loarre

Loarre in Aragón, Spain, launches from a S/SW-facing hillside at 1,275 m with the storybook Loarre Castle (an 11th-century Romanesque stronghold) directly in view. On good days a thermal forms just above the castle, giving spectacular photos — and real XC potential along the pre-Pyrenean range west–east: west towards the dramatic Mallos de Riglos conglomerate rock formations, east towards the Sierra de Guara. It's a satisfying site to fly and rewards active pilots with real distance.

Launch & conditions

S and SW takeoff at 1,275 m AGL.

Getting there & local rules

From Huesca take the A-132 to Ayerbe; past the Esqueda petrol station, right onto the A-1206 to Loarre; near the village turn right up to Loarre Castle. When you reach the flat area in front of the castle, turn left uphill — that road takes you to the takeoff. Just before reaching the castle, a forest track/broken road on the left will get you there in a normal car if you avoid the potholes. Landings: fields near the castle, or fields near the campsite (820 m AGL) — one small and one bigger next to the kids' playground, both beside the road up to launch. Top-landing on the launch itself is workable in ascendency; it's an unusually easy top-land when you can reach it.

Local rules & hazards

Not flyable in a north wind. Inspect the LZ before launching — it's a little small, though larger surrounding fields exist. Take care not to damage crops. There are a number of power lines around, particularly below the castle — keep an eye on them.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to loarre, 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 loarre with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.