BEST PARAGLIDING SITES IN IRELAND

There is 203 sites to discover in Ireland and 0 guides available

The Top 20 Paragliding sites in Ireland:

Sky Road Clifden

This site in Ireland offers a magnificent view and is occasionally used for soaring. The takeoff is conveniently located right beside the parking lot or nearby, making it easily accessible. Toplanding is generally normal here. The site record is 4.5 km, indicating that while it may not be the most popular spot, it still offers some decent flights. When planning your visit, you can take the road from Clifden to reach the site. Be cautious of increasing wind speeds, which can pose weather hazards. For more information, you can visit [Freefly Ireland](http://www.freefly.ie/paragliding/ireland.html). Check out a video of the site [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPMSbIk4BVY&feature=player_embedded).

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Glen Clear Lake Glancar Lough

This paragliding site has an elevation of 238 meters. It is rarely used, making it a quieter option for those looking to avoid crowded spots. The site is suitable for soaring, and some cross-country (XC) flights are possible, though not common.

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Mount Truskmore

The takeoff point at 489 meters in the Conaught region of Ireland is reportedly no longer accessible for higher launches. However, you can still launch from this location. The site record for this area is 9.2 km. Before flying in this region, especially the hills west of Truskmore including Ben Bulben, you should contact Sligo ATC. More details can be found on their website: [Sligo Airport](http://www.sligoairport.com/). For a visual overview, you can watch this video: [YouTube Video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrT0h2HCJQo).

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Ben Bulben

Located in the Connaught region of Ireland, this paragliding site offers a pleasant ridge soaring experience with an elevation range of 200-400 meters. It's a walk-and-fly site, meaning you'll need to hike to your takeoff point. The site features several takeoff options suitable for different wind directions, specifically NW and SW. The site record here is 55.0 km, showcasing its potential for some decent cross-country flights. Before flying in this area, it's essential to contact Sligo ATC, especially if you plan to fly the hills west of Truskmore, including Ben Bulben. You can reach them through the Sligo Airport website: [Sligo Airport](http://www.sligoairport.com/). For a visual taste of what to expect, check out these videos: - [Vimeo Video 1](http://vimeo.com/32373299) - [Vimeo Video 2](https://vimeo.com/58820070) - [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw_DS81BTcU) For more detailed information, you can explore additional resources online.

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Benglenesky Ben Glenesky Connamara 12 Pins

Located in the Connaught region of Ireland, this paragliding site offers a range of takeoff options from elevations between 315 to 500 meters. It's a rarely used spot, ideal for hike & fly enthusiasts, with potential for cross-country (XC) flights. The site record stands at 37.2 km for flights in the W, SW, and S directions. Takeoff can be challenging due to the rough terrain, with several possible spots from the summit to lower elevations of the mountain. Be prepared for a tough hike. To get there, turn north from the N-59 onto a small road near the mountain, approximately 3 km from the N-59. Comments from previous visitors highlight the potential for XC flights to the north. It's important to choose the right path for hiking to the launch spot to avoid areas with dead, cut-off trees, which can be hazardous. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, with increasing wind speeds being a common issue in mountainous areas. Standard ridge soaring and thermaling rules apply for flight regulations. For more information, you can contact Jacek Chodanowski at 085 2838844 or via email at chodanowski_jack@yahoo.ca. Parking is available near the landing area, which is easy to find. The GPS coordinates for the landing parking are 0 N, 9.88778 W. For visual references, you can check out these videos: - [Video 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emw-PP7gUr8) - [Video 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjWqKfu3yI4)

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Knocknarea N

This paragliding site in the Conaught region of Ireland has an elevation of 245 meters. It is occasionally used and is known for its soaring conditions. The site record is 2.2 km.

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Connemara Maumturk Mountains Mammean Ingagh Valley Binn Chaonaigh

In the Connemara region of Ireland, you will find a paragliding site with an elevation range of 200-600 meters. This site is regularly used and offers various launch options, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced pilots. The site is also popular for hike & fly activities, and some cross-country (XC) flights are possible. The site record for the longest flight is 52.7 km, achieved in the W-SW wind direction. For more information on flights near this point, you can check the following videos: - [Video 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPk-_i-SIrY) - [Video 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stmAydWAk2w) - [Video 3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1tA4kx6fuc) - [Additional Video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvlt7BFyPAg) For further details or to plan your visit, you can contact: - [Paraglide West](http://www.paraglidewest.ie/) - [Paragliding Ireland](http://paragliding.ie/) The take-off area offers various options, from the summit to lower elevations, with plenty of clear spots free from rocks, making it sufficient for launching. Part of the hike is on a trail, and about 200-300 meters before reaching the chapel, you will need to traverse the slope to your chosen take-off spot.

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Five Finger Strand

This paragliding site in Northern Ireland, UK, is situated at an elevation of 123 meters. It is rarely used and primarily suitable for soaring. The site record is 1.4 kilometers.

