill, around the hairpin bend, take the right fork past the house for approximately ½ mile.
NB The Sugar loaf is a very popular tourist spot so the narrow road can be busy; please show consideration to other users.
Please park in the National Trust car park as marked on the map.
Latitude: N51.843223
Longitude: W003.059595
Local guidance
Hazards and cautions
The site is in the lee of the Blorenge and so liable to extreme turbulence in anything above 15mph. SSE & S, can be turbulent on take-off. SW can give severe sink at the spot where the cars are usually parked. There are tall trees and a wall below the road which are not visible from take-off. There are power lines running parallel to the ridge near to the A40.
Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.