Peak Airsports Paragliding

Peak Airsports is one of the UK's longest-established paragliding schools, based in the Peak District since the 1990s. The school runs from Mam Tor and a network of ridge sites across the southern Peak — Hope Valley, Edale, and the Goyt Valley — which between them give reliable training conditions in most wind directions.

What to expect

The standard route is a BHPA Elementary Pilot course (4-5 days) leading on to the Club Pilot rating (further 4-5 days). Mam Tor's south-east-facing ridge is the headline training site — a gentle gradient, low cliff exposure, well-tested by decades of instruction. Tandem flights are available as introductory experiences for those not ready to commit to the full course. The instructor team has stable long-tenure staff which is unusual in the industry.

Practical notes

UK paragliding is weather-dependent. The school plans courses across multi-day windows and uses the best of the available conditions; expect to lose some training days to flat or over-strong wind. Castleton, Hope and Edale all have B&B accommodation within ten minutes of the main training sites. Lessons book ahead — popular months (May-September) fill fast. Bring layers regardless of season; ridge tops sit at 500m and can be much colder than the valley.

Who it suits

Peak Airsports is one of the UK's longest-established schools, with a wide network of ridge sites across the southern Peak that work in most wind directions. That breadth suits everyone from first-timers to pilots wanting dependable training days.

Getting there

The school runs sites across the southern Peak — Mam Tor, the Hope Valley, Edale and the Goyt Valley. The Hope Valley line has stations at Edale and Hope close to several of these, though reaching the launch still means a walk or a lift up from the valley.

Quick answers

Do you need experience to start?

No. Beginner courses are designed for people with no flying background, starting on gentle slopes with ground handling.

How long does it take to learn?

Elementary takes a few days; an independent Club Pilot rating usually takes a season, helped here by the spread of sites that keeps training going across wind directions.

When is the best time of year?

Spring to autumn for the most flyable days, with sessions arranged flexibly around the weather.