Breanlee (Hydro Road)

Breanlee (Hydro Road) sits low at the foot of Ireland's Macgillycuddy's Reeks, a rarely flown site whose real value is as a stepping stone into the much bigger mountains behind it. West and northwest winds work the launch, which is reached via a locked-gate track above the public road between Glencar and Killorglin — a roughly 45-to-60-minute walk in from a car park that holds about 25 cars, since vehicles have not been permitted on the track since 2013. The more important fact to know before planning a visit: site records report flying here was suspended in 2015 pending an access agreement with local landowners, and this record has not seen an update since. Walking the track remains allowed, but confirm current flying status locally before you make the trip — don't assume the situation has changed just because time has passed. If access does open up, expect mountain winds that can build suddenly and blow strong at the top, and a landing strategy that avoids the rocky lower valley in favour of coming down near the base of the ridge and walking the last 200 m back.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is just above the track, past the locked gate — but flying here has reportedly been suspended since 2015 pending landowner agreement. Confirm current status before planning a visit.

Getting there & local rules

The Breanlee car park (about 25 cars) sits 5.5 km northeast of Glencar, on the road to Killorglin, elevated above the public road. From there it's roughly a 45–60 minute walk up the track to the takeoff area — vehicles have not been permitted on the track since 2013.

Local rules & hazards

Site records report that flying here has been suspended since 2015 pending an access agreement with local landowners, and vehicles have not been permitted on the track since 2013 — walking is allowed, but confirm current access status locally before planning a flight, since this record may be out of date. Mountain winds here can increase suddenly and are usually strong at the top.

Check conditions before you fly

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