header2

N - NE

Wolf Crags

printer
Status : OK
IMPORTANT - Restrictions on use
- An aggressive buzzard nests near the site and dives at wings. Please let site officer know if it causes damage.

- Note the advice re use of the track in the 'getting to take off' section.

- If any peregrines are seen on the crags avoid any undue upset by not 'scratching' (close ground proximity flying).

- Site will be CLOSED FOR LAMBING for the whole of April.

- No dogs.

Last Updated : 03/05/2024 at 16:39 by Rick Livingstone
Last Reviewed : 02/05/2022 by
Wind : N - NE    
Nil Wind : No    
Grid Ref : NY362223 Height (AMSL) : 1700' / 519m
Site Code : 17.083 Top to Bottom : 350' - 250' / 107m - 76m

Location

N Lakes - W of Ullswater

Details

An excellent site, the best northerly in the district. The site is large and quite extensive with very large, easy top and bottom landings. A good thermal site but with rather daunting terrain downwind. On a half decent day it is common to explore back to Great Dodd and across to Clough Head.

Site Officer

Rick Livingstone : 07761187016

Postcode for Sat Nav Systems (read the Health Warning!)

CA11 0LG - This is the closest mail delivery point to the flying site and is positioned at:

The postcode centre is at Crookwath 500m SSE of the eastern parking area. Only use this postcode if you intend to approach from the east.

Getting There

Approaching from either north or south, follow the A5091 until a minor road leads to High Row. The track starts here and there is ample parking just outside the gate.

Getting to takeoff

We have a tentative OK for vehicle access & parking, but please respect the wishes of any farmer who requests you DO NOT use the track. A number of different farmers use this track and not all may be happy with us using the track.
A 4x4 may be required depending on the state of the track / your 2wd off road ability!

Park sensibly!!

Permission to use site

The Matterdale Common Conservators and The National Trust

Hazards

Care if scratching the crags. If the wind goes west of north the site produces poor lift and can become increasingly turbulent.

Take Off

Plenty of take off areas along the top of the hill

Landing Areas

Straight forward top landing

Flying

In good conditions it is possible fly to Clough Head and back

XC potential

Excellent potential but with difficult terrain (and a possible lake crossing) downwind.

Photos

Click on the photo for a full size image.

Looking up to the western end of the take off area. 2 hang glider pilots are making the final assault up to the take off plateau. You can take off anywhere between here and the eastern end of the ridge. On this day with a bit of east in the northerly wind, the western end was working better at first
Photo
Looking east from the western take off plateau.
Photo
A rather hazy view of the Wolf Crags area looking east. A thunderstorm broke 40 mins after. The launch area is along the ridge to the right and you can land along the coach road. Flying back to the car park is the easiest route! Photo by Dave Horne.
Photo

 

Local Information - Pubs/Food etc

Nearest pubs to the site - for post flying debriefing only! You may find details of other facilities here

  Royal Hotel, Dockray
Grid Reference : NY392216
Distance from Site : 0.9 miles
Notes : Country Hotel offering a bar, restaurant and accommodation.
  Click here to go to the web site
  Click here to see the place in Google Street View

 

This page shows records for this site. Some of the older records are not very detailed. More recent records may have an igc file available You can right click and download this to your PC. You can then use IGC Flight replay to view the flight.

Paragliding
Flat Triangle  
Distance : 56.9km
Date : 04/06/2012
Pilot : Mike Cavanagh
Notes : This is a very interesting flight using the space upwind as far as Cawthwaite as well as down the thirlmere valley.
IGC File : Right click to download
Open Distance XC  
Distance : 93.0km
Date : 04/06/2012
Pilot : Alex Colbeck
Notes : The flight started with a slow climb out but the sky looked excellent. I flew over the Helvellyn range mostly at cloudbase and then ended up climbing again over Windermere. In between climbs I was gliding inland, and after some slow, scrappy climbs I found myself over Farleton Knott. At this point the sea breeze was pushing in and I took climbs underneath some scraggy clouds. I headed on a very buoyant line inland towards Settle and after a final climb, weakening convergence took me on my final glide to land at Coniston Cold
IGC File : Right click to download
Turnpoint Flight  
Distance : 69.9km
Date : 04/06/2012
Pilot : Ed Cleasby
Notes : Open Distance 63.5k Ed landed near to Clapham
IGC File : Right click to download
Hang Gliding
Flat Triangle  
Distance : 56.9km
Date : 04/06/2012
Pilot : Mike Cavanagh
Notes : This is a very interesting flight using the space upwind as far as Cawthwaite as well as down the thirlmere valley.
IGC File : Right click to download
Open Distance XC  
Distance : 93.0km
Date : 04/06/2012
Pilot : Alex Colbeck
Notes : The flight started with a slow climb out but the sky looked excellent. I flew over the Helvellyn range mostly at cloudbase and then ended up climbing again over Windermere. In between climbs I was gliding inland, and after some slow, scrappy climbs I found myself over Farleton Knott. At this point the sea breeze was pushing in and I took climbs underneath some scraggy clouds. I headed on a very buoyant line inland towards Settle and after a final climb, weakening convergence took me on my final glide to land at Coniston Cold
IGC File : Right click to download
Turnpoint Flight  
Distance : 69.9km
Date : 04/06/2012
Pilot : Ed Cleasby
Notes : Open Distance 63.5k Ed landed near to Clapham
IGC File : Right click to download

Data Resources

Follow the links to see the site in Google Earth and Google Street view. To access the former, you will need to have Google Earth installed on your PC. You can also upload your flights to GE - use GPS Dump (Links Page) to convert a variety of GPS file formats to a GE kml file.

Link Resource Type Notes
Google Earth Google Earth - Car Park
Google Earth Google Earth - Landing
Google Earth Google Earth - Landing 2
Google Earth Google Earth - Take Off
Street View Google Street View - Parking The parking area for Wolf Crags. The track goes through the gate.

Wolf Crags Map

Legend

Wolf Crags Map