Liddington Castle  -  paragliding and hang gliding

 

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Status

Open all year round except when there are sheep in the castle enclosure and the rear gate is closed so they cannot move away.
 

Wind Direction / Details

NW & SW.

0.75km ridge, 75m high.
 

Restrictions

This site is suitable for all levels of pilot. 
 

Sensitivity

Historically there have been few problems, but erosion of the hill fort by cattle has prompted English Heritage to put a fence around it.  If there are sheep in this small fort enclosure, and the rear gate is closed so they cannot move away, there is no flying.  Sometimes there will be a notice at the bottom to say this is the case, but you may have to go and look.  Fortunately as the fort area is small and quickly grazed, closure rarely lasts for long.
 

Location

OS Grid Ref SU 208 798 Landranger 174, just), Pathfinder 1154 & 1170.

 

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Directions

From M4 Junction 15 take the A346 south, towards Marlborough. Approximately 1/4 of a mile from the M4 you pass a garage on your right. Turn left just past the garage, sign-posted Hinton Parva. Follow this road for approximately 1/2 mile. Liddington Hill will be on your right.

Parking

Park on the road near the steel gate, but please leave the gate completely clear at all times for access by farm vehicles.
 

Access

By climbing over the hinged end of the steel gate (not the wooden style, or fencing at the north-west corner or near the steel gate).
 

Take Off

Approximate elevation 250m/820’ AMSL.
Take off anywhere along the new fence around the hill fort.
 

Landing

Land as appropriate before the road. Hang gliders beware there is limited landing at the bottom and sloping landing. The bottom is also on a slope.
 

Hazards

Turbulence from the pit in the middle of the west end of the field.
The bottom landing area slopes towards the road.  Lift in the landing area near the fence means there is a risk of overshooting across the road so land early.

Flying the SW slope is difficult.  It is a small area.  Caution is required.

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On thermic days, if the wind is well off to the west it can be hazardous as thermals will trigger over the west of the hill fort and cause rough/turbulence and lee side air on the main ridge.
 

XC

This is quite a thermic site, especially over the farm buildings to the east of the ridge and is strongly recommended as an alternative to Combe when there is a wind of at least 10 km/h. As a general rule follow the M4 until J14 at Hungerford and then fly towards Combe Gibbet, from there follow the usual route to the coast. Easy!