Kyrenia, St Hilarion (Grid Ref WE 211076 tbc- OS Map Sheet 2)
Description This launch point faces about 040 degs and can take N-NE winds.
It is a small clean, cleared area (800m amsl) on the Kyrenia ridge facing the north coast and is PG and HG friendly, but only one at a time! With the army's permission, the ridge is soarable for about 2.5kms east as far as St Hilarion castle and about 2.5 kms to the west. Immediately in front of launch is a deep gulley with high rocky ground to the left and right of launch. It is an ideal place to take off to catch thermals coming off the coastal plains to the north or to soar the ridge with a decent onshore breeze. Roughly straight ahead from launch and about 3kms towards the coast is the LS (Grid 238110 - elevation 25m amsl), which is a small field with lots of small trees in it, about 100m south of the main east/west running coastal road. No problem for PGs, but a bit tricky for HGs. There are small power lines running along the west side of the LS and across the top end of the landing field too, so beware. Recovery can take a while as its over 16kms each way, with about 4kms on metalled tracks.
Access Access is very good. You can drive on good roads/tracks to within a few yards of launch and the final 100m of dirt track to the landing field does not generally require a 4x4.
Directions From Nicosia head north on the main road towards Kyrenia. Turn left off the highway at the St Hilarion Castle turn off. Turn left here and go past the castle and fork left up the ridge. Follow this tarmaced track for about 4kms. You will come to a split in the road that has a no entry sign to the left. Shortly after this the road sweeps right and enters the woods. Shortly after this you turn right onto a dirt track and wind through the woods to the area of the launch (you need someone to guide you the first time). You can park off the track and walk the few yards to the launch point. There is also a West facing launch point approx 500m to the west along track. Landing field is still the same.
01 August 06
At the moment, pilots are flying from the Kyrenia ridge without permission from the army. Permission is essential, or the site may be taken away from us. Pilots intending to fly the Kyrenia ridge are requested to contact Ozgur, the owner of the Highline Paragaliding tandem operation based in Kyrenia harbour. Ozgur is ex-army himself and has the relevant contacts. He also owns rents the main landing field, which can be used for a very small fee. He is also happy for visiting pilots to use his retrieve transport for a small fee.
