About Challenges Crossing the Ogwen Valley

Snowdonia Sky Sports

Snowdonia Sky Sports

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Moel Wnion

  • Grid Ref: SH649697 click for OS map
  • Pos: 53.208244, -4.029150
  • Wind Dir:
  • Best Wind Direction: WNW
  • Takeoff: 580m
  • Landing: 360m
  • Top to bottom: 220m
  • Liaison: Gareth Aston

No Dogs. No ground handling above track. Please do not fly if sheep being moved. Don't fly the NW face between the end of April and the beginning of September if there are sheep that could be disturbed by your activities and please don't leave gliders laid out for long periods of time. We have agreed these measures with Graziers Association and NT.

No groups of flyers at the following times:

  1. between 15th of May until the end of June.
  2. between the 1st and the 10th of August.
  3. the last week in October.
  4. At all other times between 1st of April and the end of October no more than six pilots on the hill.

This rounded grassy hill offers excellent soaring in NW & SW winds. Its NW face is about 1km long and 200m high. It is steep and grassy, with a good flattish top.

At the southern end the ridge turns into an open SW facing bowl. While not so steep or long as its neighbour, this SW side is nevertheless a good soarable site in moderate breezes. Moel Wnion is a very forgiving site by local standards and offers great ridge soaring with good opportunities to hone those top-landing skills. The hill is well used by the two local schools, so be aware that you may be sharing the sky with novice pilots.

Getting to take-off: 

Drive up the lane (which becomes a track) that terminates at Bryn Hall (SH 634 694). Do not park past this place and do not drive up the track beyond the end of the tarmac for any reason (eg for dropping gliders off). The old parking area above the quarry hole is no longer to be used. Walk up the track to where it ends at Bryn Hall and go through the gate, on your right, into the fields. Follow the rough track up onto the hill.

Landing: 

The landing site is basically anywhere at the bottom of the hill, but usually back down towards Bryn Hall.

Don'ts: 

  • Block tracks, paths or gateways.
  • Do not drive onto the track past the bends.

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