Beachy Head

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Is it your level?AdvancedParaglidingHang gliding

Eastbourne's coastal classic: a forgiving bowl right beside a serious 500ft cliff, two very different flights off one hill.

Facts from the Southern Hang Gliding Club guide · pilots are adding the local read

Before you goFrom 1 February to 1 August you cannot drop below 200ft over the cliffs (nesting birds), and there is next to no bottom landing, so top-landing is the plan, not the backup.

Today at the launch23 Jun

Working window

E–S

WindESE 9mphHeadwind

Gust1.9×Rowdy

Thermal2-3m/sModerate

Cloud base3,250ftWorkable

Context only, never a go-call

Open-Meteo

6 facts checked against the Southern Hang Gliding Club guide

The read

Wants a steady ESE through SSE. Wind off the sea is generally smooth, but a poor lapse rate can turn it violently turbulent.

Is it my level

The bowl flies at CP as straightforward ridge soaring. The cliffs need a Pilot rating and a cool head, with slippery rock and no real bottom landing below.

Launch

Launch the large south-east bowl, or the 500ft SSE cliff if you are rated for it.

Airspace

Capped at 5,500ft.

Getting there

Park at the pub car park. Postcode BN20 7YA.

The catch

Rotor sits immediately behind the cliffs, and the SSW can bring dangerous rotor. Bottom landing below the cliffs is non-existent or extremely hazardous.

Who do I ask

Southern Hang Gliding Club

Southern Hang Gliding Club steward this site. The takeoff and landing photos, the full rules and who to ring live in their guide.

More info on club site→

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If it's not flying here

Where the wind sends you instead

→Newhaven CliffsHeadwindlower, and flies when Beachy is overpowered →High and OverHeadwindif the wind backs into the E or SE →Mount CaburnCrosswindif it goes round to the S or SW

Local knowledge

What pilots say

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