Site Guide

Beer Head

Directions

In Beer follow signs through town to Beer Head. Park in the public pay & display car park below the Caravan Park. Turn left out of the car park walk up the hill. Go left at the fork in the lane and over the cattle grid into the field. Walk diagonally across the field to T/O. HG pilots can drive out to drop their gliders on T/O, but may not linger and must park in the car park. Be sensible and load up one car if you are in a group. DO NOT drive out just to assess conditions. The first pilot should report to the campsite office and politely inform them that we are on site.

Owners

The Dormer Family, who run the campsite and farm the Land.

Guidelines

Faces further west than Branscombe. Assess the true wind direction because of the bowl effect from the cliffs. Once in the air, gain height before going round the stack to the west. Clear the area in front of take-off as quickly as possible, if there are other pilots waiting.

PG Easy - Rig on the top and carry forward to takeoff. Make sure there are no walkers on the footpath in front.

HG Cliff take off, but without the option of taking off at the edge due to the fence. Beware of low level rotor, particularly in strong winds. Although there is no hard and fast rule, it is recommended that the take off run should commence high on the slope and not near the fence. This should result in the minimum contact with the rotor. Complete commitment is essential - use an experienced nose man in strong conditions. Keep wings level on launch: more than one pilot has been turned back into the hill. If in doubt, don't fly.

Bottom Landing

PG Directly below on beach at the bottom of the cliff path back to takeoff.

HG at Branscombe Mouth for retrieve access. Do not land on the grass in front of the café, when it is open, as you may be approached for money!

PG Side-Slope Landing

None

Top Landing

In the large T/O field. Do not fly behind the stack to the right of T/O at any height due to rotor. Assess the wind direction when landing as it extends a long way back. Do not land too far back, you may startle animals on the fields close to the farm.

XC Potential

Long coastal runs available.

Hazards

• The Stack - assess the conditions carefully.
• Wind whistles round Beer Head, when strong. Be careful, especially if it is off to the west.
• Animals - You may need to clear cattle carefully from T/O. Do so slowly and they will tend to wander off. The farmer may be watching!
• Be careful not to startle horses or riders on the coastal path.

Nearest Phone

The Camp Site