Several people have asked from time to time where various flying sites are. This list, whilst not definitive, gives the location of the sites most commonly used by us, and a brief description. Click on the location name to display a map of the area. The sites are listed in no particular order, but we'll start with the ancestral home of Kent Kite Flyers, Canterbury...
Kent College Playing Fields, Moat Lane, Rough Common, Canterbury. A nice flat playing field just off the Whitstable Road. Look out for, and head towards the telecommunications tower. About 100 yards before it, there is a small car park on the left hand side, which we can sometimes use. The playing fields are bhind the carpark. The field is edged on 2 sides by Blean Woods, and on another side by houses, so flying at ground level can be tricky. There are no facilities on site.
Palm Bay, Margate. Located on the cliff tops, and actually in Cliftonville, but we never let facts get in the way. Parking is free on Palm Bay Avenue. Park at the far end of the spaces, where the houses run out. The Margate Big Sky event is held here. This is a large grassy area, popular with buggyists. Winds are quite clean down to ground level. There is a cafe with toilets at the far end of the grassy area, too far to walk, but only a short drive.
St. Mildred's Bay, Margate. On the other side of Margate to Palm Bay lies St. Mildreds Bay. Again this site is on the grass on top of the cliffs. Free parking all along Royal Esplanade, we tend to use the area between Bowes Avenue and Fitzmary Avenue. Being a cliff top site, again we get good winds down to ground level. This isn't as big an area as Palm Bay, but there is a cafe and toilets nearby in the bay itself, a short walk away.
The Green, Hythe. Another flat playing field type site benefiting from smooth winds. This site is at the junction of Portland Road and Saint Leonards Road. Free on street parking, or there is a small car park just off Portland Road on the field itself. The field is used for the Hythe festival, and is often used for boot fairs, so we have had to relocate at the last minute sometimes. Where the other sites we use tend to have manicured grass, this one is slightly more agricultural at times. No facilities on site, but there are cafes, etc. in the High Street.
Mote Park, Maidstone. A large expanse of grass, surrounded by trees, so can be a bit troublesome at ground level. Plenty of free parking on site, and if the carparks are full, the wardens usually open the overflow parking. The park is often used for events, so sometimes we get squeezed out. After parking, walk past the children's play area, and we fly on the grass in front of the toilet block and cafe. This area is used for football matches in the mornings during the winter, but they vacate at about 1pm. Buggyists tend to use the area on the high ground behind the sports hall.
Capstone Farm Country Park, Capstone Road, Gillingham. Located at the top of the hill behind the artificial ski slope, this is the site of Kites over Capstone. At the top of the hill, park in the main carpark and walk through into the event field. There is a toilet block here, but it is usually locked due to vandalism. No other facilities on site here, but in the other part of the park there is a cafe and toilets. Drive down to the road, turn left, and after about 100 yards turn left into the main carpark. The flying site is surrounded by trees and suffers from turbulence. Also because of its proximity to Rochester Airport, height clearance is limited to 100 feet without special permission. Popular area with buggyists and mountain boarders.
The Racecourse, Tonbridge. The racecourse park in Tonbridge is on an island formed by a split in the river Medway. Another flat site and huge flying area, though occasionally plagued by footballers! Free parking in Avebury Avenue and in Bradford Street. There are also pay and display carparks off Bradford Street and at the Slade (a large carpark). Wherever you park, you will need to cross the river to get into the park, so don't try to carry too much. There is a cafe in Avebury Avenue (excellent nosh) and other food facilities in the high street. Toilets on the park, and a drinks kiosk in the childrens play area. We normally fly just behind the children's play area.
Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells. Dunorlan Park is located on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. We use the event field at the junction of Bayhall Road and Halls Hole Road. There are free parking bays on Bayhall Road, and a small car park in the park just off Halls Hole Road. Toilets and cafe are available on the other side of the lake, a short walk away across the park.
Camber Sands Our only regular beach flying site. Camber is very, very popular during the summer months, and we tend not to fly here then, as we get crowded off the beach. Park in the carpark at the end of Old Lydd Road. The parking fees here can be extortionate during the summer months. But a few enterprising citizens open up their gardens for parking at very much reduced rates. Toilets in the carpark, and a cafe in the carpark and another on the beach. We usually fly to the left of the carpark, in front of the Kit Kat cafe. When the tide is out, the flying area is massive, but don't get caught out by the rapid incoming tide. Also be aware that Lydd airport is not too far away. The area just on the Dungeness side of the town where there is a large free carpark is very popular with buggyists and wind surfers.
