Site Guide

Bossington

Directions

From the East take A39 to Minehead straight across first roundabout, fork right at second roundabout, at T junction turn right onto High Street. Turn left off High Street and left again sign posted "North Hill", keep following signs to North Hill, drive along top of hill for about 3 miles until road ends at a car park (SS 910 477). The path contours round the valley to a large cairn on the horizon. From the cairn walk west to the obvious cleared/grass areas in the gorse/heather.

Owners

Mr M.F.Dyer, Bossington Farm - bottom landing.
National Trust - take-off.

Guidelines

HG Easy

PG Easy

Takeoff

The natural grassy launch areas have been extended by clearings cut into the gorse/heather, including an area on the front of the hill for high wind PG launches. When rigging please leave space for PGs to top land, and so HGs can be carried forward to launch.

Bottom Landing (SS 892 483)

Visible from take off. The field next to the beach with a square "pill box" building in it. Beware landing on the beach, it slopes steeply and the stones are much larger than they look from take-off. Make sure you leave the hill with sufficient height to clear the river and reach the landing field. To retrieve from the bottom landing drive back to Minehead and take the A39 West towards Porlock. In Allerford turn right, sign posted Bossington. Drive straight through Bossington and the road turns into a track, follow the track to the rough car park by the beach.

Top Landing

PGs can top land on takeoff, and in the grassy areas behind. Further back there is a grassy area North East of the cairn which can also be used by HGs. Do not go back beyond the fork in the path.Keep plenty of speed on through the dead air. Ask local HG pilots for advice. On days with reasonable height gains it is possible to fly back to an area North East of the car park, a minimum of 500ft above the hill is recommended to ensure you arrive with sufficient height to turn into wind. This area can be very rough all the way to the ground.

PG Side-Slope Landing

There are many clear patches in the gorse available. Landing in the gorse is not recommended, it may take some time to pick your glider out and the spines out of you!

XC Potential

Occasional small XCs have been made, particularly on HGs. On an epic day it might be possible to pick up a thermal in the Porlock Valley and work inland but the keen XC pilot is likely to be at another site. Wave has been experienced here.

Hazards

Expect rotor when the wind goes North and blows over Hurlstone Point. PG Beware of Hang Gliders launching from cairn.

Note

Do not leave Rigged gliders or spread-out canopies covering the two grassy areas behind the lower take-off. They are used for PG landing and need to be clear if a PG gets dragged back while launching. Also, it makes it very difficult to carry rigged HGs to the lower take-off.

Nearest Phone

Below in Bossington Village