Active Edge Paragliding

Active Edge Paragliding operates principally from sites in the Yorkshire Dales, with regular trips to Scottish, Welsh and overseas venues. The Dales sites — Buckden Pike, Wether Fell, the Mallerstang valley — give classic mid-altitude ridge soaring in clean north-of-England air, with a generous Yorkshire prevailing wind that suits learner training.

What to expect

BHPA Elementary courses (4-5 days), Club Pilot continuation, and themed cross-country and thermal weekends for licensed pilots. The Yorkshire Dales terrain is gentler than the Lake District but more committing than the South Downs — ridge tops at 500-700m with predictable lift in the right wind. The school is small, instructor-led, and operates a flexible weather policy.

Practical notes

April-October is the practical season. Settle, Hawes and Sedbergh are the natural Dales bases — market towns with B&B accommodation, good pubs and direct access to the training sites. The Yorkshire Dales Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club is the local club body. Bring layers, walking boots for take-off approaches, and a packed lunch — the upland areas have few cafes near the flying sites.