| Map |
 |
| Site Owner / Negotiator |
SHPF |
| Site Contact |
None |
| Site History: |
NON LLSC SITE - Aonach Mor is an SHPF site - an
established ski and flying area with gondola access. The gondola is open
all year round, giving easy access to the hill. It has also become a
centre for summer downhill biking on a purpose built track.
Nevis Range do a day ticket
giving you as many trips up as you want. |
| Altitiude at Launch: |
2130ft |
| Height top to bottom: |
1800ft |
| Airspace: |
SCOTTISH F.I.R. CLASS 'E' |
| National Grid Reference: |
NN188 763 |
| Wind Direction: |
West, North West, North, North East |
| Brief Site Description: |
Ski area, North Westerly facing bowl with gondola access. Best in
North, Nth West direction. Can be affected by sea breeze in summer. |
| How to get there: |
From
the A82, 5 miles North East of Fort William, take the signposted Aonach
Mor ski access road. |
| Restricted Areas: |
Car park area - when busy. Quarry N.E. of carpark looks like a good
PG landing but is rotory and often has blasting. |
| Parking Notes: |
Park in the Ski car park. |
| Landowners: |
Aonach Mor (Nevis Range) ski area. Phone 01397 705825 |
| RAF Ref. |
Unknown |
| Launch Notes: |
Hang-gliders: From the top of the gondola, follow the footpath to the
Northerly viewpoint and rigging area. Good even ground for launch.
Beware of paragliders launching below HG launch, particularly when
Westerly. |
| Paragliders: From the top of the gondola follow the footpath to the Northerly
viewpoint and launch just below the HG rigging area. Beware of HG's
launching overhead. Other PG launch on opposite spur on the West of the
bowl. |
| XC Tips: |
Good site for XC, with typical XC routes towards
Ben Nevis, but other directions also. Current (2001) British
triangle PG record (205km via Glencoe) was set here by Steve Senior in May 1999. |
| Top Landing Notes: |
HG top landing is probably best on the plateau below the footpath but it is
not ideal since the ground is uneven and boggy in places. Paragliders can
top land anywhere, but beware of soft / uneven ground and compression
areas. |
| Bottom Landing Notes: |
Hang-gliders: Land in HG field
to Nth West or can land in car park when quiet.
Windsock advisable in thermic conditions. |
Paragliders: In the carpark.
Usually the first car parking aisle is empty. Plenty room, but beware of
slight rotor from trees and thermals. |
| Hazards: |
Hazards are the ski-lift cables, lots of fir
trees, a few fences and tourists at launch. Beware of the quarry which
looks ok for PGs but is not a good landing option due to blasting and
rotor. Westerly launch can be rotory due to upwind ridge. |
| Special Rules: |
None |
