Pennine Soaring Club Articles

Edenfield Lambing Closure

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:02:33 Z

Edenfield will be closed for Lambing from 1st April 2026 to 25 May 2026 inclusive.

Please adhere to the closure.

Thanks

Andy (Sites Officer)

Edenfield Lambing Closure Update

Thu, 08 May 2025 14:29:16 +0100

Update on Edenfield Site Access

Last month, I reported that after discussions with the farmer grazing sheep and lambs on the landing field, we had managed to keep the site open with an extended restriction period. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.

Earlier this month, following southerly winds, several members were approached by a different farmer while flying on the fell. Further discussions have since taken place with both farmers, and a new agreement has been reached.

Revised Arrangements:

Edenfield landing field will be closed for lambing from 1st April to 25th May.
The Edenfield site will return to the usual closure period of 25th April to 25th May.

Please respect these closure dates.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Andy
Sites Officer

Thank you for your cooperation.

Andy
Sites Officer

EDENFIELD LANDING FIELD CLOSED FOR LAMBING

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:17:50 Z

Edenfield landing field will be closed for lambing from 1st April to 25th May. Unlike previous years when the entire site was closed, we have reached an agreement with the tenant farmer to keep the site open while closing the landing field for an extended lambing period.

Please respect this closure and avoid landing in the field, land on the the fellside instead.

Signs have been placed on the gates at the top of the access track as a reminder. We encourage everyone to remind fellow pilots about the closure when on the hill.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Andy
Sites Officer

Winter Hill – New Gate Code active from Fri 10th Jan 2025

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 13:42:28 Z

Hi all,

The gate code for Winter Hill has been changed as of Friday 10th Jan 25 @3pm.

Please contact a member of the committee for the new gate code (WhatsApp/text/Telegram/email/FB messenger)

Please follow the rules:

Generally only the lower gate will be locked.
If both gates are locked they will have the same code.
The lock codes will be changed every 3 months or sooner if required.
Do not allow anyone to tailgate you through the gate.
Make sure the gate is locked shut behind you. Do not leave unlocked, even if you know another member will be on their way in a few minutes.
On securing the lock ensure you scramble the code, DO NOT leave it on the unlock code.
PSC members must obtain the code from a member of the committee, DO NOT distribute it further.
Report any suspicious behaviour to a member of the committee.

Thanks

Andy

PSC Sites Officer

Pendle Hill–East Face

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 08:45:00 +0100

Hi all,

We have been informed about an accident that occurred on Pendle Hill on Sunday 11th August 24. There are limited details regarding the circumstances of the incident or the condition of the injured pilot, but wish him a speedy recovery.

We are unsure whether the injured pilot was a PSC member or a visiting pilot. If anyone does have further information please let our Safety Officer Barry know by email safety@penninesoaringclub.org.uk. There maybe safety learning point that other members or visitors could benefit from.

As Sites Officer can I remind members that we have been asked not to fly the east side of Pendle Hill, this is at the request of the landowner. Use of the east face could jeopardise our continued use of the NW face of the hill.

Can all members and visiting pilots please familiarise themselves with the sites guide for Pendle and any other of the PSC sites?

http://www.penninesoaringclub.org.uk/sites/pendle/

Thanks

Andy Archer

PSC Site Officer

sites@penninesoaringclub.org.uk

Winter Hill–potential access restrictions due to cable replacements.

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:01:00 +0100

Winter Hill Transmitter Mast is now a construction site and under the control of a contractor, this is due to replacement of the stay lines that are supporting the structure. The contractor will be managing the site from now until the 3rd of October 2024 and there will be some periods of significantly reduced access when the new stays are being lifted over and alongside the site access road, the work will also include weekend work.

During working hours the gates on site will be locked and set to a code held by the contractor, out of hours (from 6pm – 8am) the code for the gates will be set to the same code as the Winter Hill barrier at the bottom of the hill.

The site managers contact details will be displayed on the gate however he is very unlikely to give access during normal working hours without a permit to work or legitimate cause to drive further up the hill to reach the other masts.

As such can I ask for this period, that members avoid using the access track? instead please park on the car park on Rivington Road and walk up the front face of the hill to take off.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FDkwkiKyyyWwwcXPA

Arqiva the mast operators apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Thanks

Andy Archer

PSC Sites Officer

Edenfield Closed for Lambing

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:48:57 +0100

Edenfield will be closed for Lambing from 25 April 2024 to 25 May 2024 inclusive.

Please adhere to the closure.

Thanks

Andy (Sites Officer)

GASCo Safety Evening

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 12:22:47 Z

GASCO Safety evening - Monday 19^th Feb, 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Sea View Inn.

