Please ensure that you are a temporary or annual member before you fly. This helps us to help you on the hill, and means we have your contact details if we need to get in touch with you.
Location
Click the interactive map above to see the site features described below, such as parking and take-off.
OS Map Coordinates: Sheet 180 – SS 440 407
Latitude: 51°14’40.9″N, Longitude: 4°23’05.3″W
Suitability
Paragliding: Club Pilot Rated with 10 hours total logged
Hang Gliding: Club Pilot Rated with 10 hours total logged
If unsure, check with one of the club coaches before flying.
Take Off
Height 375′ ASL.
This is a coastal cliff site and therefore we recommend you rig behind take off. Please treat this as a cliff launch, recommended that you have previous cliff launch experience. For Hang Gliders a Nose Man may be required.
Top Landing
The field drops back 100 metres behind take off. Avoid landing too far back when the winds are strong as there can be turbulence and rotor in this area.
Slope Landing
There are some slope landing options to the east of take off for paragliders if the wind becomes light. Along the actual coastline, the slope becomes steeper quickly. It is recommended that you do not allow yourself to get below the coastal path and slope land before that occurs.
Bottom landing
NOTE – This is a coastal site – at High Tide there is NO BOTTOM LANDING. Ensure you have judged the conditions properly and when possible launch when the sea is not at high tide so you have a bottom landing option on the beach below. Please be aware in the summer the beach can be busy so ensure you give members of the public plenty of room and notice of your landing intentions.
Hazards
HIGH TIDE – NO BOTTOM LANDING! Judge the conditions – advisable to launch when tide is out. All Pilots should be extremely cautious when flying a sea breeze. Note that at the end of the day it can switch off suddenly which results in extreme sink on the site!
NO POTENTIAL TO GO DOWN WIND – There is a beach and bay 1km south of launch – ensure you do not fly in strong winds otherwise there is the potential to get blown over the back towards the bay.
NORTH DEVON COASTAL PATH – Please be aware that the launch site is very close to the coastal path and there are walkers who frequent this area.
If the search and rescue Helicopter repeatedly flies over and close to the site then a rescue is in progress and all pilots should land immediately. A large L will be displayed on takeoff and/ or a fog horn sounded but should this for some reason not happen all pilots must land anyway.
XC Flying
Putsborough is a coastal ridge soaring site. To the south of launch is Croyde Bay therefore we do not recommend you fly downwind of the site. It can provide great ridge soaring along the coast to Baggy Point which is approximately 2kms to the west of launch. However, note THERE IS NO BOTTOM LANDING.
If in doubt top land in the fields that follow the cliff site. Hang Gliders give yourself plenty of height to set-up properly for a top landing.
Directions
From Croyde follow the signs to Pustborough Beach. It is a narrow lane so beware of oncoming traffic. Approximately 500ft before the turning down to Putsborough Beach there is a metal gate on the Westerly side of the road. This is the site entrance.
Parking
There are two parking options:
1/ Access the site through the metal gate on Veniton Lane. Park in the layby at the cross roads and walk up the track to the hill. Access to take off with a vehicle is through this gate. Please ensure that you close the gate upon entering and leaving. Follow the track that runs adjacent to the wall and park your vehicle at the point where the wall turns 90 degrees south. This ensures it is out of view from the public on the beach. Parking is strictly limited to members and temporary members only.
2/ Alternatively you can park at the Car Park at Putsborough Beach itself. This is chargeable.
Access
Once parked in the site access to launch is a 500ft walk over the field to take off. If accessing from Putsborough beach, follow the south west coastal path which is a through a gate to the south of the car park. The path leads up the hill to take off.
Emergency Information
Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
If you cannot make voice calls, you can now contact the 999 Emergency Services by SMS. Note: You must register this prior to an emergency.
You will need to provide the following information:
- Name and mobile number of who is calling
- What has happened?
- What is the problem, state of the casualty. Ensure you use Fall from Height and Remote Location.
- Location: OS Grid Reference Sheet Sheet 180 – SS 440 407 or specific location if different.
- Details of casualty: Name, Age, Address (if known).