Ringstead

South-west-facing ridge site · 118 m takeoff

Overview

Ringstead is a hill site in Dorset coast with a recorded launch elevation of 118 m. It works best in south-westerly winds. Pilots fly it for ridge soaring, using foot launch.

Ringstead Bay (WHGPC site 2.019) is a National Trust coastal site east of Weymouth, Dorset. It is really two sites: a small SW-facing take-off ridge above Southdown Farm (450 ft AMSL) and, across a valley with power lines, the main chalk…

Local clubs

Wessex Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club

Manages the site

BHPA club. Visitors with third-party insurance may fly Ringstead but must read the site guide and get a briefing from a club coach or committee member before their first flight; contact via the club website, Facebook group…

Website

Source: Wessex HGPG — Visiting pilots, Ringstead Bay site guide (Rev. May 2026), site code 2.019

When to go

Flyable days per month in a typical year.

Flyable days for Ringstead are on the way. We are scoring ten years of weather for every site, month by month, against this site, its region and the sites around it.

Local weather notes

Lift: ridge, thermal · Season: Jan, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct · Best time: Late morning to mid afternoon (XContest launches 10:05 to 15:17, most around midday, per Wilder Adventures) Source: Ringstead Bay site guide (Rev. May 2026), site code 2.019
Wind SSW to WSW (210° to 260°), best SW (225°); hang gliders in stronger wind, paragliders in lighter wind. The club guide publishes no wind-speed limits. Source: Ringstead Bay site guide (Rev. May 2026), site code 2.019

Getting there

Nearest airports

BOH Bournemouth Airport39 km
EXT Exeter International Airport76 km
SOU Southampton Airport77 km

Public transport directions from Bournemouth Airport (Google Maps)All travel options from Bournemouth Airport (Rome2Rio)

Plan to reach the landing field or the nearest town to Ringstead; most takeoffs are reached by shuttle, cable car or a ride from a local pilot. Data: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Where to stay

The nearest towns, for a bed, food and a lift to takeoff.

Weymouth9 km awayBooking.com Airbnb
Dorchester11 km awayBooking.com Airbnb
Chickerell12 km awayBooking.com Airbnb

Things to do

For the days the wind is wrong: places worth a visit within 10 km of Ringstead.

From Wikipedia, text and photos under their own licences on each article.

Flying nearby

See them on the map

Pilot notes

No notes yet. Flown Ringstead? Tell the next pilot what to expect.

Flying Ringstead?

Takeoff, landing, rules, the hour by hour forecast and live wind are in the site details on the map.

Open site details

Sources

Ringstead Bay site guide (Rev. May 2026), site code 2.019 Summarised from the Ringstead Bay site guide (Rev. May 2026), site code 2.019 (as of 2026-09-29). The club guide is authoritative; always check it before flying.
Wessex HGPG — Join us Summarised from the Wessex HGPG — Join us (as of 2026-09-29). The club guide is authoritative; always check it before flying.
Wessex HGPG — Visiting pilots Summarised from the Wessex HGPG — Visiting pilots (as of 2026-09-29). The club guide is authoritative; always check it before flying.
Ringstead Site Guide (video, 3 min 22 s)
Wessex HGPG club home
ParaglidingEarth site record

Short extracts from Wessex Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club and Ringstead Site Guide (video, 3 min 22 s). Read the full guide before you fly.