Rhigos

Rhigos is a scenic ridge site right beside a main road in the South Wales valleys — visible enough that any flying here tends to draw a crowd of onlookers. The launch demands commitment: paraglider and hang glider pilots need real determination to clear the boundary fence and then stay alert until they've gained enough height to be safe. Beyond the obvious hazards of trees, the road and a nearby reservoir, there are power lines running from the cliff top down toward the trees at roughly 45° to the hill, largely out of sight to the left of launch, and sailplanes from a nearby gliding club also share the airspace. There's no easy bail-out here — the bottom landing field needs real care and can be hard to reach in strong wind, so a proper pre-flight check matters more than usual. The site is privately owned but open to suitably insured visiting hang glider and paraglider pilots, and stays that way only as long as visitors respect the rules — the landowner lives locally and will notice if they aren't.

Launch & conditions

Rig and launch from the grass area in front of the car park — a minimal carry, but the launch itself is over a barbed-wire fence, so a committed takeoff is required. Rigging space is tight; use the open land behind the road if needed, never the car park, and always use the stile rather than climbing fences.

Getting there & local rules

From the A465 (Heads of the Valleys Road), take the A4061 signposted to Treherbert; the A4061 from the Rhondda also reaches it. There's a large viewpoint car park at the roadside.

Check conditions before you fly

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