Mere Rifle Range
Wind directions:
SE-SSW
Click for full site map
Location:
Just north of the town of Mere. A short drive from the A303 up the B3095, then 1km down a dirt road.
Site News
One of the oldest free flying sites in the UK, with a fantastic bowl, loads of space and great XC opportunities
Parking
Permission:
Open
Site Officer:
Tim Bishop
Just north of the town of Mere. A short drive from the A303 up the B3095, then 1km down a dirt road.
Restrictions:
None
Lat, Long:
51.108581 N 2.271348 W
Launch height (ft)
750
Grid ref:
ST 811 344
Height TTB (ft)
300
Pilot Rating:
Club Pilot
Tim Bishop
Take off
Local Flying
If the wind direction is not S-SE the bowl can be turbulent due to rotor caused by the spurs on either side. These conditions can lead to rapid height losses and canopy deflations, so you should always be aware of the true wind direction before flying. The bowl effect can make it look like the wind is smack on when it is coming more from the west or east. Don't hog the area in front of take-off making it difficult for others to launch.
XC Flying
This has proved to be a very potent XC site. If you lose the lift, you can fly to Long Knoll (2.5km)) and try to get up there. Beware of the wild-life park at Longleat, 4 miles to the N.
Top Landing
In the field that you walked through to get to take-off. Beware of rotor from the mounds. Beware of landing too far to the south and overshooting into the fence. Do not fly back as far north as the track as it may be difficult to penetrate forward again into the landing area. Beware of the cable that runs along the north end of the field. Do not leave your glider in a place where it becomes an obstruction to others trying to land. Do not disturb any farm animals that may be in the field. Paragliders can land in the bowl area but should be aware that they may get dragged back into the barbed wire fence. Do not land in any other top field.
Bottom Landing
The fields at either side of the end of the track will at various times of the year be in crop. land on the track and take care to follow the 'tramlines' in the crop to th edge of the field, so as not to damage any crop
Additional Info
Low Air Timers please see: https://www.avonhgpg.org/faqs/rifle-range