This is a joint event with Bowland Forest Gliding Club and is a safety talk delivered by GASCOo (General Aviation Safety Council).

These are very informative, interactive and thought provoking events. This will be a tailored event covering topics across both our disciplines including Threat & Error Management, Loss of Control accidents, Electronic Conspicuity, Human Factors, we are also looking to have the opportunity to discuss the local issues, particularly the shared airspace around Parlick.

It is likely to be a packed room so turn up early!

Winter Hill – New Gate Code active from Fri 2nd Feb 2024

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 14:46:35 Z

Hi All,

The gate code for Winter Hill has been changed as of Friday 2nd Feb 24 @3pm.

Please contact a member of the committee for the new gate code (WhatsApp/text/Telegram/email/FB messenger)

Please follow the rules:

Generally only the lower gate will be locked.
If both gates are locked they will have the same code.
The lock codes will be changed every 3 months or sooner if required.
Do not allow anyone to tailgate you through the gate.
Make sure the gate is locked shut behind you. Do not leave unlocked, even if you know another member will be on their way in a few minutes.
On securing the lock ensure you scramble the code, DO NOT leave it on the unlock code.
PSC members must obtain the code from a member of the committee, DO NOT distribute it further.
Report any suspicious behaviour to a member of the committee.

Thanks

Andy

PSC Sites Officer

Winter Hill Access

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:03:30 Z

The access to Winter Hill is via a private road with a combination-locked gate. The general public have not been allowed to use the road since the terrible fires which devastated the moors in recent years. The PSC has negotiated access on behalf of members who are allowed to use this road in order to fly the site. The combination on the lock is changed periodically, and the Sites Officer is given the new code. Members wishing to fly Winter Hill can obtain the current code by contacting one of the Committee.

United Utilities are pleased with how this has worked so far, but have said that they are concerned about some misuse of the system and that access has been obtained by unauthorised persons. It is vital that any PSC member who obtains the code must follow the following procedure:

never share the code with anyone who is not a PSC member
do not leave the gate unlocked after passing through
don’t allow a following car to tailgate you through, unless you are confident they are legitimate users
always scramble the code on the lock after closing it

Thank you

PSC Committee

Pendle Hill – Open Access Land Closure Lifted.

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:19:34 +0100

We have taken the decision to re-open access for flying on Pendle Hill following last weeks closure. We have had no further correspondence from Natural England despite trying to make contact.

If anyone is approached by Countryside Wardens on the hill please be courteous follow their instructions and report back to me.

Thanks

Andy

PSC Sites Officer

ADVANCE NOTICE – Winter Hill Gate Code Change on 27th May 2022 @ 3pm

Fri, 20 May 2022 16:32:47 +0100

Hi All,

Just been notified by Arqiva that the Winter Hill gate code will be changed Friday 27th May @ 3pm. Please contact a member of the committee for the new code.

The note continues to say:

“The number of people that know the barrier code has been kept to a good level, thank you to everyone receiving this email for minimising the risk of the number being discovered by members of the public.

As a reminder:

Once you’ve passed through the barrier please lock it behind you without leaving it on the actual code, if I find evidence that someone is up the hill and they’ve left the gate open I will remove them/the organisation from this distribution list.”

Thanks to everyone for helping to keep the code out of the public domain, as you can see Arqiva are taking access on to the top of the hill very seriously so please abide by the rules.

Regards

Andy

Pennine Soaring Club

Sites Officer

Edenfield – Closure for Lambing

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 19:50:52 +0100

Edenfield will be closed for Lambing from 25 April 2022 to 25 May 2022 inclusive.

Please adhere to the closure.

Thanks

Andy (Sites Officer)

New Gate Code for Winter Hill from 3pm on Friday 2nd February 2024.

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:19:16 Z

Hi All,

The gate code for Winter Hill has been changed as of Friday 2nd Feb 24.

Please contact a member of the committee for the new gate code (WhatsApp/text/Telegram/email/FB messenger)

Please follow the rules:

Generally only the lower gate will be locked.
If both gates are locked they will have the same code.
The lock codes will be changed every 3 months or sooner if required.
Do not allow anyone to tailgate you through the gate.
Make sure the gate is locked shut behind you. Do not leave unlocked, even if you know another member will be on their way in a few minutes.
On securing the lock ensure you scramble the code, DO NOT leave it on the unlock code.
PSC members must obtain the code from a member of the committee, DO NOT distribute it further.
Report any suspicious behaviour to a member of the committee.

Thanks

Andy

PSC Sites Officer

Winter Hill – Additional Gate & Road Closure

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 15:48:13 +0100

Winter Hill access road now has an additional gate at the bottom of the access road just after the houses. The gate is locked, the lock code is the same as the upper gate.

