Slope Gliding Sites in , Ireland

1. “Caher Conree”. Winds: NW, N and slightly East of North.

Landing zone 2

Landing Park / Zone 1 launch area

Huge, endless maritime air lift, with “rescue elevators” on the far left and the far right of the slope! THE DOTTED LINE ABOVE IS ± 3.5 KM LONG!! Fly from your car. Great landing zones where you can fly a huge pattern to the right (east – “landing zone 1”) and then to the rear of the slope as there is a further “slope” behind (where the word “Oughter” is on the photo above). A “left hand” circuit can also be made (Landing zone 2): walk back the road to the small road stub where an old track starts, and land just on the slope side of that track (this is recommended if you find the landing zone 1 a bit too turbulent)

Wet/boggy landing zones: waterproof boots essential.

Ownership: commonage. Used for sheep grazing. No fences.

Take the – Dingle road (N86). Approximately 15 Km from Tralee, turn left immediately after the Railway Pub (following signs for Camp and N86 Dingle). After 700 metres turn left again onto a small lane (just before the stone bridge). Follow the lane for ±5 Km. You will come to a steep section of road that climbs up the slope: park near the bend at the top of that section.

The site can also be accessed from the other (southern) side of the Dingle peninsula, by turning off the Castlemaine – Inch road and following the scenic route over the hills to Camp.

2. Hill Wind Farm. Winds: SW, S and SE

Tar parking area

Internal gravel parking area

Slope edge

Located just north of (and overlooking) Tralee town. From Tralee you can see this hill: if you look north, you will see a series of hills: Ballincollig is the second hill from the left. As the wind moves more to the west, move to the right, and for S and SE move further to the left. Rounded slope edge, excellent grassy landing zones, no rotor. For full-on SE winds it becomes very gusty due to nearby hills upwind affecting the flow. S and SW are smooth.

Ownership: Private: multiple farmers / peat cutters / windfarm. Please respect this: it’s not public land, but there have been no problems with access YET! Take only photographs, and leave only footprints please.

Either park at the gate (at the T junction in the pink circle in the above photo) and walk into the windfarm (about 14 minutes walk, half on level road); or drive around the back of the hill on the gravel road (see green arrows above - this is in the windfarm itself) and park near the last turbine which is visible on the photo (close to the green circle). The walk up to the SW slope from the gravel windfarm road is about 6 minutes.

To get to the slope from Tralee, use the “Clash Road” (this leads to the Muingnaminnane Landfill site). This road starts at the Clash roundabout on the N21 main road in Tralee: drive up the Clash Road and go straight through two more traffic circles. For the “tar road, park and walk further” option, take the next (first) turn to the left (± 3.4 KM from the last – new – traffic circle), and then turn right and right again near the top of the road (blue arrows). For the “drive into windfarm and take the gravel road around the back of the hill” option take the second turnoff to the left (± 4.4 KM from the last traffic circle – pink arrow). As you get to the top of the road there is a turn-off to the left. This can be used, but is a bit rough compared to the second turn-off just a bit further down the road (if this one is locked, use the first one). From there it’s a case of following your nose around the back of the hill to the last wind turbine from where you will be overlooking the Tralee basin again.

Clash traffic circle

3. Annascaul ( Lougher). Winds: W to SW to S

TO CAMP / TRALEE

THE SLOPE

THE “BACK” SLOPE (SEE 5. BELOW)

TURN ONTO THIS DIRT TRACK

4-WAY TO CROSS ANNASCAUL / DINGLE TO INCH TURN HERE

This is a slope where you can fly the S and SW winds not far from the car (good for dodging the rain!). The valley usually channels the west wind to bend it onto this slope as well (but a few degrees too far west and it may miss the slope). This then is the only “non dune” slope in Kerry where it may be possible to fly in the westerlies. The site is quite high, and can sometimes be in the cloud base. It’s easy to see if the slope is clear or misted up from the main road below.

Access is via the Tralee-Dingle main road (N86). From Tralee, drive through Camp, and proceed on up and down the next hill pass. After the road levels out look out of the first “4 way” crossing, with a sign that indicates INCH to the left:

Turn north at the very next road on the right:

After 730 m there is an angled 4-way intersection. Take the dirt track. Proceed to the top and park in the large area where peat (turf) is laid out to dry. The best area to launch and land is just to the west of that area: it is necessary to climb the fence. Please do not damage the fence. Be aware of hidden holes and trenches in the terrain: waterproof boots or even wellies are recommended.

4. Sleive Mish Masts: SE slope; and NE slope

These slopes are fairly unique in providing the best of the limited options for flying in SE as well as NE winds in Co. Kerry. This land is being used for various organisations to erect communication masts, as well as part of a military firing range (this no longer seems to be in use!). Sheep are also grazing on this land. The masts are fairly easy to see to the south from the Tralee basin.

