Topic: What are the "Epic" slopes to fly?

Since returning to model flying several years ago. I have become more interested in Slope Soaring. Last year I flew at the Bwlch, Lleyn peninsular and the Great Orme often using the excuse of taking SWMBO on a holiday. I would like to do the same next year, both in GB and Europe. What do people think are the must fly slopes or soaring events to attend for someone who is interested in all types of Slope Soaring and likes to travel. If they happen to be in a nice area for a holiday then all the better!

Rhossili on the Gower, South Wales in 30 mph plus

St Agnes, Cornwall. Not a bad place for a holiday, either.

Would like to hear if anyone has flown any European slopes in the alps. Been skiing many time before the interest in sloping. Most of them would be Epic.

St Agnes, Cornwall. Not a bad place for a holiday, either.

Great place to live but in the summer its full of tourists

Rhossilli on the list for a weekend. Close enough to wait for the right wind and headover

Are there any decent slopes on Dartmoor?

Ive often fished the upper tamar and wondered how good some of hills would be for sloping.

We tried Clent earlier this year but were disappointed (weather related - not the hill)

And would love to have tried Malvern whilst I was in the area

Are there any decent slopes on Dartmoor?

Ive often fished the upper tamar and wondered how good some of hills would be for sloping.

We tried Clent earlier this year but were disappointed (weather related - not the hill)

And would love to have tried Malvern whilst I was in the area

Malvern is OK, but not brilliant.

The various slopes at the Bwlch or Whitesheet are nicer.

I think how good a slope is depends very much on the conditions and the company, the most fun I've had was at some very average slopes but with great lift and nice people. And when my thumbs seemed to be working well...

Are there any decent slopes on Dartmoor?

Ive often fished the upper tamar and wondered how good some of hills would be for sloping.

We tried Clent earlier this year but were disappointed (weather related - not the hill)

And would love to have tried Malvern whilst I was in the area

I know that some people fly scale at Cox Tor would be good to head up there one day in the summer, and there are  the slopes Devonflyer has listed on his web site, that would be worth a visit from Cornwall next summer.

I think how good a slope is depends very much on the conditions and the company, the most fun I've had was at some very average slopes but with great lift and nice people. And when my thumbs seemed to be working well...

Absolutley agree with you, but I would like to fly some really big/beautiful slopes, really its just an excuse to travel.

Roger, what do you consider an 'epic' slope?

Is it:

Panoramic views with a vista that takes your breath away.

Or one that the prevailing gales suck the saliva out of your mouth and leaves you like a dehydrated husk

When the lift goes on forever

Or a combination of all three?

Absolutley agree with you, but I would like to fly some really big/beautiful slopes, really its just an excuse to travel.

Some of my best flying sessions have been on top of rhossili on my own with no distractions just the planes, birds, the view and the wind. The epic slopes don't require company, after all you're there to fly, and the best slopes ensure u fly your best.

Absolutley agree with you, but I would like to fly some really big/beautiful slopes, really its just an excuse to travel.

Malvern is definitely worth the walk up if you're in the area, I guess I'm just jaded after living there for years and too used to the spectacular views.

Its not a bad slope (or two, East and West) just not epic. It's such a shame the local arrangements are for hanggliders and paragliders to have the run of all the really good slopes and ridges, with slope soaring relegated to just one adequate hill.

Rhossili looks good to me, never been there.

Roger, what do you consider an 'epic' slope?

Is it:

Panoramic views with a vista that takes your breath away.

Or one that the prevailing gales suck the saliva out of your mouth and leaves you like a dehydrated husk

When the lift goes on forever

Or a combination of all three?

All three preferably and if you can add, some new faces flying different models, doing new things all the better!
Its actually one of the things I love about St Agnes in the course of the year you get to see all sorts of models and flyers from all over the country.

Now Ive read it back it does kind of sum up St Agnes. I didn't think of that

We flew off Dodman point on Sunday. And whilst the view is epic if you have walk right to the tip its a hell of a way - not easy to get kit there.

And landing area was not good either.

So access comes into this too - I found it quite a struggle to enjoy myself when I first got there 'cus I was cream crackered.

if you had to design the perfect slope, Aggy would pretty much be it.
we get visitors from all over the country flying all sorts of models, i've met a guy called Dirk before who drives from hamburg just to fly here for a week!
the weather can be beautiful or bracing.
and the lift buoyant or violent.

One thing not mentioned yet is how far are you prepared to hike (usually uphill first) to get to an "epic" slope?

I know of at least two locations in S. Wales where the views and lift outdo Rhossili but require at least an hour strenous walk each way!

But for me part of sloping is the exercise factor to stop my o.a.p. body from seizing up

With you there cliffhanger, the exercise is part of it.

But the last thing you want is to have a coronary whilst heaving your kit over a stile and to be 10 miles from the nearest house.
The other thing of course is how changeable the weather is in some locations. One minute you can be basking in the sun with a 20knot breeze, the next you can be engulfed in thick fog and zero temperatures.

If you are on your own that I can tell you from experience, isn't much fun

Bolberry Down in Devon, if you are in that area.

Nant Gwythern slope on the Llyen - awesome.

Neither require much walking.