In addition the road has been closed from 14th June for two weeks for re-surfacing works, Brian however, has spoken to one of the operatives and he seems to think the works have completed early.

Edenfield–Closed for Lambing

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 09:05:23 +0100

Edenfield will be closed for Lambing from 25 April 2021 to 25 May 2021 inclusive. Please adhere to the closure.

Thanks

Andy (Sites Officer)

Parlick East–Bottom Landing Exclusion Zone

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 19:27:00 +0100

Hi All,

A couple of weeks ago one of our members was challenged by the Wolfen Hall Gamekeeper for landing in the fields below Saddle End Farm. It seems that the the owner of Wolfen Hall purchased Saddle End Farm and surrounding land a few years ago, as such they are now breeding game birds on the land surrounding Saddle End as well as the land directly below the east face of Parlick.

We have been asked not to land in the area marked in red on the plan, this is a much larger areas than previous. Please adhere to this.

If you are approached by the game keeper please be respectful and understanding of their frustration with you, it is their livelihood after all. Please report it to me so that I can manage the situation.

As it was the PSC member involved had a good conversation with the gamekeeper and reported it to me straight away, this allowed me to contact both the game keeper & landowner to understand the issue and obtain the latest info of the Exclusion zone.

Thanks

Andy Archer

PSC Sites Officer

07824 321575

Winter Hill–Gate to be Locked

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 07:29:16 +0100

I have just been contacted by the secretary of the Rivington Soaring Association (modellers) stating that some of their members were stopped recently by Arqiva TV Mast security staff as they went up the road past the Winter Hill transmitter.

The staff told them that the bottom gate on the access road will be locked Monday-Friday overnight (17:00 to 08:00) and all day at the weekends, this is to restrict public vehicular access since the moorland fires.

I don’t think it is a bad thing if it restricts the BBQ brigade from setting fire to the moor again. This use to be the arrangement at Winter Hill a few years back with a combination lock on both gates.

I have tried to get in contact with the UU Land Agent but at this point in time I am not sure when the lock is going on the gate, but I understand that any organisation that has an agreement with UU will be given the code to the lock.

Keep me posted if you find the gate locked or are challenged by the Arqiva TV Mast staff.

Andy Archer

PSC Sites Officer

07824 321574

Hen Harriers

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 17:31:18 +0100

RSPB have announced that there has been successful fledging of several hen harrier chicks in the Bowland Forest area. They request people stick to marked tracks in the area to avoid stressing these birds during the breeding season. Please be aware of this when flying in the area, and think carefully about landing out where you could disturb them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-48607497#

Winter Hill–Reopened

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 14:07:00 +0100

We are now re-opening Winter Hill - The moor fires are extinguished and the access road is clear, therefore we see no reason to keep it closed.

I have been unable to speak to the landowners, United Utilities, however I flew over there recently in a light aircraft, as you can see the stone wall seems to have protected the takeoff.

If anyone uses the site and experiences any issues please let me know ASAP

Thanks

Andy Archer
Sites Officer

Forest of Bowland UAV Survey NOTAM

Sat, 10 Mar 2018 19:10:00 Z

A UAV will be carrying out survey work in our area, exact date/time is weather dependant, and will be notified in advance if possible and practical, but this cannot be relied upon. The brief email details are as below, copied for all to read. If you notice the UAV please keep away from the operating area. This is not a long term issue, just until the survey work is carried out.

Please see below to indicate the area of operation in Jpeg format and also kml for those with Google earth installed on their PC, but as detailed below, the aircraft will require additional space in which to turn. This may bring the UAV into hill soaring territory.

Watch out, allow space, keep clear please.

Cumbria Soaring Club - Site Closures

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 19:08:00 +0100

Cumbria Soaring Club

The following sites are due to be closed for lambing etc
Please do not fly them during the dates below
* Souther Fell - 28th March to 1st June
* Carrock Fell - Saturdays Only - 1st April to 1st July
* Sandbeds/West Fell - 1st May to 1st July
* Wolf Crags - 1st April to 1st May
The first closure is at Souther Fell from tomorrow, 28th March
The goods news is that we have agreed access to Wolf crags throughout May when this was previously closed for flying

RHADS Corridors – Summary

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 21:04:00 Z

The RHADS Corridors – Summary mentioned by Pat Dower in the airspace is available to download in either Word or PDF formats.

LBIA Proposed Airspace Changes

Sun, 07 Dec 2014 18:59:00 Z

These are OUTLINE documents for discussion at this stage to changes in the Leeds/Bradford airspace. There will be meetings between LBIA and interested parties like us early next year. we will be needing inputs from those affected by the proposals, and Brian Stewart will be collating these inputs from our members. Please coordinate responses and comments via Brian. View PDF here.