Jerbourg (Seaplane Bungalow)

Jerbourg, above the Seaplane Bungalow on Guernsey, is a small, tightly regulated coastal soaring site facing southeast, and it demands real precision from anyone flying it. It's privately owned, so flying needs the bungalow owner's permission, and the site also sits under Class A airspace controlled by the local airport — flying is only allowed with prior clearance, membership in the Guernsey Paragliding Club, and, for visitors, an accompanying club member plus registration with the airport arranged roughly two weeks ahead. The permitted ceiling is just 60 metres above takeoff given how close the airport is, and cross-country flights aren't allowed here at all. The wind direction is unusually critical: even a slight shift toward the east cuts the lift sharply and can leave a pilot sinking out with nowhere safe to land at the bottom. There's no bottom landing option — the only choices are a field behind the site, which can turn rotory if the wind swings east, or the lawn at the rear of the Jerbourg Hotel. Given the tight ceiling, strict local procedures and lack of an easy bail-out landing, this is a site for pilots who are comfortable reading wind direction precisely and flying to a small, defined landing option.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff faces roughly southeast (135–160°). No cross-country flying is permitted from this site, and the maximum altitude allowed is 60 metres above takeoff due to the nearby airport.

Getting there & local rules

Drive to Jerbourg Point in St Martin's parish and park in the car park there.

Local rules & hazards

The site sits under Class A airspace and requires prior clearance from the airport, membership in the local paragliding club, and — for visitors — being accompanied by a member with registration arranged roughly two weeks in advance. Wind direction is critical: even a slight easterly shift sharply reduces lift and removes the safety margin for landing. There is no bottom landing; the only options are a field behind the site (which can turn rotory in an easterly wind) or the hotel lawn at the rear.

Check conditions before you fly

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