Westbury – Bratton Camp

Westbury's Bratton Camp launch sits at 215 m on the edge of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, built around a big, forgiving grass hilltop that soars well in wind from around 350° through 040° — broadly north to northeast. If the wind swings further round, pilots shift across to the White Horse side of the same hill, which works from roughly 260° through 350°, giving the site two workable faces instead of one. The takeoff area is wide and open, with room to launch almost anywhere across the camp, which is part of why it has a reputation as a welcoming spot for less experienced pilots. There's no bottom landing here, so side landings on the hill itself are the norm. A free car park at the top of the hill in Bratton village makes access easy, and hang glider pilots often favour the White Horse side simply because it sits closer to that parking. The site's location right against a military danger area means route discipline matters as much as flying skill.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is wide open grass across most of the camp — easy to find a clear spot — but there's no bottom landing, so plan on a side landing on the hill itself.

Getting there & local rules

Drive to Westbury on the A350, then the B3098 to Bratton village; turn up the hill on the first right and use the free car park at the top.

Local rules & hazards

Land only in the main car park field or the bottom emergency field — the Salisbury Plain Military Danger Area lies directly south of the whole site, so cross-country flights are only permitted via accepted departure routes. In west to northwest wind, expect gusty, difficult takeoffs from out-of-phase wave off the Black Mountains, with rotor forming behind the slope near the car park — land well back from the car park in those conditions.

Check conditions before you fly

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