SHGCSouthern Hang Gliding ClubEst. 1974 · BHPA Affiliated
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Site guide

Bo Peep

OpenPG · HGWind NNE – ENE
Map·Facts·About·Site rules·Getting there·Conditions·Detail

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Hazard markers are advisory and may be incomplete or out of date. Always check the current SHGC site guide and NOTAMs before flying.

Quick facts

Wind direction
NNE – ENE
Take-off height
600 ft amsl (183 m)
Height top-to-bottom
300 ft (91 m)
Pilot rating
CP+
Unsupervised
Top and slope landing tasks signed off
Airspace
5,500 ft QNH
OS grid ref
TQ 500 043
Nearest town
Near Selmeston, off the A27 (between Lewes and Polegate)
Car park postcode
BN26 6UW
Nearest A&E
Eastbourne

About this site

Bo Peep is a north-east ridge to the east of the hang-glider take-off, a large north-east bowl (the paraglider launch), and beyond that a lower north-east ridge. To the west of take-off there is a quarry and two large north-east bowls running to the trig point (700 ft, 217 m). Beyond that, a northerly ridge runs right past Firle to the big north bowl at Beddingham Hill — in exceptional conditions you can soar the whole ridge past Beddingham to the quarry and back.

Site rules

The South Downs Way along the south of the top field is frequently used by horse riders (including the landowner). Keep well away from horses and do not ground-handle while riders are passing. Do not launch anywhere between the Bo Peep quarry and the Firle Plantation — if you bomb out there, you must pack up and walk back. A shoot sometimes takes place in the woods at the foot of the quarry (you will hear it) — please stay well clear of that area when it is on. Do not rig, launch or land in front of the public car park.

Getting there

Directions

By Road, Bo Peep is south of the A27 at Selmeston, between Lewes and Polegate. Take Bo Peep Lane just east of Selmeston and follow it to the top of the hill. By public transport take a train to Eastbourne, Lewes or Glynde and from there catch the 125 bus to the Barley Mow pub at Selmeston. From there walk a short way east and then up the 2km Bo Peep Lane. The bus service doesn't run on Sundays. Check the timetable before setting off. Or you might try the Flexibus service for which rides can be booked either by phone or using the local booking app.

Parking

Use the gated SHGC car park behind the public car park at the top of the hill — please close the gate. Overspill parking is on the grass beside the track immediately in front of the SHGC gate; allow for wide farm vehicles and do not obstruct tracks or roads. If there is no space, unload your glider and drive down the lane to park near the bottom. Beware of thieves operating in the public car park.

Services

The Barley Mow pub, in Selmeston.

Before you fly

Conditions & airspace — Bo Peep

Live wind for this site. Guidance only — always make your own assessment on the hill.

Wind forecast

Wind — Bo Peep

Consensus (mean) · daytime hours · updated hourly

Average of the main models — cuts single-model noise

Loading wind forecast…
OnMarginalOff / crossToo lightFlyable arc NNE–ENE (from). Each cell shows the mean wind and the gust — e.g. 18 g32 = 18 gusting 32 km/h. Green is the ideal 8–24 km/h band; amber is getting strong (up to 32 km/h); over 32 km/h is too strong. The arrow points the way the wind blows; the label is where it blows from.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0) · Consensus (mean). Forecasts are guidance only — wind on the hill can differ from the model. Always make your own assessment on site and fly within your and your site’s limits.

Live wind & forecast across the region — fullscreen.

Model comparison

Loading every model…

Thermal star rating

Thermals — Bo Peep

Star rating from RASP (Stratus) — the UK soaring standard

Loading soaring outlook…

Star rating & thermal forecast from RASP UK (Stratus); supporting figures modelled from Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Guidance only — always make your own assessment.

Other forecasts

Cross-check our read against an independent forecast.

Windy

Flying detail

Access & launch

Take-off — Hang gliders usually launch from the main NE ridge (Bostal Down); paragliders are asked not to use this launch when hang gliders are present. The best launch for both is from the bowl to the east (560 ft amsl), where there is a lowered section of the hill-edge fencing. If in any doubt about the wind, walk to the top of Bostal Down to feel the true direction. Do not launch from the small field in front of the public car park, and note that the trees in front of the Bostal Down launch can cause significant turbulence. Rigging — Hang gliders: take the South Downs Way east about 100 yards and rig well clear of the Way, without obstructing the take-off and landing areas; you may also rig and launch in the east bowl, which is recommended for lower-airtime or rusty pilots. Paragliders: use the east bowl until you know the site; if landing at Bostal Down, leave enough room for HG launch and landing, and ensure that, were you to be dragged, it would not be into a hang glider. They are very expensive nowadays.

Landing

Top landing — Hang glider pilots should stay in front of the rear fence when approaching over the car park; even in moderate winds you may struggle to penetrate. Beware rotor behind the quarry in NNE winds, and behind the dew ponds and tumuli between the bowl and car park. Paraglider pilots may top-land anywhere on the main NE ridge field; inexperienced pilots should stay well forward on approach because of the strong venturi at the top of the hill. The large area behind the east bowl is excellent for low-airtime top-landing practice. Aim to land towards the top of Bostal Down, not close to the car park. Bottom landing — when the bottom fields are harvested the farmers do not mind where you land (usually the large field immediately below the east bowl); with modern direct-drilling it is less obvious when fields are clear, but there is plenty of room to land paragliders at the bottom of the east bowl on a crosswind approach. Do not land and re-launch in the marked bottom-landing area. Retrieves are best driven down the lane to the A27, turning right and then right again off the A27 through Alciston — drive considerately along the dirt track (closed to four-wheeled vehicles in winter).

Hazards & obstacles

Aeromodellers generally use the big bowl to the west of the car park (there is no formal agreement) — the site is large enough to avoid conflict, but talk to them if they are present. Beware the fence running along the edge of virtually the whole hill. The site has a large number of rabbit burrows, mostly on the slopes — take care not to catch a foot, especially when slope-landing.

Airflow

Around the front of the car park there can be turbulence from the trees at the foot of the hill and disturbed airflow in the quarry — fly this area with caution until you know it. The trees in front of the Bostal Down launch generate severe turbulence in strong winds, so launch from and land behind the East Bowl until you know the site well. Bushes, the dew pond and tumuli on top cause turbulence that can affect low top-landing hang gliders. Generally the air is smooth in the east-bowl area, but when the wind is off to the east it can become very turbulent (often from the easterly sea breeze), and when off to the north the left side of the east bowl can be affected by rotor behind the trees. Always walk to the top of Bostal Down to assess the true wind — a marked venturi in the quarry can make the wind seem straight when it is 45° or more off, particularly to the east. Always let someone else cross the quarry first.

Exact launch

Launch GPS
50.82044, 0.12867
What3Words
Car park: ///cycled.flagging.wonderful

Emergency

Emergency grid ref
Car park: TQ 494 051 (N50.825618 E0.119923) -- PG Take-off: TQ 501 044 (N50.820316 E0.128514)
Emergency W3W
PG Take-off: ///trousers.lads.supreme

Members also see the gate / padlock code (where a site has one), the Safety Officer’s contact, and the downloadable guide (PDF). Member sign-in · Join the club

SHGCSouthern Hang Gliding ClubEst. 1974 · BHPA Affiliated

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