Unfortunately the walking is an issue for me, and there are some days when I cant walk 10 ft. But I think im getting better and the quaks are looking to fit an electronic pain blocker, so hopefully by next summer I will be able to tackle longer walks. At the end of the day if you dont give it ago you certainly wont make it!.

for me its got to be St Agnes because there is a car park next to the hill 

St Agnes/rhossili? All blxxxy miles from anywhere!

How about some in/near the midlands?

With you there cliffhanger, the exercise is part of it.

But the last thing you want is to have a coronary whilst heaving your kit over a stile and to be 10 miles from the nearest house.
The other thing of course is how changeable the weather is in some locations. One minute you can be basking in the sun with a 20knot breeze, the next you can be engulfed in thick fog and zero temperatures.

If you are on your own that I can tell you from experience, isn't much fun

Yes, I climbed Crookes Peak some years ago on a good clear winters day. The plan was to maiden my new Ridge Racer. I ended up using it as a walking stick/ski pole in an horrendous fall of snow. I never got to the top!

Bolberry Down in Devon, if you are in that area.

Nant Gwythern slope on the Llyen - awesome.

Neither require much walking.

Hi Tom! Where is Bolberry Down?

Guy

St Agnes/rhossili? All blxxxy miles from anywhere!

Wrong Jim. Not miles from anywhere- just miles from you.

Maybe you'd best electrify you're rapidly expanding hanger- you might have more fun without having to go too far

Wrong Jim. Not miles from anywhere- just miles from you.

Maybe you'd best electrify you're rapidly expanding hanger- you might have more fun without having to go too far

Forget electric and easy slopes. I like a challenge and the local slopes are certainly that, scratching and trying to keep the birds in the air. That way I can enjoy the big hills more

Hi Tom! Where is Bolberry Down?

Guy

Guy

This map might help:
http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/walks/index.cfm?fsa=dspMapEnlargement&w_id=62



This  rcg thread might help.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1106143

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolberry_Down

I flew on the cliffs to the right of the car park, which isn't the best bit according to the guy on rcg and the lift was very strong.
I have also flown at Start Point (IIRC), and some cliffs near Little Dartmouth. There are loads of soarable cliffs around there.  I've also done Black Hill and Hamel Down (good site), which has a very interesting bronze age settlement.
http://walks.walkingworld.com/walk/Widecombe---Hamel-Down---Grimspound---Widecombe.aspx

Looks good. Was the ridge away from the coast path? Two van parks nearby too.

Looks good. Was the ridge away from the coast path? Two van parks nearby too.

you could pretty much get out of your car walk to the edge and chuck a model off. Although the ridge is fairly long, per the first link.  apparently the best slopes are to the left of the car park (to the west).

It's a LOT steeper than the it looks on the google map image.

About 5 years ago I used to drive from Bristol to Haverfordwest everyday for work, then drive home like a lunatic to get back for an hours flying down the power field, never once thought about stopping at Rhossili. 25 years ago I lived in Hirwaun and occasionally my late father and I would fly at a slope 10 miles away, we never saw another modeler there, that was the Bwlch! 
Rhossili is a definite for a holiday next year, especially as the other half loves walking around Castles

They don't come much more 'epic' than this............

One of the highest sea cliffs in England - 300 metres.
Easy level walk of about 300yds from car park.
Awesome views.
Humungous lift.
Excellent landing area.
Great pub about 1/2mile away.
Amazed that I've never seen anyone else flying there!
(I fly from in front of the mast)



http://www.northdevonslopers.webs.com/

Not bad

Another view.



Foreland Point overlooking Lynmouth.
Little white 'pip' on highest point - 302m - is the CG station and mast.
Absolutely awesome in a Westerly.
There is a footpath that runs along about 100m below the launch site - so you've a fair chance of retrieval if you land out. Highly unlikely you would need it though as you could chuck a brick off the top of here in 20mph and it would come back and smack yer in the chops!

Yep, epic.

There's even a beach for land out if required

You'd need a boat to access that beach Jimbo.
Only problem with this slope is that it's a 40 minute drive from my place.



Whereas this is 10 minutes away.

You'd need a boat to access that beach Jimbo.
Only problem with this slope is that it's a 40 minute drive from my place.

Well there's always the next one. Or the next one, ..... Or bring your rope and harness.

I like this site it has lots of information and nice things on it.

http://www.slopehunter.co.uk/

But it hasn't got a Cornish slope in the top 10 - WOT ARE THEY ON !

Can I respectfully request a smiley with a Cornish flag on it as well as the Union flag?

 

Can I respectfully request a smiley with a Cornish flag on it as well as the Union flag?

Not forgetting one with the Devon flag as well.

This looks interesting :

Hore Point

Wind: E, S
Comment: Lovely coastal soaring in east winds, and the slightly gentler south facing side of the point is almost as good.

Good point Devon Flyer - duly noted



Will definately give this a go on the next easterly in lieu of Dodman

What do you recon, liftseeker I feel a " roadtrip" coming on!

Anyone flown european sites?

That slope is pretty impressive Phil, better than Rhossili- higer and steeper.
20 miles due south of Swansea across the Bristol Channel- if I had a fast boat I could do it in an hour or so! By road about 3 hours
You poor boy- it being 40 minutes away.
Most guys here would give their back teeth to have that 40 miutes away!