Castlemorton Site Guide (Swinyard Hill)

Interactive Map - drag, zoom, and click on items for descriptions.
Red, no landing.  Purple, no overflying.

Castlemorton is a rarely used site.  It is recommended that you post on the Malvern Flyers or the Malvern Coaching Telegram group (or via the contact information on the Coaches page) to try to attract a coach, or at least other flyers.

GRID REF

Swinyard Hill SO762386

WIND DIRECTION

ENE-SE (70-130 degrees) Best:- E (90)

HEIGHT

265 metres (865 feet) Top to Bottom 350 feet

EXTENT OF SITE

About 500m long

GRADE OF FLYER

All grades of pilots.

HAZARDS

1. Beware of grazing animals on the common.

2. If the wind is further north than ENE the northern end of the site can be turbulent.

CAPACITY

6 soaring gliders

ACCESS

Via the minor road across Castlemorton Common which runs between the A438 (Ledbury to Tewkesbury road) and the B4208 (Malvern to Gloucester road).

PARKING

At the top of the common in the Malvern Hills Conservators pay & display car park.

TAKE OFF AREA

Carry up is along the diagonal path to the southern end of the ridge and then walk along the top peak to the North end. DO NOT carry directly up the face. There are a couple of areas that can be used to launch and these are each about big enough for one PG or HG at a time. They are recognisable because they are grassy areas to the east side of the path where there is far less bracken.

LANDING AREAS

On the large common land below the hill that slopes gently to the East. The best landing for Hang Gliders is the strip of common along side the road. Do not over fly the farm at the southern edge of the landing area. Influential farmer has complained !

SITE RULES

There is no explicit ban on flying the hills during the lambing season. However, pilots should avoid landing near any sheep during February and March.