Buttermere Moss
North West Lakes - Buttermere
SW - WNW
Overview
This site has lovely grassy flat-topped take off areas and big fields to land in (as long as you've asked permission).
Best flown in a true westerly.
Suitable for novice CPs as long as they respect both windy days and strongly thermic days.
Excellent XC potential for the experienced pilot.
Important!
Unless you already know which field we have been granted permission to use, then please agree one with Mr Kyle at Syke Farm (cafe/ice cream shop) Phone: 017687 70278 * (usually this is for the long narrow field behind and west of the Buttermere Court Hotel).
*This number sometimes goes to a message refering to Vikings and long-boat expeditions. This is Mr Kyles method of cutting down the number of calls he receives. Simply hang up and keep trying, eventually someone will answer!
If a field is agreed please post on the CSC Flight Plans & Site Conditions Telegram group.
If no permission for a landing field can be obtained then you will be restricted to landing at the foot of the fell (as shaded in orange on the site guide map and see photo). This is rougher ground than a field, but should be no issue for competent pilots.
Try not to land in a field with livestock.
Access
Top car park OS grid ref: NY192176
Bottom car park OS grid ref: NY174169
Getting There
If heading from Keswick, drive west into Braithwaite.
There, take the second left onto a narrow lane that eventually winds up Newlands Pass.
At the top of this pass you normally park to walk up, otherwise, drive on over and down to park in Buttermere village then walk back up to takeoff.
Getting to takeoff
From the top car park, scramble up the steep path leading south.
When the path levels out follow it SW to High Snockrigg and choose the best wind-facing slope (from top car park it is an, initially strenuous, 20 minutes walk).
From the bottom car park the path back up to takeoff starts 'here'
Permission to use site
Valley landings thanks to:
Mr Kyle, Syke Farm and Mr & Mrs Temple, Cragg House Farm
Flying
Hazards
Keep an eye on the state of the lakes for an idea of how windy it is down in the valley, and for signs of the sea breeze approaching.
On a thermic day the sea breeze may come in from the NW early afternoon, the site will continue working although with reduced lift.
Care should be taken if flying in a SW moderate wind due to the big fells across the valley that will cause the conditions to become turbulent.
Take Off
This site has lovely grassy flat-topped take off and top landing areas.
Landing Areas
Excellent top landing area behind take off.
Large bottom landings fields in the valley provided you have permission!
In light winds and with care competent pilots can also land at the summit of Newlands Pass just north or west of the car park.
beware wind venturi through the gap.
Flying
Best flown in a true westerly.
XC potential
Buttermere Moss has excellent XC potential in amongst big mountains!
The opportunities for exploring up and down the Lorton & Buttermere valleys and beyond are superb.
An out & return flight to Robinson, the big mountain 2km to the east, is a potential XC training task for those with a 'Pilot' rating.
Further afield, for experienced XC pilots, flights to Keswick by various routes are frequently achieved and it is possible to connect via Borrowdale across Thirmere and then up or down the Helvelyn range, with the rest of the eastern Lake District at your feet!