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Skeltia Maumtrasna

This paragliding site in Ireland has a takeoff height of 290 meters. It is primarily a walk-and-fly location and is rarely used. The site is suitable for soaring. The longest recorded flight here is 0.8 km. For a visual overview, you can watch a video of the site [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpLbhd7x78c). For more detailed information, please visit ParaglidingEarth.

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Slievenakilla

This site has an elevation of 433 meters and is rated as less frequently used. There is only one recorded flight log, but it offers the potential for good cross-country (XC) flights, which is quite rare for Ireland. It is suitable for walk and fly activities. For more details, you can check the flight log here: [Flight Log](http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/616046)

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Mount Leinster

Mount Leinster is the highest peak in the Blackstairs Mountains, forming part of the natural boundary between Counties Wexford and Carlow in Ireland. The summit reaches 2,610 feet, and you can drive right up to the top, provided you have access to the service road leading to the television mast. The area offers forest walks and fantastic views, making it a popular spot for paragliding. This site is frequently used for soaring and cross-country (XC) flights. The site record for a flight from Mount Leinster is 74.0 km. Notably, the recent Irish 60 km paragliding distance record started from this location. For more information, you can visit the Irish Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association's website at [IHPA](http://www.ihpa.ie/). You can also check out additional details on [Flightlog](http://www.flightlog.org/fl.html?l=1&a=22&country_id=103&start_id=2050).

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Slieve Elva

This location is rarely used for paragliding, and no flight logs have been found for it. For more details, you can contact Jacek Chodanowski at 0852838844 or via email at chodanowski_jack@yahoo.ca.

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Croghan Mountain

The take-off site is situated at an elevation of 584 meters with a height difference of 340 meters. This location is rarely used and is primarily suitable for training and small training flights. There is limited information available about this site. For a visual reference, you can check out these videos: - [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uEqe6VdSHg) - [Vimeo Video](https://vimeo.com/139188849) Take-off details are not provided.

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Blackstair Mountains 1

This paragliding site in Ireland, with an elevation of 403 meters, is occasionally used and offers the possibility for cross-country (XC) flights. Access to the site by car is uncertain, so it's recommended to check local resources or contact local paragliding clubs for detailed access information. For a glimpse of what flying at this site looks like, you can watch this video: [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWTM97iw22g). The site record for the longest flight is 13.1 km.

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Donabate Dunes

In Donabate, Ireland, there's a lesser-known paragliding site where you can take off from a sand dune on the beach. The site record here is 1.1 km. Due to its rarity and limited information, it might not be the first choice for many paragliders. For a visual reference, you can check out this video: [Donabate Paragliding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuZRPVOmmu8).

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Knockarena

This paragliding site has an elevation of 314 meters. Unfortunately, there is limited information available about this location. For more details, you might want to check specialized paragliding resources or local clubs.

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Five Finger Strand

This site in Northern Ireland, UK, has an elevation of 114 meters. It is rarely used and primarily suitable for soaring. The site record is 1.4 kilometers.

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Mweelrea- low launch

Located in the Conaught region of Ireland, this paragliding site offers a range of takeoff options with altitudes between 200 and 760 meters. It is suitable for both walk&fly and soaring activities. The site record for distance is 18.2 km. For more information, you can visit [Paragliding Ireland](http://paragliding.ie).

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Bray Head 1

Bray Head in Ireland offers a regularly used paragliding site known for its nice coastal soaring. The main takeoff is situated at an elevation of 157 meters, with a launch length of 2000 meters. The site has recorded flights of up to 2.0 km. It's important to note that flying far south with a strong northeast wind is not advisable unless you have sufficient height, as there is no landing zone below. For landing, you can either return to the takeoff spot or land at the nearby beach. To reach the takeoff point, park your car in the area and climb up to the top of Bray Head. This site features typical coastal flying conditions with train tracks and rocks below. The Dublin Control Traffic Area starts from 2500 feet above sea level, which is generally not reachable from this site, making it safe to fly. For more details, you can visit [Freefly Ireland](http://www.freefly.ie/paragliding/ireland.html). Watch some flights from Bray Head on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/album/1892700/video/14606576) and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmPB8lKooUE).

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Maggies Launch Aghowle Wicklow

Located in Aghowle, Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, this paragliding site is best suited for intermediate to advanced pilots due to the moderately deep heather at the launch area. The launch faces WNW and requires winds of 12 km/h or more for ridge soaring. There is potential for thermal cross-country flying. To access the site, start from the paved road between Crablane and Park Bridge. Follow the Wicklow Way trail towards the summit of Upper Aghowle, which involves a 20-minute hike. Alternatively, you can drive up with a 4WD vehicle. At the forest road T-intersection, turn left and stay left until the end of the forest road, followed by a 5-minute hike. Cross the fence onto commonage land and hike out to the hill to the WNW for another 5 minutes. Be cautious with the fences and always show courtesy to the vigilant locals. For any queries, you can contact Mike Whelan at mikewhelan32@gmail.com. Note that this access crosses Coillte and commonage land, and private access is also available with permission from Jim Byrne at the crossroads below the launch area.

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Other guides available in Ireland :

Other guides available in Ireland :