The Bwlch mountain is around 25 minutes
drive NW of Cardiff. The whole lot is owned by a local farmer with whom the South Wales
Soaring Association enjoy a good relationship. To ensure this continues flyers are
expected to be courteous at all times to other countryside users and not to leave any
litter.
Every slope has its own characteristics, all
are excellent some are awesome, others are better...
The Wrecker (NE) & VR98
slope (N)
Best Competition Times
Wrecker 33.xx (at least 5 times, 3 of them to the Knewt)
VR98 Slope 32.xx (Jan Hansen - was a world record at the time)
There is a lay-by to park in near the arrow
on the map. You can fly from your car if you’re scared of heights. The braver can
walk along the ridge to the left or right depending on the wind direction until you find
the best lift. Do not overfly the cars. In a breeze over 10mph do not land in the field to
the west, vicious rotor will tear your plane to pieces. Instead walk behind you across the
road to the highest point (about 100m walk) and land there in perfect rotor-free air.
You’ve been warned!
The
Crest, E & SE & NE
Best Competition Time 34.xx... (Alex McMeekin with a cut!)
Park on the road as close to the verge as
you can, level with the main ridge face. Walk across as far as you need to find the best
lift. There is a small fence to hop over, do not damage it. The lift is awesome. When
landing walk backwards until you feel a steady breeze blowing the correct way. Then walk a
bit further and land without difficulty. Do not try and land near the slope edge in
anything other than a very gentle breeze.
Back of Wrecker, S
& SE
Best Competition Time 33.xx (Can't remember who - any takers?)
Park in the same lay-by as for the Wrecker.
Walk across the road and across the grass to the highest point. Around 150 metres from the
lay-by you will reach the slope. You can fly anywhere along the slope but to avoid rotor
on landing it is best to land on the highest ground, the same area as used for the
Wrecker.
Ice cream slope, NW
Best Competition Time 35.02 (Ade Law 9/2/03)
Park in the lay-by at the T-junction. The
path runs along the face of the hill, follow it for about 350 metres until the rise on you
right disappears. Flying here is superb and landing is easy on the flat area.
Want to see a video of an
average lift day on the Ice ceam slope?
Mickey's Slope, W & SW
Best Competition Times SW 32.70 (Knewt - was a WR at the time) & W 29.45 (Carlos
Cantero - current WR)
Park as for the Ice cream slope. Follow the
gravel path until it starts to run parallel with the slope face. Chose the best place to
fly for the exact wind direction. Most areas are rotor free and fine to land, use common
sense. Competition days we get the key and drive up :-)
