Slope Gliding Sites in County Kerry, Ireland

1. “Caher Conree”. Winds: NW, N and slightly East of North.

Huge, endless maritime air lift, with “rescue elevators” on the far left and the far right of the slope!

THE DOTTED LINE ABOVE IS ± 3.5 KM LONG!! Fly from your car. Great landing zones where you can

fly a huge pattern to the right (east – “landing zone 1”) and then to the rear of the slope as there is a

further “slope” behind (where the word “Oughter” is on the photo above). A “left hand” circuit can

also be made (Landing zone 2): walk back the road to the small road stub where an old track starts,

and land just on the slope side of that track (this is recommended if you find the landing zone 1 a bit

too turbulent)

Wet/boggy landing zones: waterproof boots essential.

Ownership: commonage. Used for sheep grazing. No fences.

Take the Tralee – Dingle road (N86). Approximately 15 Km from Tralee, turn left immediately after

the Railway Pub (following signs for Camp and N86 Dingle). After 700 metres turn left again onto a

small lane (just before the stone bridge). Follow the lane for ±5 Km. You will come to a steep

section of road that climbs up the slope: park near the bend at the top of that section.

The site can also be accessed from the other (southern) side of the Dingle peninsula, by turning off

the Castlemaine – Inch road and following the scenic route over the hills to Camp.

Landing

Zone 1

Landing

zone 2

Park /

launch area

2. Ballincollig Hill Wind Farm. Winds: SW, S and SE

Located just north of (and overlooking) Tralee town. From Tralee you can see this hill: if you look

north, you will see a series of hills: Ballincollig is the second hill from the left. As the wind moves

more to the west, move to the right, and for S and SE move further to the left. Rounded slope edge,

excellent grassy landing zones, no rotor. For full-on SE winds it becomes very gusty due to nearby

hills upwind affecting the flow. S and SW are smooth.

Ownership: Private: multiple farmers / peat cutters / windfarm. Please respect this: it’s not public

land, but there have been no problems with access YET! Take only photographs, and leave only

footprints please.

Either park at the gate (at the T junction in the pink circle in the above photo) and walk into the

windfarm (about 14 minutes walk, half on level road); or drive around the back of the hill on the

gravel road (see green arrows above - this is in the windfarm itself) and park near the last turbine

which is visible on the photo (close to the green circle). The walk up to the SW slope from the gravel

windfarm road is about 6 minutes.

To get to the slope from Tralee, use the “Clash Road” (this leads to the Muingnaminnane Landfill

site). This road starts at the Clash roundabout on the N21 main road in Tralee: drive up the Clash

Road and go straight through two more traffic circles. For the “tar road, park and walk further”

option, take the next (first) turn to the left (± 3.4 KM from the last – new – traffic circle), and then

turn right and right again near the top of the road (blue arrows). For the “drive into windfarm and

take the gravel road around the back of the hill” option take the second turnoff to the left (± 4.4 KM

from the last traffic circle – pink arrow). As you get to the top of the road there is a turn-off to the

left. This can be used, but is a bit rough compared to the second turn-off just a bit further down the

road (if this one is locked, use the first one). From there it’s a case of following your nose around the

back of the hill to the last wind turbine from where you will be overlooking the Tralee basin again.

Slope edge

Tar parking area

Internal gravel

parking area

3. Annascaul ( Lougher). Winds: W to SW to S

This is a slope where you can fly the S and SW winds not far from the car (good for dodging the

rain!). The valley usually channels the west wind to bend it onto this slope as well (but a few

degrees too far west and it may miss the slope). This then is the only “non dune” slope in Kerry

Clash traffic circle

4-WAY

CROSS

TURN HERE

TURN ONTO THIS

DIRT TRACK

THE SLOPE

TO CAMP

/ TRALEE

TO

ANNASCAUL

/ DINGLE

THE “BACK” SLOPE

(SEE 5. BELOW)

TO INCH

where it may be possible to fly in the westerlies. The site is quite high, and can sometimes be in the

cloud base. It’s easy to see if the slope is clear or misted up from the main road below.

