Coward's bowl

A small south-west-facing bowl on the downs, next to the rifle range. You launch anywhere in the bowl facing into the prevailing wind, and it is a compact site with its own character: in stronger winds it may not be possible to penetrate out from the bowl at all, and getting away cross-country means committing to leaving at a lower height than is usual.

Launch & conditions

Launch anywhere in the bowl facing into the prevailing wind. Paragliders should not launch directly in front of rigging hang-glider pilots. Be aware that horses may be using the bridlepath running up the spur and can be spooked by inflating gliders.

Getting there & local rules

There are two ways in, the first much kinder to your car given the state of the track across the top of the downs. From Mere, follow the B3092 north-east out of town and up a steep hill for about 1.5 miles; at a gravel parking area turn sharp left onto a cinder track heading west-north-west. After half a mile you pass the collection of gates giving access to the rifle-range site on the left, and a further 400 m brings you to the stile just before the aerial, again on your left — park and walk across the field to a gate, from where the flying bowl is clearly visible. Alternatively, leave Frome heading south on the B3092 and, two miles after Maiden Bradley, turn left immediately after the pub into Long Lane; follow the main track for about two miles until you see a water-works site with a large aerial in a field to the right, then take the small track to the works and go through the gate on the left. Close all gates, park on the main track without blocking it or the gates into the surrounding fields, and do not drive into any of the fields.

Local rules & hazards

This site can be difficult to get away from, as you have to commit to leaving at a lower height than usual — and the Salisbury Plain ranges are 7 miles to the north-east, with the wildlife park at Longleat 4 miles to the north. Bottom landing is only possible if the field below take-off is not in crop; if you do end up in the crops, walk out causing the minimum damage and apologise to the farmer. On a paraglider there is plenty of space to land within the bowl, but take care to avoid the barbed-wire fence, the numerous thorny bushes and the small tree plantation at the very bottom. Top landing is restricted: land on the spur to the west in a south-west to west-south-west wind, or just behind the bowl in a southerly, and not in any other top field. Do not leave a glider where it obstructs others trying to land, and do not worry any farm animals in the field.

Check conditions before you fly

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