East Hill
SITE TYPE | Hill | LOCATION | 50.7246 / -3.2543 | |
SITE ACCESS | OPEN | GRID REF. | SY115924 | |
PILOT RATING | CP | TAKE OFF | ||
WIND DIRECTION | W - NW | PARKING | ||
BEST | WNW | HEIGHT | 755 feet (225m) | |
XC POTENTIAL | EXCELLENT | TOP - BOTTOM | 310 feet (95m) |
Site Rules
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Members of the public take priority - you are launching from a viewpoint with a bench and a car park at the rear.
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DO NOT attempt to land back on take off - bottom landing only
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Bottom land only in the fields specified
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Avoid livestock in the bottom landing fields
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Do not land in cropped fields
Hazards​
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Narrow tree line launched
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Rotor from trees especially if the wind direction is off
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Take off is over trees - inadequate lift or not committing to launch can (and does) result in tree landings
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Exeter airspace is extremely close. Do not fly further North than Ottery St mary to avoid aircraft approaching or departing Exeter airport
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Sea breeze can switch the wind direction very quickly
About​
East Hill take off is located towards the Southern end of a 7km long spine backed ridge running from Sidmouth to Ottery St Mary.
Take off is through a relatively narrow gap with trees on all sides requiring a very good assessment of wind conditions, in particular direction, and full commitment on the part of the pilot. It is not ideally suited to LAT pilots for this reason.
Access & Parking​
Leave Honiton on the A375 toward Sidmouth and 2.2 miles later, immediately before "Hare & Hounds" pub, turn right on the B3174 toward Ottery St Mary.
Just before the road goes down a steep hill in woods, turn left and drive to the end of the straight road (approx. 3 miles) and you will come to a T junction with a wooded car park in front of you (White Cross). Park in the car park:-
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Take-off is the open area just over the hedge:-
Guidlines
HG & PG be cautious of rotor being generated by the trees. Be prepared to actively pilot the wing immediately after taking off.
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The ridge is largely tree covered along its full length. In limited lift ensure adequate separation from the trees and be prepared to turn out quickly if necessary.
PGs need to be aware of the danger of being blown back behind the trees in strong conditions. The ridge is spine backed so, if intentionally going over the back, ensure you have sufficient height to avoid rotor caused by the ridge.
The site is often thermic and can become turbulent. The coast is only 5km South of launch and sea breeze can affect the site early in the day bringing with it the associated change in wind direction.
Bottom Landing
Use one of the 3 fields closest to take-off to land (A,B or C) provided there is no livestock within any part of the field boundaries of your chosen field. If a field has been divided by an electric fence with livestock in one half then please do not land either part of the field.
Do not land in any cropped field
Fields B and C have set aside areas which the owner does not want us to land in.
Please be especially careful not to damage electric fences when landing or leaving the landing fields.
The same landowner also owns field D which can also be used however there is a HV power line just inside the hedge line and, for that reason, is best avoided.
Because of the land owner's conditions for use of the landing fields, please check the fields from the bottom road before taking off as trees on either side of take off obscure the view of fields A and D
Do not land to the North of field D as the farmer will attempt to charge £15 for every landing.
Top Landing
Trees make top landing impossible anywhere along the ridge.
XC Potential
Excellent - several long flights have been made from East Hill
Airspace
Exeter ATZ is approx. 7km due west of take off. Due to the runway alignement you should not fly further North along the ridge than Ottery St Mary. The B3174, as it drops down over the ridge, is a good visual guide to the turning point if flying North.
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.