The best pictures we find are published as the picture of the month on the web site home page. Here you can view previous pictures. To see the picture at its best, click on the image for a larger picture. There may be the occasional gap where a picture was not published.
August 2023
This year provided soarable conditions for the Grassmere Sports Accuracy Competition on Sunday 27th August, so long as one did not mind flying in light drizzle in the morning, and then brighter but breezier conditions in the afternoon.  A number of pilots posted very goodÂ
scores with one DC.  Later on conditions became more challenging with the increasing breeze, and pilots tending to land short.  The picture shows Paul Clarke flying an Ozone Swift making a second launch in the afternoon. Very useful for getting the glider dry.
Photograph Malc Grout
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July 2023
Thursday 13th July was a decent forecast in an otherwise rather windy and showery week. Light to moderate SW forecast to increase in the afternoon. The morning provided a good paragliding wind on the St Bee's dunes with an easy run down to the Sellafield airspace boundary and return. As forecast it picked up and Shaun McGuirk had wisely brought his hang glider as well as a paraglider. It is not often we see hang gliders on our sites these days, so giving Shaun a wire off was a pleasure.
Pilot Shaun McGuirk flying an Icaro Relax.Â
Photo Malc Grout.
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June 2023
Wednesday 24th May dawned some what windier than many forecasts had suggested.
RASP BL average wind was probably one of the accurate ones. Paragliding inland was not going to be on, and the coast was hanglider wind strength wind rather than floppy. The picture shows Gordie Oliver flying a Flare Moustach 15. These gliders excel in these sort of coastal conditions, and for those who like a good wang around are an absolute hoot.
Photo Malc Grout
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May 2023
Wednesday 3rd May provided a better day than expected, I think we were all up for a bit of breezy ridge soaring over Blencathra. The day turned out better than forecast with lighter winds and much better thermal development. The picture is of Dave Eva thermalling his Gin Explorer between Binsey and Bothel, where we found the sea breeze convergence. Bothel is in the top centre of the picture.
Picture by Malc Grout
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April 2023
12th February provided an excellent day for local soaring around Skiddaw and Blencathra, with easy crossings between the two mountains. The picture shows Paul Clarke flying a Supair Leaf over Broad End Skiddaw. Bassenthwaite Lake and Lords Seat are in the background. Photo Malc Grout.
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March 2023
It snowed hard through the night of Thursday 9th of March. The Friday morning very quickly cleared to give a magical
snowy day with blue skies and light winds. Initially north or north easterlies, backing, the wind was forecast to settle into a NW by afternoon. A launch fairly high up Ullock Pike was required in the light wind, Skiddaw was also working well. Height gains were limited so crossing to Clough Head never seemed on. It was however possible to make repeated slope and top lands on Skiddaw. Great fun in the powdery snow.
The pilot is Malc Grout.
Photograph by Jane who was walking on Skiddaw
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December 2022
Saturday 10th December provided another fantastic day to be out on the fells.
Gordie Oliver took this picture, looking over Bassenthwaite village towards Skiddaw.
Malc Grout is the pilot approaching the village to land after launching from the summit of Skiddaw in nil wind.
Watching on is Kes the collie.
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October 2022
Tuesday 20th September looked a reasonably promising forecast for the afternoon.
A few pilots were at Jenkin Hill, which worked well with good lift under the clouds.
It was possible to fly between Skiddaw, Blease Fell, out front over Keswick and back.
Pilot is Martin Knight flying and Air Design Vivo.
Photo Malc Grout
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August 2022
Monday 18th July provided a windy, inverted, sunny and hot day. We dropped in on Bewaldeth prior to Jenkin just in case it was windy.
Fairly top end at Bewaldeth and a short walk in the heat won the day. Conditions were good with hay fields being worked out front pumping regular thermals, although, as expected, none going very high.
Picture shows Karen flying Ozone Buzz Z5. Photo and comment from Male Grout.
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July 2022
Launching from Alcock Tarn on the Saturday afternoon of the LCC.
Windy and rough.
Photo Daniela Monteiro coaching group pilot.
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