Paragliding Tinto top launch

Tinto Hill, located in the Lanark area of Scotland, is a popular site for paragliding and hang-gliding, especially due to its proximity to Glasgow and Edinburgh. The site is managed by the Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club (LLSC). Altitude at Launch: 1493ft/455m Height top to bottom: 459ft/140m The hill features a large open area with a 4km ridge running east to west, making it suitable for soaring and cross-country (XC) flights. The site record for XC is 117.5 km. Wind Direction: Best in North, can be rough in North-West. Current conditions can be checked on the wind monitor pages. Airspace: TMA CLASS 'D' above 5500ft. Ensure you have the latest airspace details on your navigation device or access to an up-to-date CAA chart. Special Rules: Close the bottom gate to the track as there are sometimes grazing animals further up the hill. How to Get There: From the M74 Junction 11 or 12 (Happendon Services), take the A70 heading east, then first right onto the B7055 after passing through Rigside. Follow the road for approximately 5km to a junction with a white house on the right and a track on the left. Parking: Park in the quarry at the top of the track. Paragliders wishing to fly Greenhill should park in the lay-by halfway up. Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be driven up the new track as far as the wind monitor mast at the owner's risk. Launch Notes: - Hang-gliders: Walk up the new track to the wind monitor mast, cross the fence at the stile, and continue to the rigging area. If the wind is light, you can continue along the ridge to several higher take-off locations. - Paragliders: Follow the same route as hang-gliders. XC Tips: Airspace to the north can be limiting. If sufficient height is gained from take-off, it is possible to cross the gully onto the west face of Tinto and the summit. Good thermals are produced from the dark heather in the lower moor, and track up into the 'bowl' which tends to work better in light and thermic conditions. Light wave has been recorded in north-westerlies. Check for ripples on the surface of the reservoirs as an indication of wind strength. Top Landing Notes: The majority of the ridge is open and good for top landing. Paragliders should avoid flying behind the wall when coming in to top land. Bottom Landing Notes: - Hang-gliders: Land in the moor at the bottom of the hill. Access to the moor can be gained by the north road. An alternative in light winds is to fly over the ridge and land in the south landing field. - Paragliders: Can land anywhere but it is usually best to top land and walk down to the quarry than land in the moor and walk out. Hazards: There is a small bund at the base of the 'bowl' which was once used as a rifle range. There is a broken wire fence and metal posts along this bund which are hard to identify from the air. Weather: [Weather Information](https://holfuy.com/en/weather/950) Additional Contact: [Cloudbusters](http://www.cloudbusters.co.uk/) Site Fees: £2.00 payable in the money box at the base of the hill for each visiting pilot as a contribution to insurance and maintenance costs. (LLSC pilot fees included in membership) People to Contact: [LLSC Google Group](https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/LLSC) Parking Coordinates: - Takeoff parking: 55.5893 N, 3.7129 W - Landing parking: 55.5892 N, 3.7129 W For more detailed information, visit the [Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club](https://www.llsclub.co.uk/index.php/sites) and [Tinto North](https://www.llsclub.co.uk/index.php/tinto-north) pages.