Logo

Cumbria Soaring Club

Please make sure you check the online site guide for any updates before flying

WNW - NW

Corney Fell

Key Facts

Status : OK
IMPORTANT - Restrictions on use Must not be used for training. Always ask at Charlesground Farm (SD119921) before flying. You can leave a note with your mobile number if nobody is home. Lambing season is not necessarily a problem as the sheep are taken off the fell. Tupping time (generally November) may be an issue however so always ask.
You can drive up to top in off road vehicle (not when wet) please ask first.
Last Updated : 15/12/2021 at 19:15 by Ian Henderson
Wind : WNW - NW Nil Wind : N
Grid Ref : SD138920 Height (AMSL) : 1300' - 1700' / 400m - 520m
Site Code : None Top to Bottom : 500' - 1300' / 150m - 400m

Location

SW Lakes - near Millom

Details

The broad western facing flank of Corney Fell north of the Corney Fell road - Ravenglass to Broughton-in-Furness

Local Sites Contact - Keith Paterson mobile 07841 056727

Site Officer

Keith Paterson :

Access

Postcode for Sat Nav Systems

LA19 5TN

Foldgate Farm on Corney Fell Road

Getting There

Use Corney Fell pass road. Site overlooks east side of A595 and Bootle. See map for parking areas.

From the East: Go past Broughton In Furness on the A590 down the hill and over the Duddon Bridge. Take the next right to Coney and follow this road over the highest point and down the other side to the parking area which is on your left 300yds past the Buckbarrow Bridge, a small concrete bridge with metal sides on a double bend in the road. Look for a bridle path sign and park off the road on the left where the bridle path crosses the road. The ground is normally good here in all weathers.

From the West: Turn left of the A595 to Corney Fell just uphill from Broad Oak. Follow this road to the parking area. Go across the cattle grid onto the fell. Watch for wooden bridle path signs, the car park is on your right at the second one.

Getting to takeoff

Driving to take off. You must have permission from the farmer and do not attempt the drive unless you have a good 4x4. It is steep and boggy in places. Follow the bridle path up the hill opposite the car parking area. Hang Gliders can take off in a WNW anywhere along the ridge to the left of the bridle path if there is a good wind. PG’s or in lighter winds go further along and further up the hill. Take off anywhere steep enough near the gulley’s at the far end. In NW go past the stones at the far end and down a bit to an obvious flat area

XC potential

Not brilliant but can you can interfly this site with Black Combe where the record stands at about 30 km

Permission to use site

Robin Jenkinson, Charlesground Farm, Corney Fell, Millom LA19 5TP. SD119921

Briefing

Additional Safety Notes

Beware of orographic cloud, it can set up quickly here in the right conditions because of the proximity to the coast. If you find yourself likely to be engulfed, fly south back towards the car park and down on the lower part of the hill or forward (west) and down. Public telephones are on the way to Bootle, down the hill and left just before Charlesground Farm. Or straight on until you get to the A595 turn right 100 yds on left near Broad Oak.

Paragliding

No vices. Can be surprisingly smooth for an inland site. You can drive to the top in a good 4x4 if you have permission otherwise a long but easy walk. Study the maps of the area. Either take off area can be used depending upon whether the wind is NW or WNW, however the higher NW take off area may be a preference to PG’s in both wind directions. Safe for low airtime pilots but the hill is shallow and thus not easy to soar. You can interfly this site with Black Combe, the gap between the fells is a good test of the conditions and your skills. Its normally easier going to Black Combe than it is coming back as the car park end of the hill at Corney is very shallow and higher than Black Combe. On the return leg it can be best to follow the contour of the pass and use the hill behind take off, get your height there and then fly back across to the front. Bottom Landing is easy and everywhere, it slopes down slightly at the car park and in front of the WNW face. Even though this site is close to the coast and with no hills in front, a standing wave can set up here and extend across to Black Combe it is normally smooth and pleasant to fly in providing the wind is not too strong.

Hang Gliding

As for PG’s. Be careful of the bottom landing at the car park end if the wind goes off to the west as it is then down hill into wind. Approach down slope of the road and slightly south of the car park area. Land uphill towards the bridle path or on the flat towards the NW on high side of the road. There is a large flat bottom landing area at the bottom of the far NW face. Beware of the gulley at the end of this area, its not obvious from the top. You can get close access to this area through Broad Oak off the A595 with a 4x4 but it’s an awkward retrieve and fairly boggy.

XC potential

Not brilliant but can you can interfly this site with Black Combe where the record stands at about 30 km

Corney Fell Map