SE Wales

When you mention Wales, or the Welsh Valleys, most people immediately think of coal mines and black slag tips, with narrow streets and terraced houses. Unless you‘ve recently visited the area, you may not realise just how far from the truth that image is these days.

Vast acres of open common land cover hill tops which neatly line up north to south, and stretch from Rhigos in the west to Abergavenny and the Blorenge in the east. Today the South Wales Valleys are once again green. To the north of the valleys are the Black Mountains, and the spectacular scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Acre upon acre of open countryside, all within less than an hours journey of Cardiff. The topography of Wales in general, and SE Wales in particular makes it an ideal location for anyone with a yearning to fly hang gliders, paragliders or sailplanes. In all the Club has around 15 flying sites in the area, covering most wind directions. Some are quite small, but others like the Blorenge, Hay Bluff, Nant-y-Moel, Merthyr and Pandy are large enough to host major hang gliding and paragliding competitions.

Many of these are open sites, where visiting pilots are always welcome. But some are very sensitive and the SE Wales Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club has therefore had to restrict access to these to Club members only.

Transport

The area is well served by road, with most flying sites within 30 - 45 mins of the M4 corridor. There are mainline railway stations at Cardiff, Newport and Abergavenny, and frequent local trains serving the Valleys area. Cardiff boasts an international airport, and even London‘s Heathrow airport is only 2 - 3 hours away by car.

Accommodation

A wide range of accommodation, to suit any pocket, is available in the area. This includes camp sites, youth hostels, bunk houses, pubs, bed and breakfast accommodation, and luxury hotels.

SE Wales Links

If you‘d like to know more about the area, why not check out some of the following sites:

Lonely Planet Wales
Accommodation Wales
Data Wales
Abergavenny Guide
Walks around Abergavenny
Wales Tourist Board
IC Wales

Details of other web sites which may be of interest can be found in SE Wales links, and you are welcome to add your own web site URL to that growing list of links.

SE Wales Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club

If you‘d like to know more about the Club‘s activities in this area contact the appropriate Club Officer, or take a look at the SE Wales Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club page.