Islares – Castro Urdiales

Islares–Castro Urdiales is a coastal soaring site on Spain's Cantabrian coast, between Santander and Bilbao, known for dynamic ridge lift with the chance of a sea-breeze thermal kicking in on top of it. Takeoff is a wide, well-kept grass slope with about 350m of height gain, reached by a rough track from near the old water tank above Islares — a 4x4 makes the drive easier but isn't essential. In a right crosswind, a venturi effect can form over Oriñón beach nearby, so it pays to read the wind carefully before committing to that line. Landing is a generous grass field in the middle of Islares, close to a bus stop and with plenty of parking right next to it — handy for a site so close to the motorway. Because the fields around the landing are used by local farmers, park considerately and stay off any area that looks like grazing land rather than the open landing zone itself.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is a wide, smooth grass slope with roughly 350m of vertical, reached by a rough track from the old water deposit above Islares — passable by 4x4. In a right crosswind, watch for a venturi effect forming over nearby Oriñón beach.

Getting there & local rules

From the Santander–Bilbao motorway (A-8), take the Islares exit. Landing is a wide grass field in the center of Islares, near the bus stop, with ample parking alongside it — but keep clear of the surrounding grazing fields, which are private land loaned for landing, and watch for a power cable running to a house next to the landing zone.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Islares – Castro Urdiales, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Islares – Castro Urdiales with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.