Access is via the Tralee-Dingle main road (N86). From Tralee, drive through Camp, and proceed on

up and down the next hill pass. After the road levels out look out of the first “4 way” crossing, with a

sign that indicates INCH to the left:

Turn north at the very next road on the right:

After 730 m there is an angled 4-way intersection. Take the dirt track. Proceed to the top and park

in the large area where peat (turf) is laid out to dry. The best area to launch and land is just to the

west of that area: it is necessary to climb the fence. Please do not damage the fence. Be aware of

hidden holes and trenches in the terrain: waterproof boots or even wellies are recommended.

4. Sleive Mish Masts: SE slope; and NE slope

These slopes are fairly unique in providing the best of the limited options for flying in SE as well as

NE winds in Co. Kerry. This land is being used for various organisations to erect communication

masts, as well as part of a military firing range (this no longer seems to be in use!). Sheep are also

grazing on this land. The masts are fairly easy to see to the south from the Tralee basin.

Access is via the “scenic route” over the hills between Tralee and Castlemaine. From Tralee, head

towards Castlemaine / Killorglin (N70). You will go past Lidl on your right. At the end of this first

long, straight stretch of road, turn right where the road starts bending to the left. Take the next first

left, and follow that road to the top of the hill. The entrance gate is at the top of the hill – it’s not

locked, but please keep the gate closed! After driving up a very short section of dirt road, park

anywhere in the flat area. Please allow 24 hour room for emergency vehicles to gain access to the

gates for the various mast compounds! The SE slope is to the left (climb over one fence), and the NE

slope on the right (walk along the side of the smaller mast compound and then on to the slope edge,

which is essentially behind that compound). The ground on the NE side (it’s actually pure peat bog)

can be very slippery if wet. Landing zones are very nice for the NE slope. The landing zones for the

SE slope are OK, but beware of grass clumps and hollows and ditches cut into the peat. Reconnoitre

your LZ carefully first!

5. Annascaul “back” slope (Glanlough South): NW, N and NE

Be prepared to be blown away! This is an awesome slope, almost perfect in every way imaginable

(shape, size, power of lift, scenery, landing zones). Take the directions for Annascaul / Lougher (3.

above). At the “parking area”, walk due north over the almost flat top of the hill. You will need to

cross over a fence. The walk is about 180 metres of flat-ish terrain (watch out for holes: this is peat

bog again!). As you crest the rise, brace yourself for an awe-inspiring view! This is private land,

please respect the fencing, etc.

SOUTH -

EAST

SLOPE

NORTH -

EAST SLOPE

GATE (PLEASE

KEEP CLOSED)

TO

TRALEE

TO CASTLEMAINE

TELECOM

MASTS

6. Annascaul East slope

As you drive up the steepish dirt track (see 3 above), there are two sharp left-hand bends. At the

second one, drive straight on instead of turning left. Watch out for the drainage furrow across the

road right at the beginning: you may need to add a few rocks to drive on so your car doesn’t bottom

out. As you proceed along this road you will be driving along the edge of a bowl that faces easterly

winds. Stop and fly where you think the best wind angle is. This is the only easterly slope I have

been able to find that isn’t gusty like most other east slopes.

7. Kinard Beach. SW to S.

Winds are straight off the sea here, so the lift is very smooth. At low tide you can fly on the beach

itself, below the cliffs.

A nice area for fun flying with small planes or foamies, and you are right next to your car in case a

rain squall comes through. Land in the long dune grass next to the edge. It is also possible to fly

large gliders from the cliffs on the left: make use of the field gate which is a very short walk back up

the tar road: please do not climb over the fence at the corner near the beach. Land in the Furze..

