W - NW

Haig Pit

Key Facts

Status : OK
Wind : W - NW    
Nil Wind : No    
Grid Ref : NX965177 Height (AMSL) : 220' / 67m
Site Code : none Top to Bottom : 220' / 0m

Location

W Lakes - Whitehaven

Details

A large site giving plenty of room for all on a good day.

Before you take off, you need to be confident you can top land because YOU WILL NOT LIKE the alternatives!

Site Officer

Steve Giles : 01768 780297

Access

Postcode for Sat Nav Systems (read the Health Warning!)

CA28 9BG

Haig Colliery Mining Museum. This is shown on both 1:25000 and 1:50000 maps as the museum just to the south of the parking area.

Getting There

Directions are quite difficult to give, even with a map: From the west side of Whitehaven town centre, drive up Rosemary Lane (on the left of the only multi-storey car park in town). This leads onto High Road, take the third right, Solway Road, immediately right, and immediately right again onto a dirt track. Travel past the rugby field and onto the car park. A print out of the Whitehaven street map from the site guide OS or Google maps may be useful; alternatively use the Multimap website. If you decide not to drive right to the site then park at the end of the road on the southern side of the harbour and carry your gear the short walk up the path south (not the fenced off coastal path).

Getting to takeoff

Driveable or follow the description given.

XC potential

It is not difficult to fly 3.2 km south to a large bowl. Do not fly on as far as the lighthouse unless you have just witnessed somebody returning successfully and you are an experienced pilot. Constantly monitor your height - top land while it's still an option!When the wind blows westerly, St Bees is possible but not recommended, as there is a lot of sink as you turn the last corner making for the sandy beach. If the tide is in, you are probably in big trouble, so for the sake of 180m, top land before this corner.`

Permission to use site

No need to ask.

Briefing

IMPORTANT - Restrictions on use

Experience at top landing required once away from take off there is no bottom landing due to boulders and the sea!

Paragliding

Top landable for PGs and a lower option in front of take-off, if you haven't the height. Other than this, there are a lot of large boulders and water.

Hang Gliding

Only top landable for HGs

Additional Safety Notes

When landing behind take-off, keep forwards to avoid possible rotor. If going all the way along the sandstone cliffs to the lighthouse, 5km south, constantly monitor your height and top land while it's still an option! NO SAFE BOTTOM LANDING.The small bottom landing areas are not suitable for a hanglider unless in an emergency.

Haig Pit Map