September 2016

Action at the Grasmere Show. Each year, we fly at the Grasmere show on the August Bank Holiday weekend. We also demonstrate paragliding in the show arena. Here Angus Beardsmore shows how to do it

August 2016

Despite the forecast, this years Lakes Charity Classic saw 2 days of competition flying. On the Sunday, the flying started on Heron Pike in Grasmere. Goal was Ambleside with several pilots making goal. The wing is being flown by Baz Roberts and the photo looks east into the central Lakes. Harrison Stickle is the flat topped peak in the centre of the photo with Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags in cloud behind the pilot. Photo by Ed Cleasby.

July 2016

June 18 was an epic day at Clough Head in spite of the cloud cover in the photo. The coaching group got lots of airtime and the XC hounds managed to get down the Helvellyn ridge to Kentmere, Sedbergh and Kendal. The photo was taken by John Hamlett who says that it brightened up eventually! The view is looking NW from Clough Head with the Skiddaw massif dominating the right hand side of the photo.

June 2016

Burnbank is one of our north westerly sites and overlooks Loweswater. Pete Rycroft took this photo on Sunday 29 May. Chris Little is on the orange glider and we think that Peter Ridge is on the blue one. The view is to the east and Coledale Hause which lies between Hopegill Head and Grasmoor.

May 2016

No photos received this month so its 28 February again with Tony Thompson about to take off on the east side of Cat Bells. Derwent Water is behind him and the Helvellyn ridge in the far distance. The photo was taken by Stewart Clark with many thanks.

April 2016

Spring has arrived and its finally stopped raining so that we can go flying. This photo was taken on 28 February and is the east side of Cat Bells alongside Derwent Water. Tony Thompson is the pilot with James Jackson just visible at the top of Cat Bells. The view is looking south through the "Jaws of Borrowdale" with the Central Fells in the background. The photo was taken by Stewart Clark with many thanks.

March 2016

Not all flying in Cumbria is in the mountains. We have 5 coastal sites and this is Lowca between Whitehaven and Workington. Malcolm Grout took this picture on 10 February of Rob Grout. He reports "Rob is flying my Gin Atlas, I took the picture from my tandem. We had a run up to Harrington and back together. Conditions were good and lifty, although getting a bit top end by the time we landed". The view is the northern end of the Lowca site looking up to the south Workington Suburbs

February 2016

The new year has followed the old year with gales and rain. In the middle of the month there was a short cold snap. As ever in these conditions, the best photos are taken! On 20 January a group of CSC pilots walked up Blease Fell on Blencathra. Geoff Moss reports "There wasn't much wind and a similar amount of thermal activity so it was just a fly down from the top of Blease". Fortunately Paul Kingston from North News and Pictures was there to take pictures, one of which made the Daily Telegraph. Here Jude Osborne launches for her flight. The view is looking to the south with the Helvellyn massif dominating the background. Clough Head has the cloud cap.

January 2016

December has followed November with lots of rain and strong winds - not ideal conditions for pulling up a large sheet of nylon! So it's back to the archives to remind us that you can have good flights in Winter. Tailbridge Hill is a Cumbrian site on the Yorkshire border just by Kirkby Stephen. Here 2 paragliders get the last of the afternoon sun with Wild Boar Fell in the background. Photo by Heather Stevenson

December 2015

With most of November being windy and wet, it's hard to remember that the beginning of the month was marked by fog and calm conditions. Foggy days can be magic if you can get above the inversion in flyable conditions. Malcolm Grout managed that on 3 November on Blencathra. Malcolm says "Conditions were not great, rather gusty and full of holes and rather crossed to SE. But still great to be up there on a day like this." The view is to the west of Blencathra with Skiddaw to the right of the wing. Photo by Jane Hannah.