The site is on the Dingle Peninsula. From Tralee, proceed through Camp, Annascaul and Lispole. Just

after Lispole there is a dead straight section of road. Take the first turn to the left (it’s just before

the Seal Sanctuary, which has a large, prominent timber front fence and a big parking area). After

the bridge there is a T-junction: turn right. Wind your way down to the beach: there are a number

of turns, but almost all directions will get you there (circular drive)!

7. West winds

Almost all options for this wind direction (apart from Annascaul, which can be hard to judge if it’s

working or not) are on coastal dunes:

TO

ANNASCAUL

TO

DINGLE

KINARD

BEACH

Lispole

Seal

Sanctuary

a. Rossbeigh beach (just after Glenbeigh, on the Ring of Kerry road). The highest dunes, you

will need to walk north a bit down the spit from the car park to get to the best shaped

dunes.

b. Banna beach (north Kerry, take the Ballyheigue road north from Tralee, turn left after Ardfert

at signs for Banna beach).

c. Inch beach (on Dingle peninsula, turn right off the N70 in Castlemaine town). SW also works

further down the spit.

d. “The Dumps”, Maharees peninsula, just north of Castlegregory (Dingle peninsula). Drive

past Sandy Bay where there are big mobile home parks on either side of the road. Turn next

left and park in the area where Jamie Knox Windsurfing has a shed. To blend in here, you

need a tan, long, sun-bleached hair, and say “hey doooood…” a lot…

8. Further away from Tralee

Mweelin

A spectacular, huge, relatively high altitude spot, once frequently used by paragliders. Works in SE, S

or SW winds, and there is also a “back” slope that works in N to NE. A lot of thermal activity if winds

are light. Can be in cloud base, only consider if the cloud base is high.. Commonage area used by

turf cutters, please keep gates closed. At least 1.5 hours journey from Tralee. On Google Maps or

Earth, search for “Carrigbaun” in Co. Cork (which is the area at the foot of the slope). Take the main

Cork N22 road from Tralee, through Killarney and on, turn right at the R569 Kilgarvan road. Turn

first left at Morley’s Bridge (signposted “Coolea”). Keep left immediately after bridge. After ±8.7 Km

keep right at fork. After ±6.3 Km turn right onto dirt track, follow to top (±1.5 Km).

Connor Pass (near Dingle)

The wind (NW, N & NW) is channelled through here at a major velocity! Tight landing zones. You

can end up flying over the public road below, so please take care, and watch out for tourists! Fly and

land on the opposite side of the road to the car park: please do not fly from the car park!

Coomanaspic (near Portmagee, Valentia island area)

This huge hill overlooks Portmagee on the Iveragh (Ring of Kerry) peninsula, it’s easy to work out

how to drive there from the town. At the top the slope faces N to NE winds. Drive a little bit up the

side road towards the masts, and you can fly in SW winds from a couple of fields on the right; or NW

on the left. Landing zones are grassy, but also pretty clumpy: no long, sliding landings here! While

in this area you could also pop over to Valentia Island, there are a few good cliff slopes there too.

Slea Head Drive / Dunquin / Ballyferriter

This is the Gealtacht (Irish speaking) area at the very western tip of the Dingle Peninsula. There are a

number of small coastal spots that can work in various wind directions (I have not flown here). The

most beautiful spot on earth in my opinion, so well worth a drive. From Dingle town, continue on

through Ventry, and follow the signs for Slea Head Drive.

Tralee Golf Club course

Classic sea cliff flying in a NW. Park in the public car park inside the golf course where there is a

public right-of-way walkway to the beach. To fly you need to walk a bit to the right along the cliff

face. This means you are technically in the course itself, and you need to be very confident of being

able to land in the long dune grass next to the cliffs, and not get blown back onto the fairways. If

you are at all not sure you can do this, PLEASE do not fly here and get yourself arrested for

trespassing! Not suitable for planes bigger than 2 m span.

Chris van Schoor June 2014