Parapente Paragliding Peak District is one of several schools operating in the southern Peak. Based around the Mam Tor and Hope Valley ridge sites, the school covers the standard BHPA pathway plus thermal-flying continuation training for licensed pilots wanting to extend their cross-country skills.
What to expect
BHPA Elementary courses spread over 4-5 days, Club Pilot continuation, and themed weekend workshops for licensed pilots. Mam Tor is the headline training site — a 500m ridge with multiple wind-direction options and decades of safe instruction history. The Peak District’s thermal flying in summer is genuinely good by UK standards, which makes the area popular with intermediate pilots progressing toward cross-country flights.
Practical notes
Castleton, Hope, Edale and Hathersage are the natural overnight bases — all within ten minutes’ drive of the main training sites. April-October is the practical season; winter Peak flying happens for experienced pilots on rare clear days. Lessons book ahead through the website. The Cheshire Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club is the local pilot community — worth joining once licensed for site-specific knowledge and informal flying days.
Who it suits
Parapente suits both newcomers and licensed pilots: alongside the standard beginner pathway it runs thermal and cross-country continuation training for those wanting to push beyond ridge soaring. The Mam Tor and Hope Valley sites are a classic place to develop those skills.
Getting there
The school works the southern Peak around Mam Tor and the Hope Valley. Usefully, the Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield has stations at Edale and Hope right below the ridge, though you will still need a walk or a lift up to launch.
Quick answers
Is it just for beginners?
No. As well as teaching first-timers, Parapente offers continuation coaching for qualified pilots looking to build thermal and cross-country experience.
How long does it take to learn from scratch?
The BHPA Elementary stage takes a few days; an independent Club Pilot rating typically takes a season of weather-dependent days.
When is the best time of year?
Spring to autumn, with the best thermal flying in the warmer months. Sessions are arranged around suitable conditions.
Train, parking, drive…
- Train
- New Mills Central (Hope Valley line from Manchester/Sheffield)
- Parking
- New Mills street parking; school-provided to Mam Tor and Hope Valley sites
- Postcode
- SK22 3HJ
- Drive
- ~3h15 from London, ~45 min from Manchester
- Car-free?
- Easy
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…
- Peak District climbing on Stanage / Burbage nearby
- Pennine Way Hike from Edale
- Pub stop at the Old Hall Inn at Hope
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.
