About this flying site
The White Horse is an excellent XC site when the wind is West or WNW as thermals come off Westbury Town. You can fly east along the Danger Area and along the Pewsey Vale.
Westbury White Horse paragliding site and weather forecast
Bristol / Mendips / Cotswolds. Live seven-day flying weather, launch directions and site information for Westbury White Horse.
Altitude210 m
Launch directionsNW
Coordinates51.2624, -2.1477
AreaBristol / Mendips / Cotswolds
Managing club: Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club
Flying profile
Best Workable Not recorded
Westbury White Horse is a hill site in Bristol / Mendips / Cotswolds with a recorded launch elevation of 210 m. It works best in north-westerly winds, and can also work in westerly winds. Pilots fly it for ridge soaring and thermal, using foot launch.
- Terrain
- hill
- Lift
- ridge soaring and thermal
- Launch
- foot launch
- Cross-country
- Not recorded
Recent forecast scores
Day scores for Westbury White Horse from Magic Skyweed's latest forecast runs (17 Sept, 15:39 UTC), on our 0–100 flying scale. The live forecast scores every hour against your own glider and limits.
- Thu 17 Sept0/100 No-gohigh confidence
- Fri 18 Sept0/100 No-gohigh confidence
- Sat 19 Sept0/100 No-gohigh confidence
- Sun 20 Sept33/100 No-go · ridgemedium confidence
- Mon 21 Sept34/100 No-go · ridgemedium confidence
- Tue 22 Sept0/100 No-gomedium confidence
- Wed 23 Sept0/100 No-golow confidence
When the wind is wrong for Westbury White Horse
The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction Westbury White Horse doesn't cover.
Westbury - Bratton Campnortherly wind, 0 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 215 m · N launchUbleynorth-easterly wind, 37 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 185 m · NE launchHambledon Hilleasterly wind, 39 km away · Wessex Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 150 m · E launchRifle Rangesouth-easterly wind, 19 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 165 m · SE, S launchCoward's bowlsoutherly or south-westerly wind, 19 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 187 m · S, SW launch
Site briefing highlights
Short extracts from Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club and ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.
Take-off
https://w3w.co/tubes.seated.reservoir Either side of the obelisk on the front of the hill. When conditions permit, paragliders should launch from well to the east of the obelisk. Do not take off from the white horse face of the hill.
Landing
Top landing: Do not land on the side of the hill, especially on the White Horse as it is a national monument. Land anywhere on the common area behind the parked cars. Beware of members of the public, especially those flying kites.
Access and parking
Pilot rating: Club Pilot. Restrictions: Take off and landing areas at the white horse must be treated as an active airfield. No waggas, foot drags, wingovers to be performed at, or in front of, take off.
Local weather notes
In an West to Northwest we often get out-of-phase wave gusts at takeoff but once airborne it's ok.
Flight rules
Site rules: don't land anywhere along the sides of the ridges except in front of the White Horse hill carving. Don't land in any bottom field except the emergency landing field.
Check current site guidance
Paragliding sites near Westbury White Horse
Westbury - Bratton Camp0 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 215 m · N launchCoward's bowl19 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 187 m · S, SW launchRifle Range19 km away · Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club · 165 m · SE, S launchRybury22 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 208 m · W launchMilk Hill White Horse24 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 261 m · S, SW launchMilk Hill24 km away · Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club · 262 m · SW launch
Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.
More paragliding sites in the UK · Read the paragliding weather guide