Thermal flying sites in the UK
Sites recorded as thermal launches, best on days with sunshine, a workable lapse rate and a high enough cloud base. 103 in the UK, grouped by best wind direction (sites that work in several winds appear more than once).
Top-scoring of these sites in our latest forecasts
Best day scores from Magic Skyweed's most recent forecast runs, on our 0–100 flying scale (latest run 17 Sept, 17:28 UTC). Open a site for hour-by-hour detail scored against your own wing.
Coward's bowlTue 22 Sept: 78/100 Good · ridge · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 187 m · S, SW launchCoward's bowlTue 22 Sept: 78/100 Good · ridge · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 187 m · S, SW launchWhitestonesTue 22 Sept: 68/100 Good · ridge · Cumbria Soaring Club · 461 m · SW, W launchWhitestonesTue 22 Sept: 68/100 Good · ridge · Cumbria Soaring Club · 461 m · SW, W launchPen Cerrig CalchTue 22 Sept: 67/100 Good · top-to-bottom · South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 565 m · S launchBell HillMon 21 Sept: 64/100 Good · ridge · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 253 m · NW launchMilk Hill White HorseTue 22 Sept: 64/100 Good · top-to-bottom · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 261 m · S, SW launchMilk Hill White HorseTue 22 Sept: 64/100 Good · top-to-bottom · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 261 m · S, SW launch
Best in northerly winds
Butser WestSky Surfing Club · 236 m · N, NE, W launchCam Long DownAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 198 m · N, W, NW launchCombe GibbetThames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 220 m · N, NW launchCorndonLong Mynd Soaring Club · 464 m · N, NE, E, SE, S launchDevil's DykeSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 193 m · N, NW launchDitchling BeaconSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 222 m · N launchFan GyhirychSouth West Wales Soaring Club · 700 m · N, NE, SW, W, NW launchFirleSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 165 m · N, NW launchHillend (Restricted)Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 441 m · N, SE launchHundred House (Builth Wells / Fforest farm)Malvern Hang Gliding Club · 422 m · N launchLeckhampton HillMalvern Hang Gliding Club · 276 m · N launchLlangollenNorth Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 387 m · N, NW launchLords SeatDerbyshire Soaring Club · 491 m · N launchModel RidgeNorth Yorks Sailwing Club · 281 m · N launchMonksdownWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 258 m · N launchTinto (North)Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 378 m · N launchWestbury - Bratton CampAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 215 m · N launch
Best in north-easterly winds
BlaenavonSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 550 m · NE launchBo-PeepSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 183 m · NE launchButser WestSky Surfing Club · 236 m · N, NE, W launchCocking TorDerbyshire Soaring Club · 288 m · NE, E launchCorndonLong Mynd Soaring Club · 464 m · N, NE, E, SE, S launchcringle moorNorth Yorks Sailwing Club · 397 m · NE launchFan GyhirychSouth West Wales Soaring Club · 700 m · N, NE, SW, W, NW launchHay BluffSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 656 m · NE, NW launchSharpenhoeDunstable Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 147 m · NE launch
Best in easterly winds
Carrock FellCumbria Soaring Club · 395 m · E launchCastle MortonMalvern Hang Gliding Club · 254 m · E launchCocking TorDerbyshire Soaring Club · 288 m · NE, E launchCorndonLong Mynd Soaring Club · 464 m · N, NE, E, SE, S launchHigh and OverSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 76 m · E, SE launchKettle singsMalvern Hang Gliding Club · 341 m · E launchMoel BerfeddSnowdonia Sky Sports · 450 m · E launchPandySouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 348 m · E launchPenycloddiau EastNorth Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 385 m · E launchPinnacle HillMalvern Hang Gliding Club · 341 m · E launchTreak CliffDerbyshire Soaring Club · 368 m · E launchWhernsideDales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 579 m · E, SE launchWrynose PassCumbria Soaring Club · 488 m · E launch
Best in south-easterly winds
Barkin FellCumbria Soaring Club · 500 m · SE launchBeachy HeadSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 163 m · SE, S launchCorndonLong Mynd Soaring Club · 464 m · N, NE, E, SE, S launchCwmbranSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 457 m · SE, S launchEast HillNorthumbria Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 214 m · SE launchFarmersMid Wales & Borders Soaring Club · 346 m · SE launchGyrn MoelfreNorth Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 390 m · SE launchHigh and OverSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 76 m · E, SE launchHillend (Restricted)Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 441 m · N, SE launchMyreton - OchilsLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 372 m · SE, S, SW launchTalybontSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 646 m · SE, S, SW launchThe WrekinLong Mynd Soaring Club · 394 m · SE, NW launchWhernsideDales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 579 m · E, SE launchWhitbarrow ScarCumbria Soaring Club · 180 m · SE, SW launch
Best in southerly winds
Beachy HeadSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 163 m · SE, S launchCacraWingbeat Paragliding Club · 301 m · S launchCampsiesLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 360 m · S, SW launchCorndonLong Mynd Soaring Club · 464 m · N, NE, E, SE, S launchCoward's bowlAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 187 m · S, SW launchCwmbranSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 457 m · SE, S launchDumyatLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 360 m · S launchEyam EdgeDerbyshire Soaring Club · 365 m · S, SW launchFriar WaddonWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 101 m · S launchGlyderauSnowdonia Sky Sports · 428 m · S launchGreat LangdaleCumbria Soaring Club · 520 m · S, SW launchMilk Hill White HorseThames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 261 m · S, SW launchMount CaburnSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 137 m · S, SW launchMyreton - OchilsLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 372 m · SE, S, SW launchPen Cerrig CalchSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 565 m · S launchTalybontSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 646 m · SE, S, SW launchTinto (South)Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 520 m · S launchWhite HorseWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 143 m · S launch
