Eype
SITE TYPE | COASTAL | LOCATION | 50.7159 / -2.779 | |
SITE ACCESS | OPEN | GRID REF. | SY451909 | |
PILOT RATING | CP | TAKE OFF | ||
WIND DIRECTION | SSW - WSW | PARKING | ||
BEST | SW | HEIGHT | 180 feet (55m) | |
XC POTENTIAL | UNLIKELY | TOP - BOTTOM | 180 feet (55m) |
Site Rules
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TOP LANDING - Pilot rating strongly recommended (see below)
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Do not use any other part of the cliff to launch
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Do not launch from the lower car park
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Do not launch from the beach
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The launch area is small. Always bunch wings and move to the edge quickly. Keep careful watch for pilots attempting to land.
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The general public ALWAYS have right of way. Ensure that the coastal path is clear before launching or landing.
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The 3 benches at launch are popular with spectators. Launch and land as far from them as possible to give room to drop your wing safely.
Hazards​
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Top landing at take off - needs careful assessment and good spot landing skills
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Constant risk of landslip - take care when walking near the cliff edge
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Rotor from sharp cliff edges - top landing anywhere along the cliffs is high risk
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Walkers on the coastal path - they always have priority
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No beach landing in some places. If getting low make for a beach early
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Busy beaches - land well clear of the busy spots
About​
Eype is a small clifftop site offering over 15km of stunning flying along the Jurassic Coast. The site is extremely popular and attracts pilots from many neighbouring clubs and much further afield. Flying is generally straight
forward however the sharp edged cliff can make take off and landing a challenge in certain wind conditions and the risk of rotor is always present.
The site is owned by the adjoining holiday camp who are extremely supportive of our presence. It is vitally important to the continuing use of this site that pilots respect the rules that are in place. Most, if not all, have had to be implemented because of pilots acting irresponsibly in the past.
The site is open to all levels however top landing is restricted to those who are pilot rated (see below)
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
From Chideock direction to Bridport (A35)........
Travel along the Bridport bypass and having passed the junction to Bridport, (short dual carriageway) travel uphill on a three lane road, and then observe a junction on the right, marked, Eype, rest area, etc.
Turn right, then travel around the road, passing the rest area, and also 2 small junctions on your right. At the next junction (small grass triangle area, with sign post Eype), follow this road, pass New Inn Public House, then Eype’s Mouth hotel, until you reach the coast. The site is now on your left (east). Walk down the steps, cross the small stream, and up the slope towards the Highlands End caravan site. Take off is the mown area by the benches just before reaching the caravan site.
From Beaminster or Dorchester…….
At the Texaco filling station, (also roundabout) follow signs indication A35 west, (Exeter). Next roundabout, 3rd junction marked A35 Exeter. You will then shortly be on a three lane road, until a set of double white lines, and within a few hundred yards, you will observe the signs for Eype etc. turn left and follow directions as above.
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Parking
There is a small pay & display car park right on the edge of the beach at Eypes Mouth - https://what3words.com/scream.cared.elder
This is now being operated by Euro Car Parks. Overnight parking is not allowed and cameras are being used for enforcement.
Parking is also available from Easter until the end of September, at nearby Eype Beach Holiday Park - https://what3words.com/yoga.indulges.spill
Payment is easy and made by scanning a QR code.
STRICTLY for D&S CONDORS MEMBERS ONLY - Parking is available in Highlands End Holiday Park Leisure Centre car park.
https://what3words.com/shrubbery.mock.staked
Abuse by non members is likely to result in the loss of this privilege so please act responsibly and park in the village if a non member.
Guidlines
Sharp edged cliffs generate rotor so be prepared to encounter this right across the launch area. Rotor is particularly prevalent if the wind is off towards the South making launching difficult and top landing increasingly dangerous.
In light wind speeds, the wind at ground level can blow up the slope from Eype Mouth, but as soon as your wing inflates it will turn into the prevailing wind from the sea. At higher wind speeds this problem doesn’t seem to occur, BUT exercise extreme caution, due to rotor and possibly being blown backwards.
It is best practice to be airborne well before arriving at the cliff edge. If you reach the cliff edge without being lifted off your feet then you should consider aborting the launch.
A public right of way exists all along the Jurassic coast, therefore walkers etc, have priority over pilots. Do not lay out paragliders across the footpath. When inflating in readiness to take-off, do this on the downwind side of the path, and then cross to take-off, so long as you don’t inconvenience walkers. If walkers are crossing in front of takeoff then be extremely polite in making any request, or wait until they have moved away. If you leave any baggage, for safety, leave it along the hedgerow, but at your own risk as the area is very busy.
