The Magazine Of The Dales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club NOV 2006 Picture I. Newis Inside this issue: WHERNSIDE (Ellerbeck) ADLEBOROUGH 4 From 1 Sep 06 all pilots are asked to re- 'unknown' vehicles to the police, and in- frain from driving their vehicles up the tend to ask their neighbours to do the AGM 6 track leading to Ellerbeck Farm. same. Background. Negotiations. The track is actually part of the property at During my negotiations we discussed vari- Gill Head (the house half way up on the ous possible solutions including: a gate WINGS & 9 left) and, although it is a public bridleway, with a combination lock; members carrying THINGS motor vehicles are specifically excluded. identification; daily notification of use and Frank Brennand owns Ellerbeck Farm, al- even fees, but for various good reasons though he no longer lives there, and has these were all deemed unacceptable.> CHAIRMANS 10 access up the track. In the past we may Concessions. CHAT have claimed to be 'visiting' Frank but this The new owners are currently renovating is no longer viable. Whilst Frank remains Gill Head and do not intend to move in un- supportive of our needs he is also sympa- til early Sep. They have agreed that we DINNER 12 thetic to the new owners of Gill Head. can continue to use the track until 31 Aug DANE MENU New Owners. 06. In addition they are happy for us to The new owners are concerned about se- use the track for competitions or 'events' curity, and to a lesser extent about con- say 2 - 3 times per year on the strict pro- AGM 13 gestion, noise and further damage to the viso that we give prior notification and use AGENDA badly eroded track. Although sympathetic a minibus to transport pilots to and from to our needs and generally 'flyer friendly' Ellerbeck Farm. This will at least ensure our vehicles are our downfall. In order to that we do not lose access for competi- maintain their security they tions such as BPC, BCC etc. would like to be in a position to report Current Situation. COMITTEE Chairman – Safety officer – Mick Bolton secretary – Kevin Gay Trevor Birkbeck Librarian – Liz Addy Club secretary – Peter Newsletter Editor – Sites officer Southern – Logan Craig Richardson Sean Ogi, Social Sec- Membership secretary – Sites officer Northern - Mar- retary – John Edmonds tin Baxter John Ellison Treasurer – Paragliding competition Web site of- Tony Pickering secretary – Pete Balmforth ficer – Peter Logan Club coach -John Ellison Hang gliding competition Probably little change for Hang glider pilots! Members Has anyone thought of using the alternative walk up are still free to fly Whernside but are strongly advised from the Deepdale side of Whernside? The walk is to park below the sign reading 'PRIVATE ROAD, AB- longer but flatter and after the flight, in all but the SOLUTELY NO MOTOR VEHICLES' and walk from strongest conditions, it should be possible to fly over there. It is acknowledged that this turns and arduous walk into an epic. It remains unclear how the Frank Brennand has asked us not to police would respond, but there is- use the road leading to Bruntscar. n't much of an escape route, and This is on the increasingly popular frankly it would be far better if a non-DHPC member tested the wa- Three Peaks Walk and would ter first! encourage non-flyers to do the Flying Activity. same. We never actually had permission to park or land on Scales Moor, but this is probably the back back to the car, Looking further west the less of an issue now. The area is also a designated Gragareth ridge is just as much fun to fly and is con- SSSI but English Nature and The Yorkshire Dales sistantly more flyable than Whernside. National Park Authority don't seem too concerned about our activities at the moment. Regards, Alternatives. Fred Frank Brennand has asked us not to use the road leading to Bruntscar. This is on the increasingly Hi Fred, popular Three Peaks Walk and would encourage non-flyers to do the same. However, if anyone can Many thanks for your advice. Pete Logan came up suggest an with the same idea and also suggested that we could alternative route or compromise I would be more than fly the W face. The climb up from Deepdale looks, happy to investigate/negotiate further. from the map, to be about twice that from Ellerbeck: I Martin Baxter DHPC Sites (North) promise to try it out when I get my new lightweight harness! Hi Martin, I guess that flying 'over the back' to get back to your Page 2 car is possible