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Paragliding Edinburgh Pentland Hillend

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Description

Hillend, located just south of Edinburgh in the Pentland Hills, offers a unique paragliding experience. The site is occasionally used for thermal soaring, primarily in a north direction, with less frequent opportunities for east or southeast winds. Due to its location within the Edinburgh Airport Control Zone (CTR), special rules apply. Pilots must sign and accept the Hillend Letter of Agreement before flying. Detailed procedures and the agreement can be found here: https://shpf.co.uk/flying/flying-sites/hillend-pentlands-and-moorfoots-flying-sites/. The site is managed by the Scottish Mountain Paragliding Club, and the local club is the Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club. More information about the site can be found on their website: https://www.llsclub.co.uk/index.php/sites and https://www.llsclub.co.uk/index.php/hillend. The launch altitude is 1450 feet, with a height difference of approximately 650 feet from top to bottom. The site record distances are 2.3 km and 1.4 km. The wind direction is typically from the north to northeast, but east and southeast winds are also possible. Access to the site is straightforward. From the A702, just off the Edinburgh City bypass, head south towards Penicuik and turn into the Midlothian Ski Centre. Parking is available at the ski centre car park. For launching, you can either walk up the hill directly behind the ski tows or take the chair lift. The most popular launch spot for the north face is right by the summit cairn. Top landing is possible, and for bottom landing, refer to the site map to avoid areas used for grazing horses and note the position of the windsock. Hazards include deep heather at launch and gorse bushes in the landing area. It's crucial to avoid losing height over the ski slopes and associated lift machinery. For flight regulation, the first pilot at the hill must call Edinburgh Air Traffic Control at 0131 333 6239 to seek permission to fly, and the last pilot must call to close the permission. Always provide your contact mobile telephone number and adhere to the height clearance given. If permission is refused, do not fly. For more information on notifying other aircraft of activity in this area, use the CANP system: https://canp.logans.me.uk/. For visual insights, check out these videos:

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