Mere: Rifle Range: S-ESE; 750' asl; 300' ttb; (ST 811 344 - sheet 183), site code 2.037
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Sites Officer:
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Nick Somerville (01749 880579) |
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Rating:
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Any rated pilot. No training. |
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Permission:
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This is an Open Site. Please abide by Avon Club Rules and if you are not a club member read the section for Non-Members.
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Parking:
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Park on the main track, without blocking it or the gates into the surrounding fields. Do not drive into any of the fields.
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Rigging:
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Hang gliders can rig just inside the field by the track and carry the rigged glider forward to take-off, or rig just behind take-off in front of the fence.
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Take Offs:
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Anywhere in the bowl. Some local hang glider pilots will be seen taking off from behind the fence; this is not recommended for the beginner. In a light ESE take-offs can be made from the eastern spur. Paragliders should not launch directly in front of rigging hang glider pilots.
Also be aware that horses may be using the bridlepath running up the western spur of the bowl and may be spooked by inflating gliders.
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Local Flying:
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If the wind direction is not S-SE the bowl can be turbulent due to rotor caused by the spurs on either side. These conditions can lead to rapid height losses and canopy deflations, so you should always be aware of the true wind direction before flying. The bowl effect can make it look like the wind is smack on when it is coming more from the west or east. Don't hog the area in front of take-off making it difficult for others to launch.
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XC Flying:
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Can be difficult to get away from as you have to commit to leaving at a lower height than is usual. It is an easy first XC to fly to Long Knoll (1.75 miles) and soar there. For longer flights over 30km you need to be aware of airspace, particularly with regard to the Bath Gap. You can download a PowerPoint presentation about this airspace here (4.5MB).
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Top Landing:
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In the field that you walked through to get to take-off. Beware of rotor from the mounds. Beware of landing too far to the south and overshooting into the fence. Do not fly back as far north as the track as it may be difficult to penetrate forward again into the landing area. Beware of the cable that runs along the north end of the field. Do not leave your glider in a place where it becomes an obstruction to others trying to land. Do not worry any farm animals that may be in the field. Paragliders can land in the bowl area but should be aware that they may get dragged back into the barbed wire fence. Do not land in any other top field.
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Bottom Landing:
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With the closure of the rifle range there may not always be a bottom landing area available. If the fields to the east and west of the track are in crop, any forced bottom landing should be made on the track itself. To collect a hang glider, go back to the main road and turn left. When you reach Mere, turn left by the Lloyd's Bank and look for the gated track on the right, just after the bridge over the A303. There is a path back up to take-off for paraglider pilots, who have plenty of room to side land but should be careful of the numerous bushes and small trees. |
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Telephones:
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Red Lion pub or Wood Farm.
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Hospitals:
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Frome or Bath.
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Directions:
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There are two ways to reach this site with the first being much kinder to your car given the current state of the track that runs across the top of the Downs.
- From Mere follow the B3092 in a NE direction out of town and up a steep hill for about 1.5 miles. At a gravel parking area turn sharp left onto a cinder track heading WNW. After half a mile you will pass the collection of gates where the access to the Rifle Range Site can be found on the left. If heading for Cowards Bowl drive a further 400m to the stile just before the aerial, again on your left. Park and walk across the field to a gate from where you can clearly see the flying bowl.
- Leave Frome going south on the B3092. Two miles after Maiden Bradley, turn left, immediately after the Red Lion pub, into Long Lane. (The Red Lion is under the red circle.) Follow the main track for about two miles until you see a water works site with a large aerial in a field to the right. Continue for 400m and park near the group of gates. Access to the site is on your right.
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PHOTOS & OTHER INFO
MERE RIFLE RANGE MAIN
This page last updated: 1st November, 2011
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