in the right conditions but we would apply other limitations during the lambing season, have to warn novices about the danger of rotor. but that is some way off yet. Also the implications of sinking out in front would be a trifle inconvenient. The Hill Inn car park is for 'patrons only', but there are a couple of laybys just above it. Dean Crosby controls Gragareth and has asked anyone contemplating flying there to give him a call Hardly a perfect solution but the best that we have first. I haven't managed to get in touch with Frank at the moment. Perhaps a taxi from Hawes/Ingleton (or William) Brennand to discuss dropping kit off on is the answer. the road to Bruntscar yet but I promise that I will. Martin Baxter Martin Baxter DHPC Sites (North) DHPC Sites (North) We have recently taken over responsibility for Hi All, Addleborough from SunSoar Paragliding. All The back of Whernside & Gragareth are Active the landowners are happy but I have only just Edge school sites, I have no problems with people found out that a fifth party owns the shooting wanting to fly there, if they contact the school! Walk- rights over the area. He got in touch after a para- ing up from the back of Whernside is no easier than glider pilot scared away all their grouse last Sat- walking up from Chapel le Dale, plus we shouldn't urday! be encouraging anyone to fly over the back in rotor to the cars in Kingsdale/Deepdale! Regards Dean I have agreed a general rule that we will not fly Crosby the site during the months of Sep, Oct and Nov; but that if pilots want to fly there during these Active Edge months they can give him a call, and if no shoot- Unit 153, The Mill ing is planned, flying can take place. Glasshouses Harrogate His name is John Ellerby 01642 724739. HG3 5QH Please pass this new restriction on to all pilots. The tarmac road leading up to Bruntscar is public but the land either side is not so we can legally drive Martin Baxter up as far as the 'Private Land No Parking' sign but DHPC Sites (North) we cannot park. If you can find a flying buddy, Frank Brennand's Upcoming Club Nights : brother, William, is happy for you to drive right up to Dec - Bognor Birdman Presentation the top of the track (SD 739790) to drop off or col- Jan - Film Night. lect kit. Whoever draws the short straw will then Feb - First Aid Night/Incident Demonstration. have to drive the car down to the area of The Hill Inn Mar - Weatherjack to park whilst the Apr - Aiden Toase (X-Alps) Presentation other(s) guard the kit. May - BHPA Executive Member Presentation June – XC hounds The path up to the shoulder is pretty obvious. I July – flight simulator haven't had chance to check out the best take off yet so chose your spot with care. The best landing field is the one just short of the 'Private Land No Parking' sign but if you can't penetrate that far the first field that you walk through on your way up is flat near the bottom; just watch out for boulders and pot holes! Please, please do not park anywhere on this route. It is used by literally hundreds of walkers each day and if they see one car parked there they all think that they can do the same. We may also have to Page 3 Site Name Addleborough Grid Ref SD 948880 Wind Direction NE-E (040-100), N (340-020), SW (200-260) Height 470m AMSL, 50m top to bottom Grade of Flyer NE-E All Grades; N & SW Experienced Parking From the sharp/steep bend in the A684 at Bainbridge take the minor road heading south. Fork left at the radio mast and drive almost to Carpley Green. Park just before the barn on the left keeping clear of the gate. Access Enter the field signed BW Thornton Rust and follow the path keeping the wall on your right. After about 150m the wall bends right and takes you through a gate. Leave the path and walk directly up the hill now keeping the wall on your left. You soon lose the wall as your handhold but keep going in the same gen- eral direction towards the right hand side of the outcrop. Once above this out- crop look for the purpose built stile, marked on the map, to gain access to the E/NE face. Access to the N face is via a further stile also shown on the map. Do not climb any walls. Telephone Good mobile reception. Phone box in Worton (SD 955900). Owners John S Cloughton, Carpley Green - 01969 650327 (Route up/SW) Mr Harker, Punchard Farm, Arkengarthdale (E/NE T/O & Landing) Dennis Mudd, Noble House, Cubeck - 01969 650232 (NW Landing) A B Spence, East Scar Top, Thornton Rust - 01969 650289 (N T/O & NE Landing).