Bewaldeth
North Lakes - West of Skiddaw
SSW - W
Overview
A small site which works better than its size would suggest.
The site is very user-friendly, with a flat top and large open landing area.
It is the most important training site in Cumbria.
Fair conditions allow the crossing to Binsey to be made, increasing the scope of the site.
Suitable for novice CPs as long as they respect both windy days and strongly thermic days.
This is Jocky Sanderson's summary of the site:
"Bewaldeth is one of the classic jewels in the CSC's crown. It was where the first hang gliders flew and CSC pilots owe their thanks to the McTear family for their continued kindness and support over the years and long may that continue. Many of us learnt to fly at Bewaldeth and others will continue to do so given good co-operation & communication between the pilots, clubs and schools involved in managing the site and by respecting the farmer's wishes."
Important!
There is a £1 per pilot daily site flying fee. Use the honesty box at the main gate.
This is an essential site for training and schools using the site have priority.
While there may be scope for other pilots to fly, numbers may be limited.
If you are a qualified pilot, please allow space and priority for training.
The large hill SE of Whittas Park is Binsey (see map). It is an active grouse moor.
Please do not land or take off from anywhere in the whole fenced Binsey area, except in an emergency.
Avoid the NW end of the site during the curlew nesting season (April - mid July) and if model aircraft flyers are using it.
No dogs allowed on the flying site without permission.
Local Pilot rep: Rick Livingstone 07761 187016
Access
Car park OS grid ref: NY209359
Getting There
The site is visible from the A591 just north of the village of Bewaldeth.
Coming from Keswick, look for a campsite entrance on the left, just after this turn right through a gate into a field.
Parking
The site entrance gate may have a combination lock (see photo)
Get the code from;
Rick Livingstone 07761 187016
Gordie, Air Ventures 07830 281986
Sick+Wrong 017687 80297
Please park on the left () of the track, close to the hill (see photo).
Otherwise park in the lay-by across the main road A591 from the entrance and walk up.
Getting to takeoff
A short walk-up of about 10 minutes.
Permission to use site
The McTear family, Bewaldeth Farm.
Flying
Hazards
When the wind is off to the west, it can become turbulent, especially over the gully to the right of takeoff.
Take Off
Easy grassy take off area.
Landing Areas
The bottom landing is uneven with a slight downslope.
Excellent big flat top landing area behind take off.
Flying
A very useful site which can sometimes be flown when poor conditions, such as low cloudbase or stronger winds at higher altitudes, put the bigger sites out of bounds.
When schools are using the site, experienced pilots should take off to one side or the other of the main take off area, and give student pilots plenty of room.
In stronger conditions it is possible to take off at the base of the slope and fly up.
XC potential
The site is a good thermal producer making it easy to get away over flat ground downwind.
The area has minimal restrictive airspace downwind.
Possibly underestimated potential, as pilots are likely to use other sites on the best days.
Hexham is the current record set by Pat Holmes in the 90's, a flight where he never got above 1,500ft AGL!
