Map Of Paragliding Schools In The UK
About Paragliding In The UK
Have you been dreaming of the chance to soar through the sky like a bird? Well, we can’t make you fly, but we could introduce you to the adventures of paragliding in the UK, which is about as close to flying as anyone can get.
If you don’t know too much about paragliding, it’s very similar to skydiving, except instead of jumping out of a plane, you run off a hill attached to a parachute.
And this gives you all the excitement of floating through the air but without the death-defying fear of jumping from a plane.
Paragliders will run off hills with their steerable parachute until the air catches their parachute and lifts them into the air. They can then sit back in a harness or lie supine in a cocoon-like bag.
From there, it’s just about enjoying the feeling and picture-perfect scenery you can’t get with any other activity.
Paragliding started around the 1980s as an extreme recreational sport, but it’s recently become a competitive sport.
If you’re in it for the competition, you’ll be there are four categories you can perform in:
- Hike & Fly: As the name suggests, it involves hiking/climbing a mountain and flying down from the takeoff point.
- Precision Paragliding: You’ll be judged by how close you can land to the 20 cm diameter target.
- Acrobatic Paragliding: You’re judged by the tricks and the style in which you perform them.
- Cross Country: You travel a specific circuit through several points; you are rewarded 1000 points for that task if you arrive first.
Who is paragliding suited to?
Well, because paragliding isn’t too physically demanding, anyone can participate in the sport. But, it’s best for people who don’t fear heights. It’s also great for people who love seeing landscapes from an angle you could never get anywhere else.
Where can I paraglide in the UK?
One problem with paragliding is that you can’t just decide to fly off any mountain. And if you haven’t done it before, you’re going to need some experience.
That being said, there are some great schools you can get your first paragliding experience from…
… And these are just a few of the many locations that offer tandem paragliding experiences so you can get the feeling of flying through the air.
Paragliding locations by area in the UK
When is the best time to go paragliding?
Most people would think the best time to go paragliding in the UK would be during the summer months, but that’s not the case. During the summer, you’ll experience a lot of thermic activity, making the ride a bit bumpy.
For this reason, it’s best to go between autumn and winter because you’ll have a much smoother flight.
What gear do I need for paragliding?
If you’re starting out, you will need to bring any equipment with you, just clothes suitable for the weather.
You have to remember; that you can’t just jump into paragliding without having some previous experience. So, don’t go anywhere; check out some of the guides via the interactive map above to find in-depth detail about paragliding centres across the UK.
FAQs About Paragliding In The UK
Can you paraglide in the UK?
Yes, you can paragliding in the UK. There are paragliding schools and clubs throughout all countries in the UK generally in hilly or coastal areas.
Where can you paraglide in the UK?
You can paragliding all over the UK in areas that have good hills for launching and fields for landing, generally outside of towns and cities. There many clubs and schools located in Wales and Scotland as well as across England in places such as the South Downs, the North Wessex Downs, the Shropshire Hills and the Peak District. To see all paragliding schools in the UK view our UK paragliding map.
How much does paragliding cost UK?
Paragliding has some relatively high initial costs however once qualifications have been passed and kit bought there are few on going costs. These are some average costs you can expect to pay
- Elementary and Club Pilot qualifications – £1200
- British Hang Gliding And Paragliding Association membership – £254 (for 2 years) £149 (for 1 year)
- First set of paragliding kit (canopy, harness, helmet) – £2500
- Paragliding club membership – £10 per year
Do you need a licence to paraglide in the UK?
Strictly speaking no you don’t need a licence to paraglide in the UK however in practicality you do need one to access a lot of sites. Most paragliding clubs who manage many of the launch sites will insist that you have a BHPA Club Pilot licence to use the fly sites or before joining the club.
Is paragliding harder than skydiving?
Paragliding is generally considered to be harder than skydiving. Paragliding requires an intimate understanding of the weather and it’s impact on flying, air law, kit and equipment and flying skills. Skydiving takes a lot of skill however has less required intimate knowledge of the weather and air law as this is generally handled by the aeroplane pilot.
Is paragliding hard to learn?
Learning to paraglide takes around 10-12 days for most people to pass the Elementary Pilot and Club Pilot qualifications in the UK. After this you are fully licenced to flight solo however this is just the start of your journey and you will continue to learn every day.
Can paragliders land anywhere?
Paragliders generally want to land in an area with some open space and that isn’t within a built-up urban area. When planning a flight be aware there may be some no-fly areas where you can’t fly or land and that you shouldn’t land in congested settlement or places that large groups are gathered.
Do paragliders need insurance?
By joining the BHPA, UK paragliding pilots get 3rd party insurance up to £5million. Personal or travel insurance should be purchased separately as per individuals preferences, however we would definitely recommend it as paragliding has the potential to be dangerous.
How long can paragliders stay in air?
Paragliding flight times and lengths depend on a number of factors and a typical flight will stay in the air for 1 or 2 hours and over 10 to 20 kilometers. The longest recorded flight was 610km with duration of over 7 hours.
How fast do paragliders go?
Paragliders fly at at least 20km per hour and get get up to about 75km per hour in speed competitions.
Is paragliding expensive UK?
Paragliding in the UK has a high set up cost but is cheap once you are qualified with you own kit. Kit will cost about £2500-£3000 and tuition about £1200. On average it will cost you about £4000 to get into paragliding in the UK.
How long does it take to learn paragliding?
It takes on average 10-12 days to learn paragliding and to pass the Elementary Pilot course and the Club Pilot course.
Where can i find paragliding near me UK?
To find paragliding near you check out our interactive map of paragliding in the UK. Or for some locations we have specific geography based guides to paragliding
Can you paraglide without training?
There is no legal requirement to have training to paraglide however it would be very difficult, unsafe and unwise to paraglide without training. Training typically costs about £150 per day and to get qualified takes 10-12 days. It is worth the expense as you will be risking your life otherwise.
How many hours do paragliders last?
Typical paragliding wings will last around 300-400 of flight hours, which could be 3-4 years on average. Most would recommend that the paragliding wing is checked and serviced every 100 hours which will help prolong the life of it.
How much is a paraglider cost?
Paragliders range in prices with beginner or second hand wings starting around £2000 and advanced wings costing upwards of £5000
Is paragliding expensive UK?
Paragliding in the UK has a high set up cost but is cheap once you are qualified with you own kit. Kit will cost about £2500-£3000 and tuition about £1200. On average it will cost you about £4000 to get into paragliding in the UK.
Can paragliders take-off from the ground?
Paragliders can not take off from flat ground without help from a tow line. The need lift which is either created from taking off from hill or mountain slopes or are mechanically pulled forwards by the tow line.
Paragliding UK law?
A CAA licence is not required to fly paragliders in the UK however you will need to follow the air laws of the country. You need to make sure you are aware of these and where and when you are permitted to fly.
Is paragliding good exercise?
Paragliding is good exercise for both mental and physical health. Studies have shown that being outdoors is good for mental health and you will burn an average of 230 calories per hour.
How much does it cost to learn paragliding?
Learning to paraglide typically costs about £550 for the Elementary Pilot licence and £650 for the Club Pilot Licence. Both are needed to be fully qualified to paraglide bringing the total cost to learn paragliding to £1200 on average.
How many people paraglide in the UK?
There are around 7000 paragliding pilots in the UK which is about 0.0001% of the population or 1 in 10,000 people.