Walla Crags
Northern Lakes - South of Keswick
WNW - NW
Overview
An excellent light wind site; can be inter-flown with Latrigg.
Not good for nil/very light wind forward launches, due to flat top & limited space.
This is a good reliable thermal site and is in the right place for convergence.
Also a classic afternoon site in a gentle sea breeze.
Wall Crags MUST have a NOTAM in to fly before 1800h Mon-Fri.
Important!
This site MUST have a NOTAM in place to fly before 1800h Mon - Fri.
The site lies directly in the path of one of the busiest military low flying corridors in the country.
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BE WARNED: flying anywhere on the eastern side of DerwentWater, midweek, before 1800h without a NOTAM is very dangerous.
There have been a number of military jet/paraglider airprox incidents before this rule was introduced.
Please avoid over-flying the farm buildings due to the farmers concerns about scaring their sheepdogs.
Local site rep: Phil Hewitson 07900 920232
Access
Car park OS grid ref: NY281227
Getting There
Approach from the A591. Descending into Keswick from the south, take a minor road on the left leading to Castlerigg campsite. Parking space is limited to 6 cars. Do not block road/access to Rakefoot Farm. There is a possibility of parking at Castlerigg campsite - a donation is required.
Getting to takeoff
From the road end climb the hillside heading towards the right following the line of the field boundary. The take off is 30m beyond the small gate.
Permission to use site
Rakefoot Farm, Castlerigg Farm and the National Trust.
Flying
Hazards
THIS SITE LIES DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF A VERY BUSY MILITARY LOW FLYING CORRIDOR.
THERE MUST BE A NOTAM IN PLACE PRIOR TO ANY MID-WEEK FLYING BEFORE 1800h.
In moderate winds rotor may exist some distance back from the edge of the cliff and wall.
If you lose height at take off, you need to make a quick decision when to turn and head for the landing fields - if in doubt head out and land at the bottom.
Take Off
Correctly identify the two take off points. There is a small, flat heather covered rigging area in front of the wall 30m beyond a small access gate.
The first take off is just in front of this. The second take off is 20m further on at the slightly higher rocky knoll.
These are cliff take offs, where it is rarely possible to build a wall with your wing so a committed take off is required.
Takeoff can be aborted in light conditions if done quickly.
Landing Areas
The official landing field is near to Rakefoot Farm, from the lane go through the gate and over the stream, up the bank there are 3 fields which are connected by open gateways.
If there are cows in a landing field please choose an alternative empty field (cows are only put in these fields when they have young calves).
Good idea to check out the landing field before flying, if it"s your first time here.
From the air, approach with care as trees near the farm are quite big.
It can be lifty over the landing fields.
It is possible (but not common) to top land if you stay well back and land sufficiently far behind the wall to keep clear of rotor caused by the cliff edge and wall.
OK to land in one of the empty fields alongside the Borrowdale Road at the bottom.
If you fly down towards Borrowdale, beware there are some areas between the Youth Hostel and take off where trees mean that there are no bottom landing options.
Once you reach Lodore Hotel (you'll see their outdoor swimming pool) there are lots of landing options.
With just a little bit of height above take off a landing in Crow Park at the northern end of DerwentWater is quite feasible.
Flying
Excellent lifty site, particularly in late afternoon sea breeze/convergence/restitution. Can be thermic.
XC potential
Nice ridge runs down towards Borrowdale and further afield.
