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.
Who it suits
Active Edge suits learners and licensed pilots drawn to the high, open ridges of the Yorkshire Dales, with regular trips further afield for those building cross-country experience. The classic mid-altitude Dales sites give plenty of room to develop.
Getting there
The core sites are in the Yorkshire Dales — Buckden Pike, Wether Fell and the Mallerstang valley. The Settle–Carlisle line passes nearby with stations such as Garsdale and Ribblehead, but the launches are high and remote, so a car or a lift from the group is needed.
Quick answers
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes, though the Dales are also a strong choice for pilots progressing beyond the basics. Beginner instruction starts on gentle slopes with ground handling.
How long does it take to learn?
Elementary takes a few days; reaching independent Club Pilot level usually takes a season of weather-dependent flying.
When is the best time of year?
Spring to autumn. Upland weather in the north of England is changeable, so flexible dates help you get more airtime.
Train, parking, drive…
- Train
- Settle (Settle-Carlisle line from Leeds)
- Parking
- School base at Whelpstone Grove; school transport to Dales sites
- Postcode
- BD24 9DG
- Drive
- ~4h30 from London, ~1h30 from Manchester
- Car-free?
- Possible
Transport details are best-effort and worth double-checking on the day — rural buses and station services change with the timetable.
If you’ve got an extra day…
- Pennine Way Hike on the Settle stretch
- Whinlatter Forest MTB an hour west
- Stop at the Lion at Settle
Plan it yourself.
The most authoritative sources we know of for this site — routes, conditions, governing bodies and operators. Open in a new tab.
- BHPA British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association — qualifications and instructor accreditation.
- BHPA Sites Guide flying sites by region and recommended local clubs.
- XCWeather pilot-focused weather forecasts — wind, cloudbase, thermal index.
- RASP UK thermal soaring forecast model used by UK XC pilots.
