St Bees
Cumbrian Coast - South of Whitehaven
SSW - WSW
Part of the big cliff to the north of the Lifeboat Station has collapsed.
Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team have asked the general public to stay away from the cliffs until further notice.
Overview
With care the site can offer some superb soaring on days when it may be blown out inland.
South of the Beach Cafe is a 6 to 15 metre cliff that is slowly eroding onto the beach.
This is suitable for inexperienced pilots; as long as they only fly the area in front of the golf course, they respect windy days and do not scratch in too close after launching or if the breeze drops.
West and then north of the Lifeboat Station a footpath leads to some very impressive sandstone cliffs up to 340ft high, with committing take-offs and no safe slope or bottom landing!
These can be very unfriendly and are less suited to inexperienced pilots.
The club suggests that even experienced pilots obtain a site briefing before flying this area for the first time.
Important!
There has been a high rate of incidents at this site. Please take care.
Do not think this site is "only coastal flying" and hence safer than inland sites - it is not!
Coastal flying brings a new set of skills, site and condition assessments, and is not to be treated
lightly.
Please do not ground handle in the public park/play areas, it is too dangerous.
Local Pilot Rep: David Ashcroft 07752 750869
Access
Car park Os grid ref: NX960119
Getting There
From the main A595 turn off for St Bees at any signed junction.
At St Bees make for either the north end St. Bees Beach car park which is at the start of the Coast-to-Coast walk (west of St Bees Railway Station) or for the south end beach car park at the end of Sea Mill Lane. Sea Mill Lane takes you under a very low tunnel under the railway. In anything bigger than a car it is very tight!
Getting to takeoff
Take off for the golf course/beach cliff is directly South of the beach cafe, usually from the disused car park next to the cafe, there are also several further take-off opportunities further south along the path between the clifftop and the golf course.
To fly the area north west of the caravan park: Follow the obvious cliff-top footpath for half a mile to take off. The lower cliff-top take off is in a corner of the fence next to a bank of gorse, to the west of the fields and the fence. There is a bigger (but sloping) take off area higher up the old path which can be accessed as in the photo, or by walking down the old path from the gate at the top of the hill (this avoids any erosion). Note that currently there is no active erosion anywhere along the old path. (See photos)
Alternatively, you may take off out of the fields, but take care not to disturb stock and to avoid the upwind fence!
Permission to use site
No permission required
Flying
Hazards
If St Bees is your second choice of site, due to it being blown out inland, be extra careful; you may have to cope with top end conditions of wind, terrain turbulence and cliff top rotor.
The height and ebb/flow status of the tide should always be known and taken into very careful consideration.
Risk to the Public: Most of the take off locations require good ground-handling skills to launch across busy footpaths; please be careful, considerate and polite at all times.
Please take public safety into account if you land in the Public Park/Play Area and DO NOT ground handle in the park/play area north of the Beach Cafe - due to the risk of injury to the public and at the request of the local authorities.
If you have to land on the beach:
Beware huge slabs and boulders at the northern extremity of the beach, and more boulders at the southern end.
Beware the wooden groynes on the beach north of the cafe (see photos).
Beware getting dry tough bits of seaweed snagging and knotting your lines.
Beware landing on the sand and soaking your wing in standing salt water.
The club suggests, if you must land on the beach, it is better to land on the stone shingle strip around the obvious high tide line.
The area south of the cafe is suitable for less experienced CPs as long as they don't stray from the golf course cliff area, they respect windy days and don't scratch in too close right after launch.
The cliff area to the north of the Lifeboat Station is more unfriendly and less suitable for inexperienced pilots.
This part of the site has some committed take off areas with limited landing options due to the beach boulders or no beach! If you lose height and can no longer top land it is a significant glide back to a safe landing.
The corner at the very north end of the beach is a known turbulence hotspot.
Be aware that if you are flying a vertical cliff face and the wind deviates from straight on, the wind soon has no vertical lift component, due to the lack of slope to force the air up. So the air quickly turns to run parallel to the cliff face. By this time you can't soar because you have either a strong head or tail wind.
If you have not flown this site before the club suggests you do not fly the cliffs to the north of the Lifeboat Station unless you have been fully briefed by a 'St Bees experienced' pilot or you have very carefully studied and FULLY understand this guide.
Make sure you have a valid flight plan plus options BEFORE you take off!
Take Off
For the golf course/beach cliff take-off is normally from, or in front of, the old car park directly South of the cafe and requires some ground handling skills and launching across a busy footpath. There are further take off opportunities to the south, some of which may be gentler on your wing than the car park, if you use these please take care not to infringe on the golf course or interfere with play.
If you intend flying NORTH of the beach, from the 'South Head' (NW of the St Bees caravan park); There are adequate take off places west of the cliff-top fence, which avoid rotor and are away from any stock in the fields east of the fence. Note the footpath has been re routed into the fields, but pilots can use the old footpath to get to the suggested take off areas (see photographs). The lower cliff-top take off is in a corner of the fence next to a bank of gorse, to the west of the fields and the fence, there are bigger (but sloping) take off areas higher up the old path (see photos). If you prefer to take off from the fields, please be aware of any rotor from the cliff top and do not unduly disturb any farm stock.
Landing Areas
Land back at take off in the old car park south of the Beach Cafe.
Or land on the beach.
Do not land on the golf course if at all possible.
Flying
SOUTH of the beach cafe; To get established at soaring height you will need to fly close to the cliffs immediately after take off, otherwise you'll be on the beach.
On a good day, if the wind is a little off to the south and with height, you can fly across the gap north of the cafe, onto the south head and back.
NORTH of the beach is a much larger sandstone cliff, facing SSW and then WSW, with a footpath along the top. Take-offs are committing (no slope or bottom landings).
There are only huge boulders and large slabs below, so you will need to top-land, or glide to the beach, or to the park north of the cafe (taking care of the buildings, lamp-posts and the public) or to the take off south of the cafe.
When soaring the far WSW cliffs further north and out of view of the beach, be aware of the state of the tide in case you come back too low.
XC potential
To the south: On a good day you can cross the gap at the south end of the golf course and fly 5km South down the coast and back.
Be aware, if you fly south of Braystones Railway Station at Tarnside Park you will encroach on Sellafield airspace Neither the Civil Nuclear Constabulary nor the CAA will treat this lightly.
To the north: The cliffs north of the old pillbox are experienced pilot territory (where the cliff angle changes from facing SSW to WSW). There might be a landing at Fleswick bay if the tide is out but you would have to be desperate to try it - best stay above the cliff top and top land while you can!
On the right day, with skill & care, you can fly to the St Bees lighthouse and even beyond to connect with the Haig site.
