St. Agnes

St. Agnes is a Cornish cliff site on the north coast, with a very short carry from the car park to the rigging area — but every flight decision here is dominated by the airspace around it: the Perranporth Airfield ATZ begins just to the right of launch (towards St Agnes village), and the site sits inside a Military Low Flying Area. The club has negotiated permission to fly just inside the ATZ, but every pilot must contact Perranporth ATC before flying. There is absolutely no bottom landing — this is a cliff site — so every launch must be a certainty of lift, not a hope. Radio-controlled aeromodellers share the ridge, and licensed radio hams to the west launch kites up to 600 feet.

Launch & conditions

Very short carry from the car park to the rigging area. Be 120% certain of lift before launching — if in doubt, don't. There is absolutely no bottom landing.

Getting there & local rules

Approaching St. Agnes from the A30, turn left at the mini-roundabout and continue straight on the narrow winding road. The main road bears left where Chapel Porth Beach is signposted — stay on the main road. Turn left down a lane towards the sea (height barrier may affect vans with roof loads). At the T-junction turn right into an obvious parking area — leave room for cars entering and exiting.

Local rules & hazards

Cliff site with NO bottom landing — never land at the base. Perranporth Airfield ATZ starts 100 yards east of launch: clear all flying with the airfield before flying, and do not enter the marked no-fly zone. The site is inside a Military Low Flying Area — expect military traffic. Share the ridge with radio-controlled aeromodellers and licensed radio hams who fly kites up to 600 feet. Top landing is behind and to the west of launch — land well back and do not overshoot. If unfamiliar with the site, get local advice before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

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