Grid Reference: NT 787 226

3 words:

Hownam has several faces, the best and most flown are the South Easterly face and the north westerly, though there are opportunities to fly in anything from South Easterly through west to North West, the hill does not work well in an Easterly or North Easterly

Height AMSL; 449m Height, Top to bottom; 250m

From the south take the A697 through Wooler to the Akeld turn off on the B6351, follow this road to Kilham, take the road straight on, on the south side of Bowmont Water to Kirk Yetholm. Turn left at Kirk Yetholm onto the B6401 towards Morebattle, before Morebattle cross the bridge over Kale Water and take the next left, signposted to Hownam. Follow the road for approximately 2.5km and take the left turn to Hownam Grange, follow the track over Weary Stream and up to the Farm which is on your right. Please call in to speak to the farmer.

Two wheel drive vehicles must be parked just above the farm or round the bend at the next farm. Please ensure that there is access to all fields and the road for farm vehicles and park with consideration. If the farmer gives permission four wheel drive vehicles can take the route through the gate at the bend and then on up the fell side to launch. Once through the gate drive towards the wall on the left hand side of the field and up to the gate at the top of the field. Once through the gate the track is well defined, follow it to the next gate, which is possibly the best place to park. It is possible to higher but the track is steeper than the track already driven along. Please be aware this is a steep long four wheel drive track.

Take Off

It is possible to take off at the shoulder at the second gate for the South Easterly or the North Westerly. The Westerly face is further down the track. If this is your first visit, take the time to walk to the top of the hill, enjoy the views and work out the take-off options, anywhere on the hill into wind is acceptable for launch.

Landing

Because of the variety of wind directions that the hill will take, there is no official top landing site. Top landing and slope landing are easy options in all wind directions. The bottom landing is the field above the farm, please be sensitive to livestock in this field. It is usually possible to fly to this field even in a South Easterly wind, but please be cautious. Be aware that the field is a down slope at roughly the glide angle of most gliders, please leave plenty room to lose height.

There are good ridges for South Easterly, North Westerly and Westerly ridge soaring with plenty of room to explore and look at the hill forts and ruins in the area. On the South Easterly face there is a forest which always gives a good into wind turn point. The North Westerly side has hills in front which you can jump forward onto to extend your flight. Kale Water on the westerly side provides a good into wind turn point. The potential for cross country is very good and the site is quite thermic on the right day. Good cross countries have been achieved from the North Westerly side and the South Easterly side. As yet the Westerly face has yet to have a cross country done from it, though the potential is there with hills behind lining up well. This site should provide the opportunity for some good triangle flights.

There are some walls at the shoulder and the true North West take off has a wall in front of it. Take care on the bottom landing as the field slopes away and you can find yourself gliding on further than expected. This is a high site and should be treated as a true mountain site.

See flights from Hownam Law