Best in south-westerly winds
Brant SideDales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 493 m · SW launchBrigsteerCumbria Soaring Club · 135 m · SW, W launchBulbarrowWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 253 m · SW launchCampsiesLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 360 m · S, SW launchCapt Cooks MonumentNorth Yorks Sailwing Club · 303 m · SW launchCorton DenhamWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 169 m · SW launchCoward's bowlAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 187 m · S, SW launchCross FellCumbria Soaring Club · 530 m · SW launchEyam EdgeDerbyshire Soaring Club · 365 m · S, SW launchFan GyhirychSouth West Wales Soaring Club · 700 m · N, NE, SW, W, NW launchFarleton KnottCumbria Soaring Club · 154 m · SW, W, NW launchGreat LangdaleCumbria Soaring Club · 520 m · S, SW launchHaresfieldAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 204 m · SW launchKimmeridgeWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 153 m · SW launchMilk Hill White HorseThames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 261 m · S, SW launchMount BengerWingbeat Paragliding Club · 467 m · SW, W launchMount CaburnSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 137 m · S, SW launchMyreton - OchilsLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 372 m · SE, S, SW launchNantymoelSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 472 m · SW launchStanageDerbyshire Soaring Club · 427 m · SW launchTalybontSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 646 m · SE, S, SW launchWhitbarrow ScarCumbria Soaring Club · 180 m · SE, SW launchWhitestonesCumbria Soaring Club · 461 m · SW, W launch
Best in westerly winds
Bishops HillLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 432 m · W, NW launchBradwellDerbyshire Soaring Club · 352 m · W launchBrigsteerCumbria Soaring Club · 135 m · SW, W launchButser WestSky Surfing Club · 236 m · N, NE, W launchCam Long DownAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 198 m · N, W, NW launchDungavelLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 501 m · W launchDunstableDunstable Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 192 m · W launchElidir FachSnowdonia Sky Sports · 431 m · W, NW launchEllersideCumbria Soaring Club · 149 m · W launchFan GyhirychSouth West Wales Soaring Club · 700 m · N, NE, SW, W, NW launchFarleton KnottCumbria Soaring Club · 154 m · SW, W, NW launchFochriwSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 444 m · W launchLlandinamLong Mynd Soaring Club · 406 m · W, NW launchLong MyndLong Mynd Soaring Club · 414 m · W launchMerthyr CommonSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 416 m · W launchMoel FamauNorth Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 429 m · W launchMount BengerWingbeat Paragliding Club · 467 m · SW, W launchPulePennine Soaring Club · 404 m · W launchRyburyThames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 208 m · W launchShining TorPeak Soaring Association · 533 m · W launchWhitesheetWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 225 m · W launchWhitestonesCumbria Soaring Club · 461 m · SW, W launch
Best in north-westerly winds
Aonach MorLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 619 m · NW launchBarton FellCumbria Soaring Club · 567 m · NW launchBell HillWessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 253 m · NW launchBishops HillLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 432 m · W, NW launchBodesbeck LawWingbeat Paragliding Club · 656 m · NW launchCam Long DownAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 198 m · N, W, NW launchCarlton bankNorth Yorks Sailwing Club · 323 m · NW launchChinnorDunstable Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 235 m · NW launchCombe GibbetThames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 220 m · N, NW launchDevil's DykeSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 193 m · N, NW launchDisgwylfa FawrMid Wales & Borders Soaring Club · 423 m · NW launchElidir FachSnowdonia Sky Sports · 431 m · W, NW launchFan GyhirychSouth West Wales Soaring Club · 700 m · N, NE, SW, W, NW launchFarleton KnottCumbria Soaring Club · 154 m · SW, W, NW launchFirleSouthern Hang Gliding Club · 165 m · N, NW launchHay BluffSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 656 m · NE, NW launchLlanddewi BrefiMid Wales & Borders Soaring Club · 302 m · NW launchLlandinamLong Mynd Soaring Club · 406 m · W, NW launchLlangollenNorth Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 387 m · N, NW launchMoel EilioSnowdonia Sky Sports · 338 m · NW launchMoneylawsNorthumbria Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 143 m · NW launchMoorfootsLanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club · 420 m · NW launchSelsley CommonAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 202 m · NW launchThe WrekinLong Mynd Soaring Club · 394 m · SE, NW launchWestbury White HorseAvon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 210 m · NW launch
Direction not recorded
AbertysswgSouth East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 395 m · W, NW launchClough HeadCumbria Soaring Club · 480 m · W, NW launchCountisburyDevon and Somerset Condors HGPG · 294 m · N, NW launchSwinsideCumbria Soaring Club · 347 m · SW, W, NW launchUllock PikeCumbria Soaring Club · 271 m · W, NW launch
Sites by wind direction
Sites by flying style
Direction ratings are a starting point. Local topography, sea breeze and valley winds change how a site works; read each site's briefing and the live forecast before travelling.