Agnew’s Hill is an easterly-facing ridge connected to Shane’s Hill, forming a ridge that stretches 3 miles in total. Launching from 1300 ft above sea level and rising to 1550 ft at Agnew’s cliff, this site offers excellent ridge soaring in light winds. Late afternoons and evenings provide smooth ridge lift, but conditions often calm and become katabatic quickly. Flights between Agnew’s Hill and Shane’s Hill are regularly enjoyed by pilots.
Ballykeel Windfarm is located to the NE of Agnew’s Hill. The large turbines cause significant wake turbulence which can affect the north end of the ridge and the usual bottom landing areas. This is most severe in stronger wind and when wind direction is north of east.
The UHPC has a formal agreement with the windfarm operators granting UHPC members only the right to call and stop the turbines for the duration of flying activities. When flying has finished it is essential that the windfarm operators are called once more to restart the turbines. This will not happen automatically. See the Approved Contact Method (ACM) document to understand the agreed Shutdown and Restart procedures.
- Location: Irish Grid Reference D327017
- Wind Directions: North-east to east (045 – 110, best at 080) and also suitable for SW and W winds.
- Suitable For: Hang gliding and paragliding.
- Pilot Rating: BHPA Club Pilots; students also use this site.
- Airspace: Class D airspace above 2000 ft. UHPC members can extend the ceiling to 5000 ft by activating ‘Big Collin/Agnew’s – Designated Area 1’ (see Air Traffic Control section below).
- Wind Farm Advisory: Contact the committee regarding procedures to avoid turbulence from the nearby upwind wind farm.
Access Information:
- Road Access: Take the main Larne to Ballymena road, then turn right onto Starbog Road, which leads to the base of the hill. Access to the W and SW faces is through a 2-mile lane off the main Larne/Ballymena road. Note that the gate has a security lock, and access is currently restricted to training schools only. For details, contact Tel: 07752873434.
- Parking: Park in the field just past the lay-by, leaving space for others and ensuring the gate is secured. For W and SW slopes, parking is available in a small lay-by at the base of the hill.
- Site Access: The launch area requires a steep 500 ft climb on foot. The terrain is very boggy, even in summer, so sturdy walking boots are essential. For the SW-W slopes, the walk to the heather-covered takeoff area involves an easier 200 ft climb.
Special Site Rules:
- Fence Crossing: Cross the wire fence at the designated stile, which consists of metal steps attached to a sturdy post. Avoid causing any damage to the fence.
Launch:
The smooth, rounded launch area is generally straightforward and should not pose difficulties.
Landing:
- Bottom Landing: The flat areas near the parking zones on both slopes are relatively free of obstructions, but be mindful to avoid overflying parked vehicles.
- Hazards: Wake turbulence from the Ballykeel Windfarm turbines can be significant in the bottom landing areas if the turbines have not be stopped by a UHPC member.
- Top Landing: The large launch area serves as a top landing zone.
Air Traffic Control Restrictions:
Class D airspace exists above 2000 ft AMSL. This site is part of the ‘Big Collin/Agnews – Designated Area 1’ under a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Aldergrove ATC. UHPC members can extend the flight ceiling from 2000 ft up to 5000 ft by following the procedure outlined in the LOA. Refer to the Designated Areas Map for details.
