Westbury White Horse

Westbury White Horse is an English Wiltshire ridge site at about 210 m, launching from a bowl opposite the famous hill-figure carving and rated an excellent cross-country site when the wind sits west or west-north-west, since thermals come off Westbury town below. Takeoff is easy, with a couple of benches and a trig point to watch for, and pilots regularly fly east along the edge of the Salisbury Danger Area and on into the Pewsey Vale. In a north-west or west wind, turn right after launch to fly the White Horse side of the bowl; in a north-west wind specifically, you can also turn left to run the long, north-west-facing ridge to the west instead. West to north-west winds can bring sudden out-of-phase wave gusts right at takeoff, though conditions settle once airborne. Access is via the A350 to Westbury and the B3098 to Bratton village, then up the hill to the car park at the top. This is an active military area, so a good lookout is essential once you're high, and site rules restrict landing to specific fields to stay clear of the Danger Area boundary.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff faces north-west from the White Horse bowl, opposite the hill carving, with a couple of benches and a trig point to avoid; hang glider pilots often set up directly behind. In a north-west or west wind, turn right to fly the White Horse side of the bowl, or turn left in a north-west wind to run the long ridge to the west.

Getting there & local rules

Take the A350 to Westbury, then the B3098 to Bratton village, and turn up the hill to the car park at the top.

Local rules & hazards

Land only in front of the White Horse hill carving along the ridge sides, and only in the designated emergency field among the bottom fields - the Salisbury Danger Area sits directly behind (south of) the site and must not be entered, and military traffic is common, so keep a good lookout once you're high. West to north-west winds can bring sudden, out-of-phase wave gusts right at takeoff, though it settles down once you're airborne.

Check conditions before you fly

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