There are 3 benches along the Eastern fence line and these are often full of spectators watching pilots launch and land. When launching, start well down the slope to give room to bring the wing down before it reaches the benches if aborting the launch or you are being dragged.
Bottom Landing
There is ample beach landing available between West Bay and Thorncombe Beacon however, especially in the Summer months, the beach can become busy and it is important to keep well clear of tourists and be prepared to walk slightly farther rather than risk a near miss.
At high tide and after storms the beach can become quite narrow however there should still be sufficient width in which to land.
If the beach is clear of tourists and you are attempting to land by the stream at Eypes Mouth gap in strong winds then be aware of the tendency for the wind speed to increase significantly as it funnels through the gap. In these circumstances consideration should be given to landing below the cliffs and walking back to the stream.
Please be polite if challenged after landing on the beach and, wherever possible, do not enter into a discussion, just move away quickly and pack up.
The beaches to the East of take off at West Bay are not particularly large and become very busy. Landing these beaches should only be attempted during the Winter months and care should be taken in high winds that you are not forced back towards the buildings and harbour.
Top Landing
Due to the number of incidents caused by pilots attempting to top land in conditions that are not appropriate for their level of experience and/or equipment it has become necessary to make TOP LANDING PILOT RATED ONLY.
Whatever the conditions and level of experience it will always be, due to the nature of the site, safer to bottom land on the beach.
For those pilot rated flyers that wish to consider top landing then you should:-
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Discuss the various approach options and dangers with a club coach or other pilot with regular experience of top landing this site.
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Make a thorough assessment of the wind speed and direction before attempting to land. Take into account the increased wind speed due to the venturi. Arriving over launch going backwards will leave you no “good” options.
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Be prepared to encounter rotor at any stage of the landing., Get your feet down very early and be prepared to PLF if necessary.
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Abort the landing and go around if you arrive over launch with excessive height
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If losing height over launch do not go further back than the bushes at the rear of take off. The chance of encountering rotor increases significantly beyond this point although there is no guarantee you will not encounter it anywhere across the launch area.
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Ensure the coast path is free of walkers before starting the landing approach
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Make sure any pilots attempting to launch are aware of your presence. Shout “LANDING” if necessary to prevent other pilots inflating as you land.
Ridge Run
The attraction of flying this site is the scenic 8km ridge run to Charmouth heading West from launch.
Challenges encountered are the transition onto Golden Cap and gaining height at Charmouth for the long transition east over low cliffs back to Golden Cap.
There are long stretches of beach along most of the route however, landing on the Charmouth side of Golden Cap can result in a long walk out as the old steps at St Gabriel’s Mouth have been destroyed by cliff slippage. If the tide is high cliff slippage below Cains Folly may make it impossible to walk out to Charmouth and it will also be difficult to round Golden Cap and walk out to Seatown. You may have to wait until the tide drops to escape the beach.
For the return trip from Charmouth use caution in strengthening wind conditions. There are parts of the cliff that are spine backed and a number of pilots have been forced over the back. Keep well out in strong winds and do not fly directly onto the back cliffs at Stonebarrow Hill (high cliff at the back of the main slip, where the coast path runs at the back of Cain’s Folly). Gain height on the lower cliffs in front and transfer onto the higher back cliff at the Eastern or Western end which avoids going over the main slip. If crossing the slip low there is a likelihood of encountering rotor and a number of pilots have been dumped into the trees, usually needing ropes or a helicopter for extraction.
The ridge run also extends to the East of launch and it is possible to fly a further 6km to Cogden in this direction. Flying East is usually assisted by the element of West in the wind however the return trip is often slower and more challenging. In particular there are two wide crossings, firstly at Freshwater and then at West Bay. There is ample beach available at Freshwater to land on however the West Bay crossing is much more challenging and should only be attempted by experienced pilots. There are limitations on where you can land and the small beaches around the harbour entrance are often busy with tourists. Pilots must also be mindful of the effects of increasing wind speed as it funnels through the West Bay gap and ensure they are able to maintain sufficient penetration at all times.
XC Potential
May be possible from Thorncombe Beacon or Golden Cap.​
Airspace
Danger Area D012 - Lyme Bay North closely follows the coastline from just East of West Bay to Beer Head. Instruments are likely to indicate that you have entered the danger area at various points along the coast run. 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.