Beinn Leabhainn (Burger Van)

Beinn Leabhainn, known locally by its car park landmark as the Burger Van site, launches at 584 m above Glen Ogle in the Scottish Highlands, taking west and northwest winds with an alternative north-northwest-facing option near the mobile phone mast. In a west or northwest wind, pilots can run cross-country south toward Lochearnhead and well beyond, or track the lochs — Loch Tay or Loch Earn — depending on the line the day offers. Getting there means parking at the roadside stop at the top of Glen Ogle, about 5 km north of Lochearnhead, then a roughly 45-minute walk up the forestry track to launch. Landing is the part that demands respect: space near the car park is tight and increasingly hemmed in by small trees, and an alternative field about 1 km north carries its own power lines to watch for. Several ordinary power lines and a high-voltage pylon line cross the area, though undergrounding work begun in 2009 has eased some of that risk over time. This is not a site for a first solo outing — local guidance points pilots toward a solid rating and real experience before flying here.

Launch & conditions

Launch near the mobile phone mast, or lower down if the wind is strong; a north-northwest-facing option also exists.

Getting there & local rules

Park at the roadside stop at the top of Glen Ogle, about 5 km north of Lochearnhead, then walk up the forestry track for roughly 45 minutes to reach launch.

Local rules & hazards

Landing space near the car park is tight and closing in with small trees, and an alternate field about 1 km north sits close to power lines; several ordinary lines and a high-voltage pylon line cross the area, though undergrounding started in 2009 has eased some of that risk. This site is not recommended for beginner or inexperienced pilots — a solid club-level rating is expected.

Check conditions before you fly

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