Pena Mayor

Pena Mayor launches at 1,029 m in Asturias, northern Spain, and flies with wind from the southwest and west. Takeoff is a grass field on a gentle, low-angle slope, an easygoing setup rather than a steep or technical one. Getting there is straightforward by car: the route runs from Laviana through Condao and Ferrera, with a track continuing from there all the way to launch. Landing is on a similarly low-angle grass slope, though it's worth watching your step, since the grass can grow long and hide uneven ground underfoot; picking a spot with shorter grass makes for a cleaner touchdown. With a gentle takeoff and landing and southwest-to-west wind to work with, it's a comfortable, low-key thermal site rather than a demanding mountain launch.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is a grass field on a gentle, low-angle slope. Landing is on similar low-angle grass, but watch your footing: the grass can grow long and hide uneven ground, so aim for a spot with shorter grass for a clean touchdown.

Getting there & local rules

By road from Laviana through Condao and Ferrera, then a car-accessible track the rest of the way to launch.

Check conditions before you fly

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