Sierra Alhamilla

Sierra Alhamilla launches at 428 m near the village of Pechina, close to the Alhamilla baths in Almeria province, southeastern Spain, and flies with wind from the southeast and south. Takeoff sits on a small ridge just off the access road, about a five-minute walk in, with a fully paved road running all the way to it, so the approach itself is easy. The ground at launch is a different story: it's rocky and unforgiving underfoot, so a careful, controlled launch matters more here than the short walk-in might suggest. Conditions are typically thermal and dynamic, giving roughly 300 m of climb above the ridge on a good day, but local air here can behave differently from what the wider regional forecast suggests, so treat the forecast as a starting point rather than the final word once you're actually on the hill. With reliable southeast-to-south wind and real climb potential, it works for local thermalling, ridge soaring and cross-country days alike.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is on a small ridge just off the paved access road, about a five-minute walk in. The ground underfoot is rocky and unforgiving, so launch carefully and deliberately.

Getting there & local rules

Near the village of Pechina, heading towards the Alhamilla baths; the road is paved all the way to takeoff.

Local rules & hazards

Conditions are typically thermal and dynamic, with roughly 300 m of climb above the ridge on a good day, but local air here can differ from the wider regional forecast, so check conditions on-site rather than relying on the forecast alone.

Check conditions before you fly

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