XC Paragliding / Hang Gliding Challenges for West Cornwall
Flights of increasing distance. (Note the Kernow League rules)
Carbis – St Ives O/R : 7.1 km (4.4 miles)
Takeoff:
Carbis: 50°11’39.12″N, 5°27’5.68″W
Turnpoint 1:
Building on dunes by Hayle Estuary
Turnpoint 2:
West Pier (opposite Smeatons Pier), St Ives harbour
St Agnes – Wheal Sally O/R : 8.5 km (5.3 miles)
Takeoff:
Chapelporth
Turnpoint 1:
St Agnes watchtower
Turnpoint 2:
Cliffs before Wheal Sally
Morvah to Penzance : ~9 km (5.6 miles)
Takeoff:
Morvah site: 50°10’0.35″N, 5°37’41.34″W
Goal/Landing:
Harbour car park: 50° 7’12.47″N, 5°31’53.60″W
Tescos field: 50° 7’37.31″N, 5°31’36.88″W
Notes: Careful at the carpark! Humphrey Davy field and rec also on this flight path.
Carbis to Penzance : ~9 km (5.6 miles)
Takeoff:
Carbis
Goal/Landing:
Tescos field, Penzance: 50° 7’37.31″N, 5°31’36.88″W
Morvah to Porthmeor Beach : 12 km (7.5 miles)
Takeoff:
Morvah site: 50°10’0.35″N, 5°37’41.34″W
Goal/Landing:
Porthmeor Beach, St Ives
Morvah to Lamorna : 13 km (8 miles)
Takeoff:
Morvah site
Goal/Landing:
Lamorna coastal field: 50° 3’45.27″N, 5°33’20.94″W
Carn Brea – Falmouth : 16.5 km (10.3 miles)
Takeoff:
Carn Brea
Goal:
Pendennis Castle, Falmouth
Pendeen Lighthouse – Trevega Cliffs O/R : 22 km (13.7 miles)
Takeoff:
Morvah
Turnpoint 1:
Pendeen Lighthouse
Turnpoint 2:
Trevega Cliffs
St Agnes – Falmouth : 23 km (14.3 miles)
Takeoff:
St Agnes TO: 50°19’6.21″N, 5°13’43.87″W
Goal:
Falmouth, Pendennis Castle: 50° 8’53.10″N, 5° 2’55.32″W
Morvah – Zennor – Praa Sands : 23km (14.3 miles)
Takeoff:
Morvah site: 50°10’0.35″N, 5°37’41.34″W
Turnpoints:
Zennor: 50°12’7.23″N, 5°33’36.13″W
Goal/Landing:
Praa Sands beach: 50° 6’8.20″N, 5°23’18.15″W
Notes: Low tide better for Zennor cliffs.
Carbis – Lands End : ~24 km (14.9 miles)
Takeoff:
Carbis TO: 50°11’39.12″N, 5°27’5.68″W
TP1:
Carbis Bay Hotel: 50°11’53.27″N, 5°27’59.91″W
Goal:
Lands End Hotel: 50° 3’56.68″N, 5°42’51.37″W
St Agnes – Hell’s Mouth O/R : 28.2 km (17.5 miles)
Takeoff:
St Agnes
Turnpoint:
Hell’s Mouth
Perranporth – Vault Bay : 28.6 km (17.8 miles)
Takeoff:
Perranporth: 50°21’40″N, 5°08’54″W
Turnpoints:
Vault Bay: 50°13’50.2″N, 4°48’04.5″W
Carn Brea – Lizard Point : 29.4 km (18.3 miles)
Takeoff:
Carn Brea
Goal:
Lizard Point
St Agnes – Lizard Point : 40 km (24.9 miles)
Takeoff:
St Agnes TO: 50°19’6.21″N, 5°13’43.87″W
Goal:
Lizard Point: 49°57’33.40″N, 5°12’23.41″W
Chapelporth – St Austell : 33.3 km (29.7 miles)
Takeoff:
Chapel porth: 50°18’28.62″N, 5°14’2.75″W
Goal/Landing:
Porthpean golf course: 50°19’31.57″N, 4°45’59.00″W
Highcliffe – Saltash : 44 km (27.3 miles)
St Agnes – North Cliffs – Helford – Lizard Point : 47km (29.2 miles)
Takeoff
St Agnes: 50°19’6.21″N, 5°13’43.87″W
TP1
North Cliffs: 50°14’14.73″N, 5°20’37.52″W
TP2
Helford: 50° 5’49.90″N, 5°11’15.29″W
Goal/landing:
Lizard Point: 49°57’33.40″N, 5°12’23.41″W
Highcliffe – Torquay 83 km (51.6 miles)
About the Author
Mark Ashton Smith What’s national standard for paragliding in Cornwall - among the best you can find in the country? (1) the coastline 🧗🏼♀️ - the most beautiful in the country. We can enjoy it, explore it, and get good at coastal soaring 🏆 (2) the views 👀from up high - all coastlines of the peninsula that everyone comes to visit all in one panorama - absolutely stunning 🏆 (3) technical tor & small hill, inverted, broken-up, and low base flying 💥- really sharpens XC skills - none of this lobbing into house thermals and climbing to 6-7 grand off the bat. If you lose concentration you’re on the ground. If you can learn to fly XC well in gnarly Cornwall you can fly well anywhere in the UK. 🏆(4) the convergence 🌥🌥🌥 - it’s the best in the UK and if we can fly it, it opens up 150km plus flights and even learning to soar sea breezes gets us in league with that lot around Brighton. 🏆 (5) We got instant access to lots of ace coastal sites/beaches to train at within a short drive which gives us more air time, ground handling skills, and wagga skills (call out to Dunc)🏆,and (6) our sites aren’t busy!! You’ll be lucky to find more than 2 people flying at Carn Brea on a perfect day. In Bodmin moor you’ll be with your mate and that’s it. No crowds. 🏆👌Happy to be in one of the best flying areas in the country - just important not to get pulled into the league numbers games which suits other areas but not ours. Gavin McClurg made the same point. Distance is great but there’s loads of other ways to have top flights. Focus on what’s the very best in your home turf! 🏴☠️
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Paragliding Phases →
Paragliding XC Sites in Cornwall →
Paragliding Training Skills & Drills →
