MHGC site guide, Leckhampton

Do not top land in fields in crop.
Important: As a result of feedback from recent flying activity it is apparent that there is no longer a bottom landing field available. Until the exact situation has been clarified/resolved pilots should assume there is no bottom landing and only fly if they are sure they can stay up or are competent at slope landing in the bowl.
Note: The bowl is steep and has many bushes and trees.

ACCESS

From B4070 or A435.

TOP PARKING

In the Quarry car park at the West end of the hill. Carry glider along the path marked, to take-off.

TAKE OFF

If NNE, N or West of N, launch at East end of hill. Near new memorial bench with scrub cleared behind or in small quarried bowl area, to west of this. If a lot of East (NNE-NE) then launch from the West hand side of the hill.
(Over Jan 2002 the centre of the hill has been cleared to make a good take off and landing area. This work was commissioned by FOLK (Friends of Leckhampton and Charlton Kings Common). The escarpment edge has also been cleared by sub-contractors. This area is not marked on map but is directly above Hartley's farm.)

TOP LANDING

In fields behind trees at top of hill, if you have sufficient height, and if fields are not in crop. It is possible none of the fields may be available. If in doubt, use the Quarry car park. You can top land at the East take-off site, but it takes precision! There is a nice grassy area (recently cleared by FOLK) behind the escarpment edge, all the way round the top of the bowl, in front of the line of trees. It can be rotory close to the hill edge. Slope landing is OK anywhere in the bowl, but can be tricky due to gorse and thorn bushes. (Hopefully these are to be thinned/cleared by FOLK - maybe Autumn 2002.)

BOTTOM LANDING

There is no bottom landing.
Do not take off if you think that you will be unable to stay up. Avoid the power lines running along the dirt road at the bottom of the hill. Avoid the bungalow (Shackleton, owned by Mr. and Mrs. North) at the bottom of the bowl (with the new looking roof) and any of the fields beyond.

OTHER INFORMATION

Rarely used by hang gliders these days. Take-off area is rough and uneven.

XC NOTES

This site works well. Once over the hill, there are usually good thermals over the back. Sometimes Cheltenham belts out radiant heat late in the afternoon. Going XC, decide which way you are going to pass Lyneham, and if you are lucky, Salisbury plain. Bristol airspace needs to be left to the west of your flight path.

Updated 18 4 02 RWD
Updated 1 6 04 CJS

News about Leckhampton (June 1999)