Le Rocchine, Serravalle Pistoiese

Le Rocchine, above Serravalle Pistoiese in Tuscany, is a northeast-facing launch at around 349 metres, good for thermals, ridge soaring and reachable on foot. It flies best with a moderate wind rather than anything strong, and the site works well for hike-and-fly outings given the modest altitude and easy access. There's a hard airspace ceiling to respect here: free flight is permitted up to 750 metres, and above that sits controlled airspace, the Florence Peretola CTR zone 2 — so climbing out of a good thermal here means watching the altimeter, not just the lift. Access to the takeoff is free and unrestricted. The landing is genuinely easy to reach and doesn't demand much glide efficiency to get there, which makes this a forgiving site for pilots still building confidence in variable thermal conditions. Between the low ceiling and the moderate-wind sweet spot, Le Rocchine rewards a measured flight over a maximum-height chase.

Launch & conditions

Northeast-facing launch at ~349 m; flies best in moderate wind. Good for thermals, ridge soaring and hike-and-fly.

Getting there & local rules

Free and unrestricted access to takeoff. Landing is easy to reach with limited glide required.

Local rules & hazards

Free flight is permitted only up to 750 m — above that is controlled airspace (Florence Peretola CTR, zone 2), so watch the altimeter when climbing out.

Check conditions before you fly

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