Access is via the “scenic route” over the hills between Tralee and Castlemaine. From Tralee, head towards Castlemaine / Killorglin (N70). You will go past Lidl on your right. At the end of this first long, straight stretch of road, turn right where the road starts bending to the left. Take the next first left, and follow that road to the top of the hill. The entrance gate is at the top of the hill – it’s not locked, but please keep the gate closed! After driving up a very short section of dirt road, park anywhere in the flat area. Please allow 24 hour room for emergency vehicles to gain access to the gates for the various mast compounds! The SE slope is to the left (climb over one fence), and the NE slope on the right (walk along the side of the smaller mast compound and then on to the slope edge, which is essentially behind that compound). The ground on the NE side (it’s actually pure peat bog) can be very slippery if wet. Landing zones are very nice for the NE slope. The landing zones for the SE slope are OK, but beware of grass clumps and hollows and ditches cut into the peat. Reconnoitre your LZ carefully first! TO TRALEE

NORTH - EAST SLOPE

TELECOM MASTS

SOUTH - TO CASTLEMAINE EAST GATE (PLEASE SLOPE KEEP CLOSED)

5. Annascaul “back” slope (Glanlough South): NW, N and NE

Be prepared to be blown away! This is an awesome slope, almost perfect in every way imaginable (shape, size, power of lift, scenery, landing zones). Take the directions for Annascaul / Lougher (3. above). At the “parking area”, walk due north over the almost flat top of the hill. You will need to cross over a fence. The walk is about 180 metres of flat-ish terrain (watch out for holes: this is peat bog again!). As you crest the rise, brace yourself for an awe-inspiring view! This is private land, please respect the fencing, etc.

6. Annascaul East slope

As you drive up the steepish dirt track (see 3 above), there are two sharp left-hand bends. At the second one, drive straight on instead of turning left. Watch out for the drainage furrow across the road right at the beginning: you may need to add a few rocks to drive on so your car doesn’t bottom out. As you proceed along this road you will be driving along the edge of a bowl that faces easterly winds. Stop and fly where you think the best wind angle is. This is the only easterly slope I have been able to find that isn’t gusty like most other east slopes.

7. Kinard Beach. SW to S.

Lispole

TO Seal ANNASCAUL Sanctuary

TO DINGLE

KINARD BEACH

Winds are straight off the sea here, so the lift is very smooth. At low tide you can fly on the beach itself, below the cliffs.

A nice area for fun flying with small planes or foamies, and you are right next to your car in case a rain squall comes through. Land in the long dune grass next to the edge. It is also possible to fly large gliders from the cliffs on the left: make use of the field gate which is a very short walk back up the tar road: please do not climb over the fence at the corner near the beach. Land in the Furze..

The site is on the Dingle Peninsula. From Tralee, proceed through Camp, Annascaul and Lispole. Just after Lispole there is a dead straight section of road. Take the first turn to the left (it’s just before the Seal Sanctuary, which has a large, prominent timber front fence and a big parking area). After the bridge there is a T-junction: turn right. Wind your way down to the beach: there are a number of turns, but almost all directions will get you there (circular drive)!

7. West winds

Almost all options for this wind direction (apart from Annascaul, which can be hard to judge if it’s working or not) are on coastal dunes: a. Rossbeigh beach (just after Glenbeigh, on the Ring of Kerry road). The highest dunes, you will need to walk north a bit down the spit from the car park to get to the best shaped dunes.

b. Banna beach (north Kerry, take the Ballyheigue road north from Tralee, turn left after Ardfert at signs for Banna beach).

c. Inch beach (on Dingle peninsula, turn right off the N70 in Castlemaine town). SW also works further down the spit.

d. “The Dumps”, Maharees peninsula, just north of Castlegregory (Dingle peninsula). Drive past Sandy Bay where there are big mobile home parks on either side of the road. Turn next left and park in the area where Jamie Knox Windsurfing has a shed. To blend in here, you need a tan, long, sun-bleached hair, and say “hey doooood…” a lot…

8. Further away from Tralee

Mweelin

A spectacular, huge, relatively high altitude spot, once frequently used by paragliders. Works in SE, S or SW winds, and there is also a “back” slope that works in N to NE. A lot of thermal activity if winds are light. Can be in cloud base, only consider if the cloud base is high.. Commonage area used by turf cutters, please keep gates closed. At least 1.5 hours journey from Tralee. On Google Maps or Earth, search for “Carrigbaun” in Co. (which is the area at the foot of the slope). Take the main Cork N22 road from Tralee, through and on, turn right at the R569 Kilgarvan road. Turn first left at Morley’s Bridge (signposted “Coolea”). Keep left immediately after bridge. After ±8.7 Km keep right at fork. After ±6.3 Km turn right onto dirt track, follow to top (±1.5 Km).

Connor Pass (near Dingle)

The wind (NW, N & NW) is channelled through here at a major velocity! Tight landing zones. You can end up flying over the public road below, so please take care, and watch out for tourists! Fly and land on the opposite side of the road to the car park: please do not fly from the car park!

Coomanaspic (near Portmagee, Valentia island area)

This huge hill overlooks Portmagee on the Iveragh (Ring of Kerry) peninsula, it’s easy to work out how to drive there from the town. At the top the slope faces N to NE winds. Drive a little bit up the side road towards the masts, and you can fly in SW winds from a couple of fields on the right; or NW on the left. Landing zones are grassy, but also pretty clumpy: no long, sliding landings here! While in this area you could also pop over to Valentia Island, there are a few good cliff slopes there too.

Slea Head Drive / Dunquin / Ballyferriter

This is the Gealtacht (Irish speaking) area at the very western tip of the Dingle Peninsula. There are a number of small coastal spots that can work in various wind directions (I have not flown here). The most beautiful spot on earth in my opinion, so well worth a drive. From Dingle town, continue on through Ventry, and follow the signs for Slea Head Drive.

Tralee Golf Club course

Classic sea cliff flying in a NW. Park in the public car park inside the golf course where there is a public right-of-way walkway to the beach. To fly you need to walk a bit to the right along the cliff face. This means you are technically in the course itself, and you need to be very confident of being able to land in the long dune grass next to the cliffs, and not get blown back onto the fairways. If you are at all not sure you can do this, PLEASE do not fly here and get yourself arrested for trespassing! Not suitable for planes bigger than 2 m span.

Chris van Schoor June 2014