Beer Head
SITE TYPE | COASTAL | LOCATION | 50.687 / -3.1012 | |
SITE ACCESS | OPEN | GRID REF. | SY223880 | |
PILOT RATING | CP | TAKE OFF | ||
WIND DIRECTION | S - SSW | PARKING | ||
BEST | S | HEIGHT | 360 FEET (110M) | |
XC POTENTIAL | NONE | TOP - BOTTOM | 360 FEET (110M) |
Site Rules
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Do not fly behind the stack to the West of launch. Always transit around the front onto the main cliffs to avoid rotor (see below).
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Walkers on the coast path have right of way.
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HG Pilots may drive to launch to drop off and pick up equipment if field conditions permit. Strictly no parking on launch.
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PG must park in the car park and walk out.
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The section of cliff in front of launch is relatively short. Transit around the stack as soon as safely possible to allow others to launch.
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Livestock is often present in the launch field. Ensure all gates are closed behind you.
Hazards​
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The Stack - never fly behind.
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Dont fly beyond Beer head to the East of launch. In higher wind speeds you may be forced around the headland in zero lift and no bottom landing options.
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Keep clear of animals in the launch field.
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If low on the cliffs avoid startling horse riders using the coast path
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The site is shared with hang gliders. Communicate on take off to ensure there is no conflict between disciplines
About​
Beer head is a magnificent clifftop site that offers a 24km out and return run to Sidmouth and beyond.
Launch is from a well rounded, grassy field that drops away to the cliff edge making the site particularly suitable for low airtime pilots and those wishing to practise top landing.
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There are a number of gaps to cross on the run to Sidmouth however these are usually relatively easy given the height of the cliffs and the lift normally available.
The site is open to all levels of pilot.
Coastal soaring is often considered to be safer than inland, thermic flying however the club sees more accidents on the coast than inland each year. Robin Wallace (Wessex HGPG) has produced an excellent guide to the dangers and pitfalls of coastal flying which should be essential reading for all pilots:-
Access & Parking​
In Beer follow the signs through the village to Beer Head.
Park in the public pay & display car park just before the Caravan Park.
https://what3words.com/official.safari.sheds
Please note that this is the ONLY parking for this site. DO NOT park anywhere in the lane in front of the houses or beyond the cattle grid in the field.
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
https://what3words.com/lawful.shoebox.crows
HG pilots only (not PG pilots) can drive out to drop their gliders on take off, but may not linger and must return cars to the public car park. Be sensible and load up one car if you are in a group and use the track to drive out. Stay on the track if the field is soft. Walk out, DO NOT drive out to assess conditions in the field and if there is any chance of damaging the surface by driving on it please remain on the track and walk equipment out.
Please note that the campsite owners do not own the take off.
Guidlines
Assessing true wind direction can be difficult as the wind comes up the cliff onto take off. Launch from the high point of the field and walk forward. You should be flying well before the footpath and fence line. If you are not then consider aborting the take off and re-assessing the wind direction and strength.
The launch area is grassy and smoothly rounded making it ideal for low airtime pilots to ground handle and take off. Caution is required in higher wind speeds as the height of the cliff produces a significant venturi.
Once in the air, gain height before going around the front of the stack to the west of launch. DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO FLY BEHIND THE STACK. Erosion has reduced the height of the stack significantly however it still produces rotor that rolls up and over the cliff behind. Pilots should pass in front of it from either direction and doing so does not usually result in a significant loss of height.
Clear the area in front of take-off as quickly as possible and resist the temptation to posture or showboat in front of takeoff. Move onto the main cliff for your manoeuvres and free the launch ridge for other pilots to take off.
​IMPORTANT - If you are below cliff height do not scratch in too close to the irregular shaped cliffs. There are a number of areas where lower, often tree covered, slips below the main cliff will require you to move well out over the beach early if getting low. Do not be tempted to scratch these slips.
Rigging should be done at the top of the slope on the flat area and after top landing all PGs are to be bunched and returned to the top. Both HG and PG pilots should communicate to ensure that there is no clash of disciplines. There is to be no ground-handling or kiting on the slope in front of take-off. All such activity is to take place off to the side. It is the responsibility of all pilots to be aware of other pilots taking off and landing. Please use common sense.
HG - This is a 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
There is ample bottom landing available throughout the whole run to Sidmouth. If landing below launch there is a footpath just to the West of the stack that leads directly back to take off.
Hang gliders and paragliders also have the option of retrieve access at Branscombe Mouth. Try not to land on the grass in front of the café, when it is open, as you may be approached for money!
Top Landing
There is ample room to top land In the large take off field. Do not fly behind the stack on your approach.
Dont forget that conditions on launch may have changed and, in increasing wind speeds, you will need to assess whether you will have sufficient penetration as you will be landing in the venturi.
If in doubt land on the beach below launch and walk up.
Ridge Run
A relatively straightforward ridge run of over 8km to Sidmouth is possible with ample bottom landing options available for the whole distance. There are various gaps to tackle however these are normally accomplished with ease given the height of the cliffs and the lift usually available.
In the right conditions it is possible to cross Sidmouth and extend the run to Ladram Bay. landing options once across Sidmouth can be limited and it is important to ensure that it is possible to reach a suitable beach if the conditions change.
Airspace
Danger Area D012 - Lyme Bay North closely follows the coastline to the East of take off and then, at Beer Head, angles out to sea. Instruments are likely to indicate that you are close to this airspace but you are unlikely to enter it.
The control authority is aware of our activities along the Northern edge of the danger area and it is safe to ignore these warnings and often better to dismiss the airspace completely if your instrument allows. XC League will not invalidate your track if you have entered this airspace​
All pilots using Devon & Somerset Condors HGPG sites must be current BHPA flying members, hold a minimum rating of CP Hill and obtain a site brief from a pilot who regularly flies the site.
The information contained in this document is provided purely as guidance. It is not intended to be an exhaustive guide to the hazards that may be encountered and it is the responsibility of individual pilots to carry out their own assessment of the site and weather conditions before making a decision to fly.
Neither the Devon & Somerset Condors Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club, authors of this guide, editors of this guide, any official or member of the club in any way accept liability for any accident, injury, or loss, to any person, resulting from free flying activities or the use of this guide.